Activision, like many leading game development studios today, integrates artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into the creation process for its titles, including the upcoming installment in the popular Call of Duty series. Regarding the highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, set to release this year, Miles Leslie, the game`s associate creative director, has offered a clear explanation of Activision`s stance on AI within the franchise.
In an interview with IGN, Leslie emphatically stated that “Everything that goes into the game is touched by the team a hundred percent.” He confirmed that while generative AI tools are indeed leveraged to support development efforts, none of the AI-generated output is directly implemented into the final game content. This clarifies that AI serves as an assistive technology, with human oversight and refinement being paramount for all in-game assets.
Leslie also addressed previous instances where AI-created content might have inadvertently appeared in past Call of Duty titles, describing such occurrences as “by accident.” He indicated that Activision`s development teams are actively investigating these issues and working to prevent similar situations from arising in the future. He stressed Activision`s unequivocal commitment: AI technologies are utilized to “help the team” and enhance workflow, explicitly not to “replace any of the fantastic team members” responsible for building Call of Duty`s rich content.
This clarification comes amid ongoing industry debates and anxieties surrounding AI`s potential impact on employment. A 2024 report by Wired, citing an anonymous source, suggested that concept artists at Call of Duty were reportedly “forced to use AI” in their work, coinciding with layoffs that affected numerous 2D artists at Activision as part of broader job cuts by Microsoft. However, a direct link between these layoffs and the use of AI remains unconfirmed. Leslie, for his part, firmly reiterated that all content within Call of Duty is “human-created and touched.”
Leslie concluded by acknowledging that AI tools are an undeniable reality in today`s world, and Activision has no plans to discontinue their use. Instead, the company`s objective is to strategically employ AI to “streamline” game development processes, thereby boosting efficiency without substituting human talent.
The adoption of AI in game development is a widespread trend across the industry; a global survey of developers revealed that the majority of studios are indeed using AI technologies, despite significant concerns among employees regarding potential job displacement. Prominent figures like Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson have expressed the view that while AI may lead to short-term job reductions, it will ultimately foster a greater number of overall employment opportunities, drawing parallels to previous technological revolutions. Conversely, some individuals impacted by recent Microsoft layoffs, including staff from Candy Crush developer King, reportedly claimed that their roles were supplanted by the very AI tools they helped design.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is slated for release on November 14, 2025, and will be available across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC platforms. Furthermore, the game will be accessible on Game Pass from its launch day, with a multiplayer beta scheduled to commence in October.