Battlefield 6 art shows signs of generative AI, breaking pledge made by shooter game's devs

With Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 facing condemnation for its use of generative AI, other popular games are under a microscope. Battlefield 6 is the latest title to possibly employ the technology. Some clumsily designed art and icons have raised suspicions. More frustrating to fans of the shooter game, developers Dice promised to avoid the tools in the final release.

What is the Battlefield 6 AI controversy?

Discussed on ResetEra forums, a thumbnail for a user-created portal mode seems out of place. The cartoonish image for RPGs vs Golf Carts doesn’t match the more realistic look of other artwork. Even so, since the sandbox option relies on creators from the community, it’s not produced by the game’s artists.

A more valid concern is an icon spotted on the Battlefield 6 storefront. As part of new winter-themed content, a snowflake serves as a backdrop for an unconventional weapon. The most obvious hint that generative AI played a role is the two barrels on the gun. There are no instruments of destruction in matches that have the same configuration.

In a popular Reddit thread, fans noticed other suspect details like a missing index finger on the shooter. While AI tools have advanced, they still often overlook fundamental errors.

Future EA shooters may rely more heavily on AI

If Battlefield 6 has resorted to machine-generated art, it casts doubt on earlier statements made by its studio. In a BBC interview, Dice VP and General Manager Rebecka Coutaz revealed that AI played a role in the project’s planning stages. However, she claimed that the technology wouldn’t be used in the retail version.

Backtracking on that promise may not be surprising following EA's recent acquisition. After taking on substantial debt, the investment group will look to artificial intelligence to cut costs. Rivals like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Arc Raiders have been more forthcoming about replacing artists for some tasks. Yet, unlike Battlefield 6, both have disclaimers on their Steam pages.

Even if the game was free of AI art on its release date, EA will rely on post-launch purchases for critical revenue. To supply a steady stream of new content, it becomes tempting to take shortcuts.