Activision Confirms Generative AI Use in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Activision, the maker 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 players voiced concerns about the quality of certain in-game assets, particularly a "Zombie Santa" loading screen that sparked controversy due to apparent anomalies.
In December 2023, following the Season 1 Reloaded update, fans noticed irregularities in various Black Ops 6 loading screens, calling cards, and artwork. The main point of contention was a depiction of "Necroclaus," a Zombie Santa, which appeared to have six fingers. This is a common issue with generative AI, which often struggles with accurately rendering hands and digits.
Following the outcry and in response to new AI disclosure regulations on Steam, Activision added a 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 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 (released December 2023), cost 1,500 COD Points (approximately $15).
The use of AI in game development, particularly amidst recent industry layoffs, has raised ethical and rights concerns. Keywords Studios' failed experiment in creating an entirely AI-generated game further underscores the limitations of current AI technology in replacing human creative talent. The debate continues regarding the ethical implications and the overall quality of AI-generated content in the gaming industry.
