Ugly business cards, failed posters, soulless visuals: Black Ops 7 does not scandalize for its game mechanics, but for its aesthetics generated by artificial intelligence. And this could well be just the beginning.
Released in 2025, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was to mark a turning point in Activision’s flagship series. But instead of enthusiasm, anger is brewing among the fans. At issue: a profusion of visual elements designed by AI, deemed lifeless and unworthy of a game with a colossal budget. Far from causing amazement, these creations aroused irritation on networks and specialized forums.
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 drowned in AI-generated art
From posters to business cards to unlockable icons, players quickly noticed the strange signature of artificial intelligence in the game’s visuals. Visually inconsistent compositions, hastily mixed art styles, and an overall feel without identity. As one reviewer sums it up: “A computer cannot paint a soul.”
Some illustrations clumsily attempt to imitate universes like that of Studio Ghibli, with medieval banners inserted into a futuristic world of war. A discrepancy such as deception is immediately obvious. The fans’ verdict is clear: “Call of Duty business cards have never been high-end art — not even the ones with weed on them.”
But this aesthetic mediocrity is only a symptom. Behind these emotionless images hides a deeper problem: that of transparency. “Is the texture of a hideous weapon camo just ugly or AI-generated?” we ask ourselves in the community. The doubts even extend to dialogue or sound textures. And as the author points out: “Companies will likely hide or, at best, remain vague about what is and is not AI-powered.”
Activision criticized for its reliance on artificial intelligence
The Black Ops 7 situation illustrates the excesses of massive use of AI in the development of AAA games. Unlike smaller studios like 11 Bit Studios (The Alters) or Embark Studios (Arc Raiders), who recognized occasional use of automated tools, Activision did not seek to demonstrate nuance. “Black Ops 7 can’t even claim to have this level of nuance.”
For a license sold at a high price, combining microtransactions and premium content, the use of artificial images to decorate the interface is seen as a cost reduction strategy more than as an artistic choice. “Businesses that can afford to hire additional artists will no longer have to.” The danger? Let this logic be permanently established in production standards.
“This technology will not be used sparingly to help workers; it will undoubtedly be used as a weapon to replace many.” An alarming vision for many developers, already affected by waves of layoffs in the video game industry in 2025. And even the most optimistic will have difficulty defending the visual rendering of Black Ops 7, because “it’s a moral stain on top of being just plain ugly.