Call of Duty Socials Accidentally Post Placeholder Marketing Image for Modern Warfare 4, Fans Suspect AI Usage

The Call of Duty socials team accidentally posted an internal marketing image for Modern Warfare 4, and fans suspect it may be AI-generated.

Earlier today, the Call of Duty Twitter account posted a render of a soldier walking toward the camera while promoting the game's appearance at Gamescom. Eagle-eyed fans examined the image and noticed that the soldier's gun appeared to be warped in an odd way, possibly suggesting the image was AI-generated. The graphic was eventually taken down, and the Call of Duty team stated that it was posted by mistake.

NEW MW4 IMAGE pic.twitter.com/SBIuhXIkYY

— Forward (@ForwardLeaks) August 18, 2026

"Earlier today, an image was mistakenly posted to one of the Call of Duty accounts," said a Call of Duty rep on social media. "It included a temporary render from a marketing style guide. The image was a placeholder and not taken from in-game. We’ve taken it down."

Fans have now begun speculating that Activision has been using AI to generate concepts for marketing material. This probably won't come as a surprise to many Call of Duty fans, as Activision has admitted to using AI to make assets for Call of Duty. On the game's Steam page, there is a disclosure that confirms the usage of generative AI tools to develop assets for the game. Some of these assets include things like calling cards in Black Ops 7.

Following backlash to Black Ops 7's usage of AI in November 2025, Activision issued the following statement: "Like so many around the world, we use a variety of digital tools, including AI tools, to empower and support our teams to create the best gaming experiences possible for our players. Our creative process continues to be led by the talented individuals in our studios."

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Nearly a year later, players are still frustrated by Activision's usage of generative AI, with some casting doubt over claims that the artwork was merely a placeholder.

"Activision? Using AI slop for Call of Duty!? Surely there’s been some mistake; they would never," joked one fan. "From a Style guide? How much AI was used in development and art?" asked another fan.

Whether or not there will be any obvious examples of AI-generated content in Modern Warfare 4's beta this weekend remains to be seen. If not, fans will certainly be keeping their eyes open for it when the game launches in October.

Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.