Black Ops 7 Under Fire: AI Artwork Allegations and Low Steam Player Count Stir Debate

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 released last week across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms, but its launch has been less than ideal. The game’s concurrent player numbers on Steam have been underwhelming, especially when compared to recent multiplayer competitors like Battlefield 6 and Arc Raiders. Additionally, Black Ops 7 is facing criticism from players over the alleged use of generative AI for certain in-game artwork.

Steam Player Count

Black Ops 7, accessible through the Call of Duty app, crossed 100,000 peak concurrent players on Steam on Sunday (as per SteamDB), two days after launch. This number is significantly lower compared to Battlefield 6 (700,000 players) and Arc Raiders (300,000 players), both of which performed strongly immediately after release.

However, it is worth considering that a large portion of Black Ops 7’s PC players may have accessed the game through Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass, since the title was added to Xbox Game Pass on day one. PlayStation and Xbox player numbers are not publicly available. Both Activision and Microsoft have not yet released sales or player statistics.

Despite this, Xbox chief Phil Spencer congratulated the developers, saying:
“Thank you to the incredible teams behind Call of Duty. Your creativity and passion continue to shape gaming culture and deliver unforgettable experiences. You made history again. Congratulations on this amazing milestone.”

Generative AI Artwork Controversy

Black Ops 7 also sparked controversy after players claimed that some of the artwork used for in-game calling cards appeared to be AI-generated. Screenshots shared on social media showed artwork resembling Studio Ghibli-style AI images that became popular earlier this year.

On the game’s Steam page, Activision acknowledges using generative AI tools “to help develop some in-game assets,” but does not clarify which assets were created using AI.

In a statement to XboxEra, Activision said:
“We use various digital tools, including AI tools, to support our teams in creating the best possible gaming experiences. Our creative process continues to be led by talented individuals in our studios.”

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launched on November 14 across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X. The title is also available through Xbox Game Pass.