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In brief: There has been considerable speculation about the potential advantages technologies like generative AI and machine learning could offer video games. Image reconstruction has shown utility, while generative AI is reported to be part of the production process. Additionally, AI-driven analysis is now affecting voice chat moderation in competitive gaming environments.
Activision Blizzard reports that exposure to toxic voice chat in Call of Duty has reduced by 43 percent since the start of this year. The publisher attributes this outcome to the implementation of AI-based moderation, which has been persuasive enough to extend its application with the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on October 25.
The publisher introduced the moderator, ToxMod, with the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III last November. As detailed on ToxMod’s website, the system analyzes text transcripts of in-game voice chat to detect keywords, taking into account multiple factors.
To distinguish between trash talk and harassment, ToxMod scrutinizes keywords and responses, identifying player emotions and aligning with the game’s code of conduct. Moreover, the system gauges the perceived age and gender of the participants to better understand the context of each conversation.
ToxMod doesn’t have the authority to ban users, but it swiftly flags violations for human moderators to review. Activision determines whether to warn or mute players, issuing bans only for repeat infractions. The number of repeat offenders in Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: Warzone plummeted by 67 percent since Activision enhanced the system in June 2024. Notably, in July, 80 percent of players who violated voice chat rules did not re-offend.
All regions except Asia currently utilize ToxMod, with Call of Duty moderating voice chat in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. When Black Ops 6 premieres, Activision will incorporate support for French and German.
In the meantime, text-based chat and username moderation expanded from 14 to 20 languages in August. Community Sift has served as Call of Duty’s text moderation partner since the launch of the first Modern Warfare reboot in 2019, blocking 45 million messages since Modern Warfare III’s release in November.
Utilizing AI to moderate player behavior is significantly less controversial than deploying the technology for in-game assets. Late last year, AI-generated art appeared in content skins for Modern Warfare III. Amid the record number of gaming industry layoffs at that time, there are concerns that publishers may attempt to replace artists with AI models.
