In December of 2023, Activision was reportedly one of the firms selling such items for the leading game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
(Photo : Sledgehammer Games, Treyarch, Infinity Ward, Beenox, Raven Software, High Moon Studios, Demonware / Screenshot taken from Steam.)
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Unclear AI Use in Call of Duty: MW3 Bundle
According to a Wired report, the cosmetic was part of the Yokai's Wrath bundle that was released in December, 2023, though it was unrevealed by the game store at that time. It was evaluated as costing 1,500 COD Points, the equivalent in US dollars of $15, and included other virtual goods: a schematic of an Operator, a weapon, a calling card, a weapon sticker, and a loading screen. But there is no information on the exact percentage of this bundle created by AI.
Industry Impact and Worker Worries
This news article sheds some lights on worker worries over job losses caused by generative AI for the video game development industry. Microsoft, which purchased Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, laid off 1,900 workers in its gaming business division following the sale of AI-generated cosmetics by Activision.
This is reported to have cost many 2D artists their jobs, and the remaining concept artists were told to start working with AI. An anonymous Activision artist reported that they were given one semester's time at a local university to become an AI master as the change in focus by the company.
Generative AI has been the talk of two industries: video game and entertainment. From AI's creative potentials to The Witcher, where it could be a menacing trajectory, the voice actor Doug Cockle argues why it is so. According to its critics, such AI-generated content rings hollow in at least as many ways as its advocates claim is revelatory and raises serious ethical and intellectual property issues.
However, large corporations such as Microsoft and Sony invest in these programs, driving forward the involvement of AI in gaming and proving the potential ability to enhance player experiences and shape game development in a more efficient manner.
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