Activision is under fire from fans accusing the company of using “AI Slop” in Call of Duty Black Ops 6. The controversy emerged following the Season 1 Reloaded update, where players noticed irregularities in in-game art, including loading screens, calling cards, and visuals explaining Zombies community events.
The backlash primarily centered around an image of “Necroclaus,” an undead Santa featured as a loading screen. Fans were quick to notice and criticize the peculiar detail of Santa appearing to have six fingers on one hand, which sparked widespread attention and discussion.
While some believe the extra “finger” is decaying flesh, others noted discrepancies in the surrounding art, such as misshaped present boxes and ribbons—common issues associated with generative AI’s struggles to render hands accurately.
Another image, promoting a Zombies community event, shows a gloved hand with an unusual six-fingered design. Fans suggest this could imply up to seven fingers when accounting for a thumb, further fueling suspicions about the use of generative AI.
Valve, the operator of Steam, already requires publishers to disclose AI usage in games, with such details displayed on the game’s store page. Call of Duty’s Steam page currently lacks any such disclosure.
The Necroclaus image has sparked a wider review of art assets in Black Ops 6, with Reddit user Shaun_LaDee highlighting three bundle images featuring irregularities indicative of generative AI. Fans are now calling on Activision to disclose whether AI was used for paid in-game content.
Amid the 6 fingered Santa Controversy, I looked into some loading screens included in PAID bundles…
byu/Shaun_LaDee inCODZombies
This isn’t the first time Activision has faced scrutiny for AI-generated content. In July, reports surfaced about an “AI-generated cosmetic” sold in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 as part of the Yokai’s Wrath bundle. Sold for 1,500 COD Points (valued at $15), the bundle’s AI origins were not disclosed at the time.
Activision has also been criticized for allegedly replacing 2D artists with AI. Reports from Wired revealed that, following Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, around 1,900 gaming staff were laid off. An anonymous artist claimed many 2D artists were dismissed, with remaining staff compelled to integrate AI into their workflow.
The broader video game and entertainment industries have seen similar controversies, with generative AI raising ethical and quality concerns. Some players argue AI-generated assets lack creativity and fail to engage audiences effectively.
For example, Keywords Studios attempted to develop a game entirely using AI, but the project was deemed unsuccessful, with the company admitting that AI “could not replace talent.”
Generative AI remains a divisive issue, and fans continue to press Activision for transparency about its use in their games. Whether the company responds to the backlash remains to be seen.
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