Since the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, the gaming community has not taken off. At issue: the supposed presence of visual elements generated by artificial intelligence in the game, particularly on business cards with a style very close to the aesthetic of Studio Ghibli. Faced with growing discontent on social networks, Activision was forced to react, by partially assuming the use of generative AI tools.
The controversy has been growing since several players noted visuals deemed suspicious, publishing screenshots and comparisons to support their suspicions. The @Kumesicles account notably pointed out end-of-game and campaign cards with a design described as “Sora/Grok”, in reference to known AI models. In response to the commotion, Activision issued an official statement: “Like many others around the world, we use various digital tools, including AI tools, to enable our teams to create the best possible gaming experiences for our players. Our creative process remains driven by the talent in our studios.”
AI, a simple tool or an actor in the game?
On the game’s Steam page, a discreet warning already mentions this use: “Our team uses generative AI tools to help us develop certain elements of the game.” A vague formula, which does not provide a clear response to the accusations. And for good reason: this is not the first time that Activision has faced this type of criticism. In February, the presence of a loading screen representing a zombie Santa Claus, obviously generated by AI, had already caused a similar outcry around Black Ops 6.
Trying to put out the fire, Miles Leslie, associate creative director on Black Ops 7, then tried to reassure: “Today we live in a world where AI tools are omnipresent. Last year, about Black Ops 6, we made it clear that the team takes care of everything in the game. We use generative AI tools, but no element is integrated into the game.”
But in the face of the evidence, he conceded a form of awkwardness: “And here you are going to say to me: ‘Yes, but it happened.’ I will say that it happened by accident. That was absolutely not our intention. We have always been very clear: we use these tools to help the team, but they in no way replace the fantastic members of our team who refine the content and integrate it into the game.”
The blurred line between assistance and creation
Activision’s position seems to oscillate between discreet recognition and technical justification. For Leslie, the intention is not to replace humans: “Everything you play is created and manipulated by humans. AI tools in the world we live in: how do we simplify them? That’s the real goal. Not replace, but simplify.”
Asked by IGN about keeping elements like the famous zombie Santa Claus in the game, the creative was evasive, simply stating that “the team is actively looking into the matter.”
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, developed by Raven Software, has been available since November 14. Despite a campaign deemed “bold but uneven”debates around AI are now stealing the spotlight from feedback on the gameplay itself.