A scorching potato: Activision has admitted what most individuals have suspected for years: it’s utilizing some AI-generated content material in Name of Responsibility. It would not come as an excessive amount of of a shock given the proof, which incorporates a picture of a zombie Santa Claus in a loading display screen with six fingers. It is a contentious problem, particularly as Activision Blizzard laid off 1,900 staff in 2023.
Claims that Activision was utilizing AI started gaining reputation across the time of Trendy Warfare 3. Wired reported final 12 months that the corporate had began utilizing AI instruments in its recreation improvement in 2023, a 12 months when roughly 11,250 folks working within the trade have been laid off.
The report claims that Activision accepted the usage of sure generative AI instruments in creating idea artwork and advertising and marketing supplies in mid-2023, and by the top of the 12 months, Activision launched an AI-generated beauty, the $15 Yokai’s Wrath bundle, on the Name of Responsibility: Trendy Warfare 3 retailer.
What was most likely Activision’s most blatant use of AI appeared in a holiday-themed loading display screen that confirmed a zombie Santa with six fingers – one of many indicators that a picture was generated utilizing synthetic intelligence instruments. There was additionally a multi-digit hand used to advertise Zombies Gobblegum, whereas the Arduous Breakup calling card options a picture of a lady with hair and buckles that look so much like AI-generated property.
Activision neither confirmed nor denied the accusations, however in January 2025, Steam introduced a brand new coverage stating that builders should disclose any use of AI inside their video games.
Presumably because of Valve’s coverage, Activision now features a disclaimer on the Name of Responsibility: Black Ops 6’s Steam web page that states, “Our workforce makes use of generative AI instruments to assist develop some in-game property.” Curiously, there isn’t any such disclosure on the Trendy Warfare 3 web page, a minimum of not but.
The disclaimer appears intentionally imprecise as recreation property might consult with a variety of issues, together with cosmetics.
Whereas avid gamers aren’t glad concerning the admission, there appear to be some areas the place Activision is utilizing AI which have been deemed acceptable. One among these is to establish Name of Responsibility cheaters, one other is the chat moderation system, which noticed a 43% drop in toxicity following its implementation.
