TechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.TechTarget and InformaTechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.Together, we power an unparalleled network of 220+ online properties covering 10,000+ granular topics, serving an audience of 50+ million professionals with original, objective content from trusted sources. We help you gain critical insights and make more informed decisions across your business priorities.Activision Blizzard is using generative AI to hawk games that don't existActivision Blizzard is using generative AI to hawk games that don't existThe publisher is using the controversial technology to determine if players would want spinoffs for Call of Duty and Crash Bandicoot.Justin Carter, Contributing EditorMarch 3, 20252 Min ReadImage via Activision Blizzard.At a GlanceActivision Blizzard appears to be using generative AI to market games that don't exist.Activision Blizzard has been using generative AI to create online ads for games that do not actually exist.VGC spotted promos for three fake titlesGuitar Hero Mobile, Crash Bandicoot Brawl, and Call of Duty: Zombie Defenderon Instagram. The ads lead to mockup app store pages on a site called Geeklab, where upon clicking "Get," viewers are treated to the message: "Thanks for your interest! This isn't a real game, but could be some day! We'd love if you could answer this short survey, which could help inform the potential future of this game. Your feedback really matters to us!"Last week, the Call of Duty publisher confirmed players' suspicions that it was using the controversial technology to produce "some" in-game assets. At the moment, it's unclear what those specific assets are, and it only came out because of Valve's Steam conduct on studios disclosing if their game uses genAI in any capacity.Most use surrounding the technology has concerned its efficiency on game development in fields like art and voice acting. In an early 2024 survey, nearly 50 percent of developers said they were using the technology at work, with most of that use concerning finances or community and product management.Game publishers typically gauge interest for future game projects with surveys, like EA asking players if there was any appeal in remaking the Dead Space sequels. Activision Blizzard's new "advertising" is ethically dicey, both because it's one of the industry's biggest publishers, and because the ads are widely promoting titles which aren't real now and may possibly not become real in the future.Game Developer has reached out to Activision Blizzard about the ads, and will update when a comment is given.Read more about:Activision BlizzardXboxAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like