Summary:
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 criticized for widespread use of AI-generated art, sparking debates among players.
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Activision confirmed generative-AI tools are used in development, raising concerns about quality and impact on human artists.
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Treyarch and Raven Software defend AI use, stating it helps deliver content efficiently, but players question quality and authenticity.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is drawing criticism from players after the discovery of what appears to be wide use of AI-generated art across several in-game assets.
The conversation gained traction in gaming forums and social platforms, where users shared examples of calling cards, cosmetic items, and loading screens they believe lack the polish typically associated with the franchise.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is littered with AI art slop, because your $70 means nothing anymore
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Concerns intensified after Activision confirmed earlier this year that generative-AI tools are being used in its development pipeline. The company added a disclosure to the game’s Steam page stating that “generative AI tools” helped create some in-game assets. The statement did not clarify how much of the art was produced using these tools or how the studio reviews AI-assisted work.
Treyarch and Raven Software, the studios behind Black Ops 7, have previously said that human artists oversee the entire creative process.
Players critical of the shift say several images in the new release show inconsistent styles or visual errors, which they argue would not appear in hand-produced work. Others have expressed concern that the use of AI could reduce quality in a full-priced game or undermine work traditionally done by human artists.
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Supporters of the approach say AI tools are becoming common across the industry and can help studios deliver large volumes of content more efficiently. Many players have also noted that gameplay remains their primary focus and that visual discrepancies do not impact the core experience.
