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Activision surprised gamers with ads for new projects based on its popular franchises: Guitar Hero, Crash Bandicoot, and Call of Duty. However, the ads themselves, created using neural networks, sparked controversy.
Image: apple.com
An ad for Guitar Hero Mobile, appearing on Activision's social media, linked to an App Store pre-order page. The unusual, artificial imagery immediately drew attention and sparked online discussions. Similar AI-generated art soon surfaced in ads for Crash Bandicoot Brawl and Call of Duty Mobile, initially leading to speculation of hacked accounts. Activision later confirmed this was a deliberate marketing experiment.
Image: apple.com
The gaming community reacted negatively, criticizing Activision for using generative AI instead of professional artists. Concerns arose about the potential for AI-generated content to lower game quality, drawing comparisons to Electronic Arts' controversial practices.
image: apple.com
Activision's use of AI in development and marketing is increasingly contentious. The company has confirmed AI's role in creating content for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Following the backlash, some promotional posts were removed. Whether these games will actually be released, or if this was a test of audience reaction, remains uncertain.
