Activision Addresses AI-Generated Assets in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
▼ Summary
– Players are criticizing Activision for using generative AI art in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, particularly in calling card images with Studio Ghibli-like styling.
– Activision responded by stating they use AI tools to support their teams but emphasize that their creative process is led by talented individuals.
– The game’s Steam page includes a disclaimer acknowledging the use of generative AI tools for developing some in-game assets.
– This is not the first such incident, as Activision previously admitted to using generative AI in Black Ops 6, including a controversial zombie Santa loading screen.
– An associate creative director clarified that AI tools are meant to streamline development, not replace human creators, and all content is intended to be human-touched before inclusion.
Activision has responded to growing player concerns about the apparent inclusion of AI-generated art assets in various parts of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Fans recently took to social media to voice their displeasure, pointing specifically to in-game calling cards that many believe were created using generative AI. Several users noted that these images appear to mimic the distinct visual style of Studio Ghibli, echoing a trend from earlier this year involving AI-generated Ghibli-inspired artwork.
One player, Kume, posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating they hadn’t examined the multiplayer and zombie calling cards closely but suspected AI was used there as well. They emphasized that the campaign and endgame calling cards in particular displayed what they called a “blatant Sora/Grok artstyle.”
In reply to the criticism, Activision provided a statement to several media outlets, including PC Gamer. The company explained, “Like so many around the world, we use a variety of digital tools, including AI tools, to empower and support our teams to create the best gaming experiences possible for our players. Our creative process continues to be led by the talented individuals in our studios.”
It’s also worth noting that the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Steam page carries a disclaimer indicating that generative AI tools help develop some in-game assets, though the statement offers little detail about how or where these tools are applied.
This is not the first time the Call of Duty franchise has faced backlash over AI-generated content. A similar situation occurred in February, when Activision confirmed it used generative AI during the development of Black Ops 6. One particular loading screen featuring a zombie Santa Claus drew sharp criticism, with fans labeling it “AI slop.”
More recently, in August, Black Ops 7 Associate Creative Director Miles Leslie offered further insight into the development team’s approach to AI. He stated, “We live in a world now, where there are AI tools. I think our official statement we said last year, around Black Ops 6, is that everything that goes into the game is touched by the team a hundred percent. We have generative AI tools to help us, but none of that goes in-game.”
Leslie acknowledged that some AI-generated material had made it into the final product accidentally. He stressed, “We’ve come out and been very clear that we use these as tools to help the team, but they do not replace any of the fantastic team members we have that are doing the final touches and building that content to put it in the game. So everything you play: human-created and touched. AI tools in the world we live in: it’s how do we streamline it? That’s really the goal. Not replace, but streamline.”
When IGN followed up by asking why the controversial zombie Santa and other AI-generated images had not been removed from the game, Leslie indicated that decision fell outside his department. He noted that “the team is actively looking at that stuff,” though it remains unclear whether Activision’s official position on AI usage has shifted over time.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is currently available. Early critical impressions of the campaign describe it as ambitious but uneven, with some reviewers noting that its bold creative choices don’t always succeed, making it feel like a step down from the previous installment.
(Source: IGN)
