Activision Confirms Generative AI Use in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Activision, the creator of Call of Duty, has finally acknowledged the use of generative AI in the development of Black Ops 6. This admission comes nearly three months after fans voiced concerns about the quality of certain in-game assets, specifically citing a "sloppy" Zombie Santa loading screen.
Following the Season 1 Reloaded update in December, players noticed anomalies in various loading screens, calling cards, and artwork within Black Ops 6. A key point of contention was the Zombie Santa (Necroclaus) loading screen, which appeared to depict the character with six fingers—a common flaw in generative AI's rendering of hands.
Following pressure from fans and in light of new AI disclosure regulations on Steam, Activision added a general statement to Black Ops 6's Steam page: "Our team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in-game assets."
This revelation follows a previous report by Wired, which revealed that Activision sold an AI-generated cosmetic item in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 last year, a fact not disclosed at the time of sale. This cosmetic, part of the Yokai's Wrath bundle (December 2023), cost 1,500 COD Points (approximately $15 USD).
The use of AI in game asset creation has raised ethical and rights concerns within the gaming industry, particularly amidst recent significant layoffs. Keywords Studios' failed experiment in creating an entirely AI-generated game highlighted the limitations of AI in replacing human talent. Activision's use of AI, coupled with previous layoffs, has further intensified this debate.
