Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has launched to a strong critical reception but a markedly colder response from players. While critics have awarded the game a Metascore of 83, with no negative reviews issued so far, user reviews tell a very different story. The title is currently sitting at a Metascore of 1.9, making it the lowest-rated Call of Duty release to date.
Players have expressed frustration with several aspects of the game, including what many describe as a “lacklustre” multiplayer-only campaign, shortcomings in matchmaking, and a range of technical issues. The game has also been unfavourably compared with Arc Raiders, with users suggesting it falls short in both quality and innovation.
However, much of the conversation among players has centred on the game’s use of artificial intelligence. Shortly after launch, players noticed that several in-game elements, including player banners, calling cards and artwork within the campaign, appeared to be produced using AI-generated or AI-plagiarised assets.
When approached by Kotaku for comment, Activision appeared unconcerned by the criticism, stating, “Like so many around the world, we use a variety of digital tools, including AI tools, to empower and support our teams…”
Player backlash intensifies online
User reviews on Metacritic have been particularly harsh, with many expressing anger over what they perceive as an over-reliance on automated tools. One user described the game as “Just pure trash full of AI slop.” Another asked, “What AI bot did they use to puke up this garbage?” A third commentator wrote, “It’s just another hurriedly rushed AI slop-fest.”
Some reviews take a more colourful approach to expressing frustration. One player wrote, “Unbelievable, abysmal dogshit. Save your money, please! The use of AI is just the cherry on top.”
The user score distribution highlights the polarised reaction. Players typically review games only when highly satisfied or extremely disappointed, resulting in many scores of 0 from unhappy reviewers. In contrast, a smaller number of users have rated the game much more positively, awarding it 9s and 10s. Although this raises the overall average to 1.9, the score still reflects overwhelmingly negative sentiment from the broader community.
Mixed reception on Steam
A similar pattern is emerging on Steam, where Black Ops 7 currently sits within the “Mixed” category. Only 42% of user reviews rate the game positively. When reviews are filtered for English-language comments, the overall rating drops further to “Mostly Negative,” suggesting stronger dissatisfaction among English-speaking players. In contrast, users in China appear to be responding more favourably.
Some Steam reviews also criticise the use of AI in the game’s campaign and artwork. One widely shared review reads, “ChatGPT generates a lacklustre campaign with reused assets and cringeworthy dialogue.” Another states, “Activision just pay for art, you clearly have money, and it won’t look like shit.”
The backlash reflects a broader trend within the gaming community, where players remain alert to the increasing use of AI-produced assets. Many players appear unwilling to accept companies using AI as a justification for reducing creative or production costs. Some critics argue that any major studio pledging not to use AI might generate significant public goodwill in the current climate.
