Activision Reportedly Sold An AI-Generated Skin In Call Of Duty

Summary

• The Yokai's Wrath bundle in Modern Warfare 3 was reportedly created using generative A.I.
• News of Activision's use of A.I. comes from a new report from Wired, where it's also detailed that 2D artists are facing mandatory A.I. training sessions.
• Earlier in the day, SAG-AFTRA announced it will be going on strike over concerns of generative A.I.

In the ongoing battle against the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) in video games, it's been revealed that Activision released an A.I.-designed skin in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Elsewhere, due to mass layoffs, 2D artists have been forced to use A.I., with mandatory trainings being enforced.

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Information about Activision's A.I. use comes via an in-depth feature published by Wired that highlights the utilization of A.I. in game development, the fears of developers and other information related to the proliferation of A.I. in gaming. The feature, which was published a few days ago, precedes a Thursday decision by SAG-AFTRA to initialize a strike as video game actors seek protections against generative A.I. use. SAG-AFTRA's strike is effective July 26 at 12:01 a.m., and Activision is one of several companies that will be impacted.

Modern Warfare 3's Yokai Skin Was Created With A.I., According To Wired

Back in December of last year, Activision released the Yokai's Wrath bundle for Modern Warfare 3. The bundle, which ran players 1,500 COD Points, came with a Yokai-themed skin, a weapon blueprint, a loading screen, a calling card and a sticker. That skin, according to Wired's reporting, was made using A.I. It's unclear if the entire bundle was generated by A.I., or just the skin.

The Yokai's Wrath bundle was released despite previous guarantees by Activision that A.I. would not be used for final assets, per the report. Instead, Activision assured developers it was simply for internal concepts. That, of course, was not followed through. For what it's worth, per the PlayStation Store, 2,400 COD Points cost $19.99, meaning players potentially spent real-life money on a skin that was not created by an actual human.

As far as A.I. use goes across Activision, a source told Wired that 2D artists are utilizing A.I. to aid their work. That is a result of mass layoffs, in which many 2D artists were impacted. “A lot of 2D artists were laid off,” the source named Noah said. “Remaining concept artists were then forced to use A.I. to aid in their work.” Mandatory A.I. trainings have been implemented, according to Noah.

It's unclear, based on Wired's reporting, whether Activision will refund players who purchased the Yokai bundle. It's also unclear if potentially other bundles were made with A.I. What is clear, though, is that this is just the beginning of what stands to be a long battle over the use of generative A.I.

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