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AI-Generated Content in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Acknowledged by Activision

by Nora Feb 25,2025

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 fans 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, players noticed several inconsistencies in Black Ops 6 loading screens, calling cards, and artwork related to Zombies community events. The most prominent example was the "Necroclaus" loading screen, where Zombie Santa appeared to have six fingers – a common issue with generative AI, which often struggles with accurately rendering hands.

Black Ops 6's 'Necroclaus' loading screen. Image credit: Activision Publishing.

Further scrutiny revealed similar issues in other images, including a depiction of a gloved hand with an unusual number of digits. This led to speculation within the Call of Duty community regarding the use of AI in creating assets included in paid bundles.

A questionable hand depiction from a Black Ops 6 in-game asset. Image credit: Activision Publishing.

Following increased pressure from fans and in light of new AI disclosure regulations on Steam, Activision added a statement on the Black Ops 6 Steam page: “Our team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in-game assets.”

This disclosure follows a previous report by Wired, which revealed that Activision had sold an AI-generated cosmetic item in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 in December 2023, without initially disclosing its AI origins. This cosmetic was part of the Yokai’s Wrath bundle, costing 1,500 COD Points (approximately $15).

The use of generative AI in game development has become a contentious issue, particularly given recent layoffs in the gaming industry. Concerns regarding ethical implications, rights issues, and the overall quality of AI-generated content remain central to the ongoing debate. A previous experiment by Keywords Studios to create a fully AI-generated game ultimately failed, highlighting the limitations of current AI technology in replacing human creativity and skill.

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