Key Takeaways
1. Call of Duty has grown significantly since its 2003 launch, starting with a WWII-themed game praised for its gameplay and teamwork elements.
2. The latest title, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, has received overwhelmingly negative reviews, with a rating of Mostly Negative and significant criticisms from players.
3. Black Ops 7’s sales are 50% lower than the previous entry, Black Ops 6, and its opening-week sales are 63% lower than competitor Battlefield 6.
4. The game has been criticized for relying on generative AI content, leading to complaints about the quality and authenticity of its assets.
5. Some players have successfully requested refunds after completing the game, citing dissatisfaction with the AI-generated content that was not disclosed in marketing materials.
Call of Duty has seen tremendous growth since it first launched in 2003, when Infinity Ward and Activision joined forces to create a game that would revolutionize the first-person shooter genre. The inaugural title was a shooter set during WWII, featuring three single-player campaigns that highlighted infantry and combined-arms combat. It also included a multiplayer mode with maps based on significant locations from the campaigns.
The game was met with high praise, earning numerous accolades, including Game of the Year from several critics. Its gameplay emphasized teamwork, with squad members assisting the main player in achieving goals and reacting differently to various scenarios. Ironically, the game was celebrated for its AI-controlled opponents.
Disappointing Reception for Black Ops 7
The newest entry in the Call of Duty series, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which launched on November 14, has faced some of the most unfavorable reviews in the series’ history. Currently, the game holds a Mostly Negative rating with over 1,300 negative reviews. The only aspect that players seem to appreciate is the zombies mode; Battlefield 6 should take note.
Data from The Game Business, sourced from GSD—a service that tracks both digital and physical sales in Europe—reveals that Black Ops 7’s sales have plummeted to just 50% of what Black Ops 6 achieved. Additionally, its opening-week sales are 63% lower than the launch week figures for rival FPS title, Battlefield 6. Another report indicates that more than 25% of Call of Duty players from September went on to buy Battlefield 6 in October.
Criticism Over AI Content
Fans and critics have also criticized the game for its poor use of generative AI content. Well-known content creator Bricky shared on social media that, after completing the entire Black Ops 7 campaign, he requested a refund on Steam. He stated that “The game constantly utilized AI generated options that were not present in the marketing for the game, as well as videos and screenshots of the material,” he wrote.
While some might argue that asking for a refund after finishing the campaign is excessive, he later posted a screenshot showing a $69.99 refund credited to his PayPal account from Steam, which suggests that the platform agreed with his request.
Other players have reported similar instances of AI usage in the game. Fans have taken to social media, posting images of artwork and claiming that a significant amount of generative AI was used to create “core assets” such as calling cards, posters, and reward icons.
One fan shared an achievement art piece that appeared to imitate Ghibli’s art style, lamenting the game’s cost in relation to the effort involved. Even though the developers have acknowledged their use of AI as mandated by Steam, some studios seem to be testing the boundaries of what is acceptable to gamers, putting them in a precarious position with their audience.
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