Are you excited for Crash Bandicoot Brawl, Guitar Hero Mobile, or Call of Duty: Zombie Defender? You might not want to be. Why? Because these titles aren’t real (as of right now, anyway).
Microsoft-led video game publisher Activision is under fire for sharing dubious “AI slop” promoting new installments in beloved franchises. If that weren’t disappointing enough, the titles advertised haven’t been released or announced, nor are they in the early stages of development.
Instead, Activision Blizzard is floating fake titles across social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to gauge consumer interest.
Some unsuspecting gamers clicking on the ads were directed to a Geeklab “survey,” letting them know that, no, the game isn’t real. However, their feedback might “inform the potential future of this game.” Unsurprisingly, duped gamers took to social media platforms like Reddit to share their frustrations. (At time of writing, the survey is 404’d.)
This isn’t a first for Activision. The company also confirmed just last week that its October release, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, does, indeed, contain AI-generated content. Mind you, a standard copy of the game retails for $69.99.
Identifying Generative AI ‘Art’
AI-generated imagery continues to permeate creative fields, threatening livelihoods and compromising brand integrity. But even the tech-savvy person you know can pinpoint “AI slop” when they know what to look for. If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of an image, look for:
- Warped body parts. Gen AI often struggles to replicate extremities and digits. Count fingers and toes. Compare one hand with the other. Are they all there? Do they match? Do their positions make logical sense?
- Heavy blurring and/or blending. Buttery-soft and almost out-of-focus, AI “art” tends to appear blurry, leaving its subject(s) virtually poreless. Don’t be afraid to zoom. Scan images for realistic details, like blemishes, stray hairs, or imperfect teeth and ears. At its worst, AI images can blend elements. Why is that pedestrian becoming one with the streetlight? Why is that basketball attached to the hoop?
- Impossible/nonsensical background elements. AI imagery never gets the background right. Zoom in — do passers-by appear to blend with trees? Do dogs on leashes have an extra paw? Why does that house have three front doors and a stairway to nowhere?
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A lifelong gamer raised on classic titles like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Croc, Stephanie brings her expertise of gaming and pop culture to deliver unique, refreshing views on the world of video games, complete with references to absurd and obscure media.
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