Activision Finally Admits It Uses Generative AI for Some Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Assets After Backlash Following 'AI Slop' Zombie Santa Loading Screen

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 players voiced concerns about the quality of certain in-game assets, specifically citing a "sloppy" Zombie Santa loading screen.

Following the Season 1 Reloaded update, fans noticed anomalies in various Black Ops 6 loading screens, calling cards, and artwork. The most prominent example was a depiction of Zombie Santa, or "Necroclaus," which appeared to have six fingers. This is a common flaw in generative AI, which often struggles with accurately rendering hands.

Further scrutiny revealed similar issues in other images, including a gloved hand with an unusual number of digits in a community event graphic.

These observations prompted a community discussion, with Reddit user Shaun_LaDee highlighting additional irregularities in paid bundles. 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 confirmation follows a Wired report from July detailing Activision's sale of an AI-generated cosmetic item in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 the previous year, a sale that lacked any AI usage disclosure. This cosmetic, part of the Yokai’s Wrath bundle (December 2023), cost 1,500 COD Points (approximately $15).

The Wired report also highlighted the layoff of 1,900 employees from Microsoft's gaming division shortly after this sale, suggesting a potential link between AI adoption and job displacement within Activision. Anonymous Activision artists claimed that 2D artists were laid off and remaining staff were pressured to utilize AI tools.

The use of generative AI in game development remains a contentious issue, raising ethical and rights concerns, and facing criticism for its inconsistent ability to produce 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 creativity and talent.