Activision Confirms Use of Generative AI in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Activision, the publisher behind the popular Call of Duty franchise, has made a significant update to the Steam page for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. This update reveals that the development of the game involved the use of generative AI to create some in-game assets.

The confirmation comes as part of a new policy from Steam, which is the leading platform for PC gaming, requiring developers to disclose when artificial intelligence is utilized in game development.

In its statement, Activision noted, “Our team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in-game assets.” However, the company did not provide specific details about which assets were generated with AI assistance and did not respond immediately to inquiries for further information.

The Call of Duty series stands as one of the largest franchises in the gaming industry, with successful releases every year for the past twenty years. Data from Circana, an industry analytics group, highlighted that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was the top-selling video game in the United States for 2024, despite its late October release.

As reported by PC Gamer, players had speculated that the unusual appearance of certain loading screens and “calling card” backgrounds in both Black Ops 6 and the earlier Modern Warfare 3 were possibly created using generative AI technology.

This disclosure from Activision adds to the ongoing discussions about the role of artificial intelligence in various entertainment sectors. Recent films like The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez, which are considered contenders for the Best Picture award at the 2025 Academy Awards, have faced criticism for employing AI to enhance the vocal performances of actors.

In January 2024, Valve, the creator of Steam, introduced a “Content Survey” that requires game developers to declare any AI use when submitting games to the platform. Valve stated that it would consider this information when reviewing games prior to their release and that parts of the disclosure would be made visible on the game's Steam store page to inform consumers.

Valve's policy classifies AI-generated content into two categories: “Pre-Generated,” which refers to content created during development, and “Live-Generated,” which pertains to content generated during gameplay. Both types must comply with Steam's policies, and there are specific safeguards required for Live-Generated content to prevent illegal material.

Following reports of developers alleging that their games were rejected due to copyright issues related to AI-generated material, Steam clarified its AI content policies. This controversy has prompted rival platforms, such as Epic Games, to attract developers to their stores.

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