It turns out that our suspicions were correct: Activision is employing AI in Call of Duty. However, it’s important to note that this technology isn’t going anywhere; instead, we can expect to see more of it in the future.
It seems as though criticism is brewing from behind, and I’m not advocating for AI over a skilled designer creating high-quality content. Regarding Activision, now owned by one of the world’s most prominent and wealthiest corporations, such behavior strikes me as repugnant, considering their continuous earnings from our wallets throughout the year.
The debate about AI isn’t just about right or wrong, good or evil. The fact is that AI technology exists and can generate graphics, text, and sounds, and developers are bound to utilize it. What irks me the most isn’t that it’s being employed, but rather the dishonesty. Activision would likely have kept quiet about it unless compelled to do so.
It also doesn’t paint a happy picture of the future of gaming.
The fact Steam has to force this disclosure is wrong
I’d like to express my appreciation for Steam, as they have been particularly attentive to their customers lately. A recent update required developers to disclose whether a purchase was for the game itself or simply a license, which might vanish from one’s library in the future.
However, the platform enforces an obligatory AI disclosure policy for games aiming to be marketed via their store. To put it simply, if you create a PC game without being associated with Steam, it seems like you’re turning down potential earnings. But it’s clear that Activision doesn’t turn away from money-making opportunities.
In a nutshell, Steam seems to handle AI well, while other platforms struggle. However, artificial intelligence remains a divisive topic across various fields, including gaming. Some people embrace it, yet many more express disdain towards it. Regardless, AI is here to stay, and it’s crucial for developers to be transparent with their customers about whether they use AI in their games and specifically which aspects are AI-generated.
In simple terms, Future plc – the proprietor of Windows Central – openly shares its Artificial Intelligence guidelines for all to peruse. This transparency is what bolsters your confidence in our content. It’s worth noting that if it’s discovered that AI is being used to compose articles, it would compromise our employment status.
If Steam hadn’t made its game developers disclose information willingly, how many of them would have done so voluntarily? For instance, in the case of Activision, one of the world’s largest gaming companies, they had plenty of time but decided not to reveal it until they were compelled to do so.
With my experience in retail and client service, I can confidently assert that deceiving your customers will lead to a short-lived customer base.
Additionally, it’s crucial that the same set of policies are enforced across all retail stores, particularly those specializing in video game sales. And yes, that includes you, Xbox.
It’s not a good look when the video games industry is cutting jobs left and right
It’s been perceived as insensitive that AI is now being used to create game assets, considering the massive wave of layoffs happening within the industry lately. Notably, even Xbox, encompassing Activision, reported more than 2,500 job cuts only a year ago.
It’s unclear what specific roles were impacted or if any designers were involved, but given the introduction of advanced AI imagery in the latest Call of Duty game, it’s not hard to imagine a possible connection with the recent layoffs.
In this game, where you need to spend $90 in real money to get all the TMNT collaboration items, plus the base game at $70, the standard battle pass, and additional Blackcell upgrades on top of that, as well as numerous new bundles for purchase, it’s not surprising that players are feeling frustrated.
It’s understandable if you feel frustrated when a game you’ve invested significant time or money into uses artificial intelligence instead of genuine player interactions. After all, it’s only natural to expect value for your investment. However, just because I said it’s here to stay doesn’t mean it has to be loved unconditionally.
For instance, the image you see here is of me requesting ChatGPT to design something akin to Call of Duty. It took merely 90 seconds to create, and without considering the text, it could potentially serve as a calling card. However, just because it’s suitable for that purpose doesn’t necessarily mean it should be incorporated into a multibillion-dollar video game franchise. Even though I believe it surpasses some of the existing calling cards in terms of aesthetics, which is unfortunate.
To the public, it seems as though these massive corporations, including Microsoft which boasts a value exceeding $2 trillion and has even surpassed $3 trillion at certain points, are letting go of their employees and replacing them with AI systems that produce inferior work. This practice is utterly unacceptable.
Initially trying to hide or deny something, only to eventually be compelled to confess, we’ve all encountered such a scenario. The revelation that it’s AI is part of the picture, but that doesn’t necessarily make it more acceptable. In certain contexts, especially those involving job displacement, it can feel quite offensive.
Will it make AI ‘slop’ more widespread?
If some players stop playing Call of Duty due to its stance on AI, Activision as a large corporation should be able to weather this change. However, smaller game developers further down the chain might experience more significant challenges if a notable number of their players decide to quit.
My concern lies in the possibility that major entities escaping accountability for their actions could set a precedent, leading to an increase of what’s known as “AI messiness” throughout our systems.
It’s already starting, too. Just look at these examples from Steam Next Fest.
I haven’t had a chance to try any of these, so I can’t offer an opinion on their quality. However, all of them appear to utilize AI for elements such as characters, voices, music, or a mix thereof. They might be quite impressive. Nevertheless, the simulator genre seems to be increasingly flooded with content produced by AI.
While an AI-generated game doesn’t automatically make it unworthy, it does spark the debate about future quality. It’s possible for someone to swiftly produce a game using AI, but that doesn’t guarantee its quality will be high.
video games should offer a rich, immersive experience; if they lack depth in their visuals and storyline, it might not be worth investing our precious time playing them.
It’s not all bad…
Behind adversity often lies opportunity. For instance, the upcoming game titled inZOI boasts some substantial AI components integrated within it. Frankly, I’m intrigued to witness how things unfold with these features.
In essence, inZOI appears to be similar to The Sims, serving as a digital life simulator. Here, you can cultivate miniature digital characters and their surrounding environment. As mentioned on Steam, the AI description goes like this:
Users have the ability to create custom textures for character outfits and various items by typing in words, as well as transform images into 3D objects that can be used for decoration or accessories. Furthermore, users can animate their ZOI’s surroundings using videos, and control the actions and thoughts of ZOIs through sLM technology, resulting in more immersive and interactive experiences.
In comparison, the details provided about AI in this instance are much more comprehensive than what was given in Black Ops 6. It appears Activision is only meeting the essential requirements there, as they don’t specify whether the items you accumulate (such as calling cards or game elements) are generated by AI, part of the game world, or even worse, premium cosmetics that could potentially be produced using AI.
Contrarily, inZOI seems to be getting it just right. This genre of games appears to be an ideal match for AI. Why? Because who wouldn’t want to shape their very own distinctive game realm by clearly expressing your desires and watching it materialize before you?
As a tech enthusiast, I’ve been captivated by the latter part since the inception of AI. Reminds me of the movie “Free Guy,” where an AI character in a video game evolves, breaking free from predefined actions to make its own choices. Quite fascinating!
As a gaming enthusiast, I firmly believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has an incredible potential to elevate the sophistication of Non-Player Characters (NPCs) in video games. Even with the most captivating scripts, there’s always a sense of predictability. In immersive games like inZOI, which thrive on crafting an authentic and engaging universe, it seems only natural that we delve deeper into intelligent interactions rather than relying on pre-programmed, boilerplate responses. This exploration promises to breathe fresh life into the gaming experience, making it even more captivating and immersive.
The final outcome should reflect a thoughtful and accountable strategy. Developers must unquestionably be open about their AI purposes and allow us to form our own opinions on the matter. AI holds immense promise for revolutionizing the realm of video games, yet it necessitates accountability.
There is, ultimately, no substitute for human talent. No machine should be allowed to replace that.
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2025-02-26 18:40