Summary
Call of Dutymaker Activision has reportedly sold an in-game cosmetic forModern Warfare 3that was designed using generative AI. While many in the games industry have spoken about the possible applications ofgenerative AI as an assistive tool for game development, it has also been contentious among others due to its derivative nature. Generative AI tends to combine elements from existing works instead of producing something wholly original, which leads to an ethical (and possibly legal) gray area for creatives.
The rapid progress of generative AI also poses a threat to the jobs of artists, designers, software engineers, etc., across the games industry. For these reasons, there has been a lot of consternation over implementing generative AI into a foundational level for game development. Many studios and publishers remain on the fence about the prospect, but it appears that one of the biggest companies in the industry, Activision, might already be using generative AI for 2023’sCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
As per a newreport from Wiredabout the impact of generative AI on careers within the games industry, Activision allegedly “made an AI-generated cosmetic available for purchase” inCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s in-game store. The report doesn’t specify exactly which cosmetic it refers to, but states that it’s part of the Yokai’s Wrath bundle which was released in December 2023, and includes an Operator skin, weapon blueprint, calling card, weapon sticker, and a loading screen. It’s currently unknown how much of this bundle is AI-generated, with speculation ranging from one or two cosmetics to everything in it.
Activision Reportedly Pushing for More Generative AI Use in Game Art Development
Neither Activision nor Microsoft have responded to the claims yet, but many in the games industry haven’t taken kindly to the Wired report. Utilizing generative AI to replace creatives has been one of the biggest fears surrounding the technology since its inception, and several companies likeSquare Enix have realized the implications of generative AIand somewhat backed away from it recently. If Activision is indeed using it to push out artists, one can only wonder how long it might take until other key roles are threatened.
