The latest instalment in the Call of Duty franchise, Black Ops 7, has achieved an unfortunate milestone, recording one of the lowest user ratings in the series' history on Metacritic as controversy over its use of artificial intelligence escalates to political levels.
Political Firestorm Over AI Implementation
US Democrat congressman Ro Khanna has entered the fray, calling for regulatory action against companies using AI to replace human jobs. In response to the AI-generated artwork appearing in Black Ops 7, Khanna took to social media platform X to voice his concerns.
'We need regulations that prevent companies from using AI to eliminate jobs to extract greater profits,' Khanna declared. 'Artists at these companies need to have a say in how AI is deployed. They should share in the profits. And there should be a tax on mass displacement.'
The congressman followed up with additional criticism, stating: 'A company replacing artists with AI is not much different than one that replaces truck drivers. AI cannot just be for enriching tech billionaires. AI must be for us, not them.'
Developer Response and Fan Backlash
Activision has responded to the growing criticism with a carefully worded statement attempting to reassure both players and critics. 'Like so many around the world, we use a variety of digital tools, including AI tools, to empower and support our teams to create the best gaming experiences possible for players,' the company stated via PC Gamer.
The publisher emphasised that 'our creative process continues to be led by the talented individuals in our studios,' though this has done little to quell the anger from both players and industry observers.
The game's Steam page now carries a vague disclaimer regarding AI use, reading: 'Our team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in-game assets.' This follows similar criticism directed at the previous title, Black Ops 6, which also faced backlash for using AI-generated artwork.
Historic Low Ratings and Fan Discontent
The controversy has manifested in brutal user reviews on Metacritic, where Black Ops 7 currently sits with a devastating 1.9 user score based on more than 900 player ratings. This places it among the worst-rated Call of Duty titles in history.
For context, the much-criticised Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 from 2023 maintains a user score of 2.3 based on over 2,300 ratings. The only user score found to be lower belongs to 2011's obscure handheld spin-off, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – Defiance for Nintendo DS, which scored 1.5.
Meanwhile, professional critics have been considerably more generous, awarding the game an 83 critic score based on 18 reviews, though it's worth noting that most sites didn't receive review copies until launch day.
Player complaints extend beyond the AI controversy, with many citing the weak campaign and criticism of the new wall jump movement mechanic as additional sources of disappointment.
The AI-generated content appears to have manifested primarily in multiplayer calling cards, which feature strangely Ghibli-esque animation styles that clash dramatically with the game's overall aesthetic.
Broader Implications for the Franchise
This controversy arrives at a challenging time for the Call of Duty franchise, with increased competition from titles like Battlefield 6 and Arc Raiders threatening its longstanding dominance in the shooter genre.
The situation raises serious questions about the future implementation of AI in game development and whether player backlash will force publishers to reconsider their approach to emerging technologies.
With opinions potentially shifting in the coming months and ongoing political scrutiny, the fallout from Black Ops 7's launch could have lasting implications for both the franchise and the wider gaming industry's relationship with artificial intelligence.
