Is Call of Duty Selling Out to AI? Players Are Furious, and Activision Has a Response
The latest installment of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has ignited a fiery debate among gamers, and it’s not about the gameplay. Players are up in arms over what they believe is the overuse of AI-generated art assets, particularly in the game’s calling card images. But here’s where it gets controversial: Activision has acknowledged using AI tools, but they insist it’s all about enhancing creativity, not replacing human talent. Is this a step forward in game development, or a slippery slope toward soulless, machine-made content? Let’s dive in.
Updated: Nov. 15, 2025, 1:01 a.m.
Activision recently released a statement addressing the growing backlash from players who claim that certain in-game assets, especially the calling card images, bear the unmistakable hallmarks of AI generation. These images, which some players argue mimic the iconic Studio Ghibli style, have sparked outrage on social media. The controversy echoes a trend from earlier this year, where AI-generated Ghibli-style art faced widespread criticism (https://za.ign.com/my-neighbor-totoro/207473/news/studio-ghibli-ai-trend-sparks-chatgpt-backlash-resurfaces-old-comments-from-hayao-miyazaki-and-even).
One player, Kume, tweeted, ‘I haven’t really looked at the Multiplayer and Zombie calling cards as closely, and I’m willing to bet they’re using AI on those too, but it’s only the Campaign and endgame calling cards that are this type of blatant Sora/Grok art style’ (https://twitter.com/Kumesicles/status/1989327996126126344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw).
In response, Activision issued a statement to outlets like PC Gamer (https://www.pcgamer.com/games/call-of-duty/call-of-duty-black-ops-7-under-fire-for-using-what-sure-looks-like-ai-generated-studio-ghibli-style-calling-card-art/), saying, ‘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.’
Interestingly, the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Steam page includes a vague disclaimer: ‘Our team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in-game assets.’ But what does ‘help develop’ really mean? And this is the part most people miss: the lack of transparency has left many players feeling betrayed.
This isn’t the first time Activision has faced scrutiny over AI usage. Back in February, the company admitted to using generative AI in Black Ops 6, including a controversial zombie Santa loading screen that fans dubbed ‘AI slop’ (https://za.ign.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-6/206217/news/activision-finally-admits-it-uses-generative-ai-for-some-call-of-duty-black-ops-6-assets-after-backl). Then, in August, associate creative director Miles Leslie attempted to clarify the team’s stance:
‘We live in a world now where there are AI tools. Our official statement last year, around Black Ops 6, is that everything that goes into the game is touched by the team 100%. We have generative AI tools to help us, but none of that goes in-game—at least not intentionally. It’s about streamlining, not replacing.’ (https://za.ign.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-7/215054/news/call-of-duty-black-ops-7-dev-responds-to-generative-ai-backlash-not-replace-but-streamline)
But when pressed by IGN about why the controversial AI-generated images hadn’t been removed, Leslie deflected, stating it wasn’t his department and that ‘the team is actively looking at that stuff.’ This vague response has only fueled speculation about Activision’s evolving—or perhaps inconsistent—stance on AI.
Here’s the bigger question: Is Activision’s use of AI a necessary evolution in game development, or a shortcut that undermines the artistry of human creators? And if it’s the latter, why aren’t they more transparent about it? The debate rages on, with players divided between those who see AI as a tool for innovation and those who view it as a threat to authenticity.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is available now, but its reception has been mixed. Our reviewer noted that while the campaign is ambitious, it ‘doesn’t always land, leaving it an uneven step down from last year’ (https://za.ign.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-7-campaign/220483/review/call-of-duty-black-ops-7-campaign-review).
What do you think? Is Activision’s use of AI a dealbreaker, or a necessary step forward? Let us know in the comments below!
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Follow her on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a tip? Email her at rvalentine@ign.com.
