Activision Confirms AI Use in Call of Duty After Backlash

Activision has finally acknowledged using generative AI in the development of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, three months after fans accused the company of using AI to create subpar assets, specifically citing a controversial "Zombie Santa" loading screen. The backlash began in December after the Season 1 Reloaded update, with players pointing to several loading screens, calling cards, and in-game art as exhibiting telltale signs of AI generation. The six-fingered Zombie Santa, or "Necroclaus," became a focal point of the controversy, a common issue with AI art generation struggling to accurately depict hands.

Further scrutiny revealed a similarly flawed image of a gloved hand in a Zombies community event graphic, also appearing to have six fingers.

Redditor Shaun_LaDee further fueled the debate, highlighting irregularities in three images from paid bundles, suggesting AI involvement. This led to calls for Activision to disclose AI usage in paid content. Following new AI disclosure rules on Steam, Activision added a vague statement to Black Ops 6's Steam page: "Our team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in-game assets."

This admission follows a Wired report from July detailing Activision's sale of an unnamed AI-generated cosmetic in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Yokai's Wrath bundle (December 2023), a bundle costing 1,500 COD Points (approximately $15). This disclosure was absent at the time of sale. The Wired report also alleged that the use of AI contributed to layoffs of 2D artists at Activision, with remaining artists reportedly forced to utilize AI tools.

The controversy highlights the ongoing debate surrounding generative AI in the gaming industry, an industry grappling with ethical concerns, rights issues, and the limitations of AI in creating consistently high-quality, enjoyable content. Keywords Studios' failed experiment in creating an entirely AI-generated game underscores the limitations of current AI technology in replacing human talent.