Activision Faces Backlash for ‘AI Slop’ Claims in Latest Guitar Hero Release: What You Need to Know!

Activision, the publisher of Call of Duty, is facing criticism again. This time, it’s for an AI-generated artwork that announced a new Guitar Hero game for smartphones.

You’d expect a game as iconic as Guitar Hero to have some unique art created by a real artist, right?

Instead, the promo for Guitar Hero Mobile, shared on Instagram, features a strange AI-generated scene. Four look-alike silhouettes hold red guitars, surrounded by odd-looking amp towers. They resemble washing machines more than musical equipment.

This isn’t the first time Activision has used budget-friendly AI art. Just a week ago, they revealed that they are incorporating AI art into the Call of Duty franchise.

Players discovered a message on the Steam page for Black Ops 6 stating that the game uses generative AI tools for some in-game elements. One example was a weird Christmas promotional piece last year, featuring a zombie Santa with six fingers. Maybe he would make a good addition to Guitar Hero!

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Reactions to the Guitar Hero Mobile ad have been mixed, as you might guess.

One user humorously commented, “AI Hero looks awesome 🔥.”

Another person voiced disappointment, saying, “I was excited, but once I saw the AI cover art, I’m out.”

A third comment read, “Why ruin my favorite game with this AI junk? I hope Activision stumbles.”

Earlier this month, Microsoft introduced a new AI tool called Muse, aimed at enhancing gameplay ideas and preserving older video games. However, one expert dismissed these claims as “idiotic.”