Steam is handing out refunds to buyers of “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” who complain about the game’s widespread use of AI-made art and content. Players say the AI looks low-quality and “egregious,” like sloppy drawings in cosmetics and calling cards, and Steam is approving these requests even after the usual two-week or two-hour play limit.
The issue blew up right after the game’s launch earlier this month. Fans spotted obvious AI-generated images, such as a Studio Ghibli-style calling card that looked messy and unnatural. Activision, the publisher, called some art “placeholders,” but players weren’t buying it and started asking for money back. Steam’s new rules force game makers to list if they use AI tools, and unhappy buyers are pointing to that for refunds.
One player shared on Reddit and Steam forums: “I got my refund approved because of the AI slop everywhere. It’s depressing how lazy it feels.” Videos on YouTube show “mass refunds” pouring in, with user scores dropping low on review sites. Some even tie it to bigger gripes, like a U.S. lawmaker calling out the AI for cutting jobs and quality.
Activision has patched some issues and promised fixes, but the backlash grows. The game, made by Treyarch, sold well at first on Steam (app ID 3606480), but refunds could hurt long-term. Steam support told one user: “Since the game uses generative AI and you dislike it, we approve the refund.”
This is a first for Steam – using AI disclosure as a refund reason. It shows growing pushback against AI in games. If you own “Black Ops 7” and feel the same, check your Steam library and request one through support. Keep an eye on updates; more patches might calm the storm.
Sources: X | thegamebusiness