After a recent fiasco over a "zombie hand," Activision Blizzard has now confirmed that it used generative AI to help it create visuals for its "Call of Duty" games, particularly for the latest title in the series. "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6" now features an AI label on its Steam page as part of the new transparency policies involving the use of generative AI in games.
The gaming community worldwide is still torn between using generative AI for game development and sticking with human-made content, particularly as some defend the use, but many denounce the technology.
Activision Confirms 'Call of Duty' Used AI-Generated Visuals
"Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's" page on Steam now features an "AI Generated Content Disclosure" notice after a recent transparency policy update from Valve, which requires all developers to publicize this information. This is the first instance that Activision Blizzard's "Call of Duty" has used generative AI for its game assets that the company disclosed to its players.
The AI content disclosure reads, "The developers describe how their game uses AI Generated Content like this: Our team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in-game assets."
This is part of a larger campaign over at Valve's Steam, which now requires developers to be transparent to gamers if their development involves the use of generative AI in any aspect of the game. According to the company, this new transparency policy for AI use will be part of the review done by Valve before the game's release.
Moreover, there is a new system on Steam where players may easily report AI-generated content if they are considered to be inappropriate and if the system previously failed to catch them.
There are two broad categories of this AI-generated content disclosure policy by Valve. First, there is the pre-generated content that is already part of the game. Second, there is the live-generated, which was made while the game is running.
'Black Ops 6' AI Hand Fiasco: Was it Made by Gen AI?
According to CNET, the entire AI-generated issue with Activision Blizzard and Treyarch Games began with the Zombie Santa character that had extra fingers and other distorted qualities when it appeared on "Black Ops 6."
The company also faced significant criticism in the past for offering AI-generated cosmetics and bundles in-game that ask for virtual currency payments, which it did not disclose.
As of writing, Activision Blizzard and Treyarch have yet to address the "AI zombie hand" fiasco that caused quite a stir when it was noticed by gamers.
