Home > News > Activision Finally Admits It Uses Generative AI for Some Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Assets After Backlash Following 'AI Slop' Zombie Santa Loading Screen

Activision Finally Admits It Uses Generative AI for Some Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Assets After Backlash Following 'AI Slop' Zombie Santa Loading Screen

by Owen Feb 26,2025

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, specifically citing a "sloppy" Zombie Santa loading screen.

Following the Season 1 Reloaded update, players noticed irregularities in various Black Ops 6 loading screens, calling cards, and artwork. The controversy centered around a Zombie Santa ("Necroclaus") image, which appeared to depict the character with six fingers – a common issue with generative AI's struggle to accurately render hands.

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

Further scrutiny revealed similar anomalies in other images, including a gloved hand seemingly displaying six fingers and a missing thumb. This led to speculation and accusations within the Call of Duty community regarding the use of AI in creating paid content.

A gloved hand with apparent rendering issues. Image credit: Activision Publishing.

Following increased pressure and new AI disclosure regulations on Steam, Activision added a general statement to Black Ops 6's Steam page: "Our team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in-game assets."

This revelation follows a previous report by Wired detailing Activision's sale of an AI-generated cosmetic item in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, a transaction that occurred without disclosing the AI's involvement. This cosmetic was part of the Yokai's Wrath bundle, sold for 1,500 COD Points (approximately $15), generating revenue for Activision.

The use of AI in game development, particularly in light of recent industry layoffs, has sparked debate regarding ethical concerns, copyright issues, and the overall quality of AI-generated content. Keywords Studios' failed experiment in creating an entirely AI-driven game highlights the limitations of current AI technology in replacing human artistic talent. The ongoing discussion underscores the complexities and challenges surrounding the integration of generative AI within the video game industry.

Trending Games More >