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, particularly a controversial "Zombie Santa" loading screen.
In December 2023, following the Season 1 Reloaded update, players noticed anomalies in several Black Ops 6 loading screens, calling cards, and artwork related to Zombies community events. The most prominent example was the Zombie Santa ("Necroclaus") loading screen, which appeared to depict the character with six fingers – a common flaw in generative AI-produced images.
Following pressure from fans and in light of new AI disclosure regulations on Steam, Activision added a general disclosure to the Black Ops 6 Steam page: “Our team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in-game assets.”
This admission follows a July report by Wired, which revealed that Activision had previously sold an AI-generated cosmetic item in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 without disclosing its AI origins. This cosmetic, part of the Yokai's Wrath bundle (December 2023), cost 1,500 COD Points (approximately $15).
The Wired report also highlighted potential links between Activision's AI adoption and the layoffs of 2D artists, raising ethical concerns about the use of AI in the gaming industry. Anonymous sources within Activision claimed that remaining artists were pressured to utilize AI tools, and that employees were mandated to undergo AI training.
The use of generative AI in game development remains a contentious issue, sparking debate surrounding ethical implications, copyright concerns, and the overall quality of AI-generated content. Keywords Studios' failed experiment with an entirely AI-generated game underscores the limitations of current AI technology in replacing human creative talent.
