Activision has seemingly confirmed that the actors in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 zombies have been recast.
After rumors began to circulate that actors within the mode quit the game over concerns surrounding AI protections, the studio has released a statement on the matter.
“We respect the personal choice of these performers,” an Activision spokesperson said to Game Developer. “Out of respect for all parties, we won’t add new commentary about the ongoing negotiations with SAG-AFTRA. We look forward to a mutually beneficial outcome as soon as possible.”
The current SAG-AFTRA strike began in July over the aforementioned AI protections. It came after “18 months of negotiations” between the union and various studios, including Activision Blizzard. As of writing, there is still no deal.
If you’re wondering why the game isn’t a part of the strike, it’s because of a clause in the contract. This clause allows union member actors to work on games that were in production before the strike was called. However, should a member be on a “daily contract”, the union says they can choose to not re-new their deals.
Activision has been using AI in its game development for some time, according to reports. There is even evidence that shows that in various artwork in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. One specific example shows a holiday-themed loading screen featuring a zombie with six fingers. For those unaware, generative AI software is notorious for issues when generating hands on characters.
What do you think of the issues surrounding the Black Ops 6 zombies actors being recast and AI in game development in general? Let us know down below, and join the discussion in the official GPlayr forums.
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