Black Ops 7 is now out for everyone, bringing another chapter in the subfranchise of Treyarch Studios, just a year after the sixth installment. Although the conversation about the game is all over the place, as it always is on launch day, one controversy was on many lips: AI usage.
Just a few hours after launch, many community members found multiple calling cards in the game with illustrations in the Studio Ghibli art style. This is the same style that several AI tools can recreate, which became popular a few months ago.
Although Activision has confirmed its AI usage in the past, this is a more on-the-nose approach, since it's clear that no human effort or artist is needed to create this type of imagery. You can take a look at some of these calling cards below:
When approached about the subject, a representative for Activision stated the following to CharlieIntel:
"Like so many around the world, we use a variety of digital tools, including AI tools, to empower and support our teams to create the best gaming experiences possible for our players. Our creative process continues to be led by the talented individuals in our studios."
Clearly, the response didn't land well with the users concerned about the subject. Many commented on the lack of creativity that its usage creates and wondered what else has been created using AI besides assets.
We are still not certain of the extent of AI usage in the game, and it will probably never be disclosed by the company. However, we have seen suspiciously looking cosmetics end up in shop bundles before, so it's not uncalled for to fear that this trend might continue in the post-launch content.
You can purchase a copy of Black Ops 7 using this link if you are based in the USA, or this link for anyone based in the UK.
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