Activision Reportedly Sold an AI-Generated Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Cosmetic

ign.com:

Activision reportedly sold an “AI-generated cosmetic” for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 in late 2023.

In a report from Wired on the impact of generative AI on the video game development industry and concern among many within it about the threat to their livelihoods, it is alleged that Activision “made an AI-generated cosmetic available for purchase on the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 store.”

The cosmetic in question is not named in the article, but it is linked to: the Yokai’s Wrath bundle released in December 2023. The store did not disclose any use of generative AI for this bundle.

This bundle was sold for 1,500 COD Points, the premium virtual currency sold for real-world money that generates hundreds of millions of dollars for Activision each year. 1,500 COD Points is approximately valued at $15.

It’s worth pointing out that Wired did not specify which part of this bundle was AI-generated, or indeed whether all of it was. The bundle contained a number of virtual items, including an Operator skin, a weapon blueprint, a calling card, a weapon sticker, and a loading screen, all below.

IGN has asked Activision for comment.

Wired pointed out that Microsoft, which owns Activision Blizzard after its $69 billion acquisition of the company last year, cut 1,900 staff from its gaming business just months after Activision sold this skin. The report alleged that 2D artists’ jobs are being replaced by AI at the company.

“A lot of 2D artists were laid off,” one anonymous Activision artist told the site. “Remaining concept artists were then forced to use AI to aid in their work.” Activision employees were allegedly “made” to sign up for AI training, with its use promoted throughout the business.

Generative AI is one of the hottest topics within the video game and entertainment industries, which have both suffered massive layoffs in recent years. Earlier this month, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa was asked about the company’s initiatives involving AI. In response, Furukawa said