Activision has officially confirmed that they are using generative AI for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
As reported by Dexerto, they have added this description to the game’s Steam page:
“Our team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in game assets.”
Last year, we reported on a Wired investigation that some game companies were already using generative AI, and that they were doing so without publicly disclosing it. These included Activision, but also Riot Games and other unnamed game companies.
Notably, Wired found that Activision was already using Chat GPT 3.5 as early as the start of 2023. This is before Microsoft successfully closed their deal to acquire Activision, and well before it was certain to close. So Activision already spent money on AI model technology for generative AI under its former CEO, Bobby Kotick.
At the time, CharlieIntel cited several examples of DLS that they believe used generative AI to create art and descriptions for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III DLC. We did go back to check, and found that the Steam page for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III does not disclose it used generative AI, at least as of this writing.
That may change in time, but it does highlight that Wired’s investigation may be proven true. If so, Riot Games and other game studios who have games on Steam may also later admit they used generative AI. Don’t be surprised if games of different scales, publishers, and developers come out with this disclosure, even Valve themselves.
If you don’t want game developers to use generative AI in the games you play, take this as an alarm. If at least Activision invested in generative AI as early as 2023, other game companies must have also been studying the technology as well.
From our own reports, we have found that Take-Two Interactive, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and Bungie have all either revealed they were already using generative AI to make video games, or are experimenting with it. Microsoft is clearly ahead of the pack with MUSE, a completely new generative AI they developed in-house.
As of right now, the public doesn’t know how widespread AI model use has already become in the video game industry. Because of the common misconception that it’s only used for generating AI assets, gamers may not realize that they could find application in anti-cheat, which some Call of Duty players also suspect Activision is doing.
Given that a lot of real artists have been falsely accused of using generative AI when it wasn’t the case, it’s really possible that you were playing video games that had generative AI or AI model tech in it and you would not be able to tell.
