Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches with in-game voice chat moderation powered by AI.
Activision is using AI-powered model ToxMod from Modulate, which features real-time voice chat moderation, to combat toxic behaviour.
The tech uses AI to identify in real-time and enforce against toxic speech including hate speech, discriminatory language, and harassment. Call of Duty already uses text-based filtering across 14 languages for in-game text (chat and usernames), and an in-game player reporting system.
In an FAQ, Activision moved to reassure players by insisting voice chat is monitored and recorded “for the express purpose of moderation”, and “is focused on detecting harm within voice chat versus specific keywords”.
The new system moderates based on the existing Call of Duty Code of Conduct. “Voice chat that includes bullying or harassment will not be tolerated,” Activision warned. The Code of Conduct allows for “trash-talk” and “friendly banter”, however. “Hate speech, discrimination, sexism, and other types of harmful language, as outlined in the Code of Conduct, will not be tolerated,” Activision added.
Activision also stressed the AI does not enforce violations of the Code of Conduct it detects. “Call of Duty’s Voice Chat Moderation system only submits reports about toxic behaviour, categorised by its type of behaviour and a rated level of severity based on an evolving model,” Activision explained. “Activision determines how it will enforce voice chat moderation violations.”
Despite this new AI tech, enforcement of voice chat moderaton is not instantaneous, Activision clarified. Detection does happen in real time, with the system categorising and flagging toxic language based on the Call of Duty Code of Conduct as it is detected, but detected violations “may require additional reviews of associated recordings” to identify context before enforcement is determined. “As the system grows, our processes and response times will evolve,” Activision said.
Activision pointed out that players who do not wish to have their voice moderated can disable in-game voice chat in the settings menu, but it doesn’t look like there’s any way to opt out if you want to continue using voice chat.
“There’s no place for disruptive behaviour or harassment in games ever,” said Activision’s chief technology officer Michael Vance. “Tackling disruptive voice chat particularly has long been an extraordinary challenge across gaming. With this collaboration, we are now bringing Modulate’s state of the art machine learning technology that can scale in real-time for a global level of enforcement. This is a critical step forward to creating and maintaining a fun, fair and welcoming experience for all players.”
A beta of the tech rolls out August 30 in North America inside Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone, with the worldwide release (excluding Asia) set for Modern Warfare 3’s launch on November 10. Support begins in English with additional languages to follow.
Activision said that since the launch of Modern Warfare 2 in late 2022, the existing anti-toxicity moderation has “restricted” over one million accounts detected to have violated the Call of Duty Code of Conduct via voice and/or text chat. It added it has “consistently” updated text and username filtering tech to improve real-time rejection of harmful language.
This month Activision revealed gameplay of the first level of the Modern Warfare 3 campaign, as well as a first look at its Open Combat Missions.
Elsewhere, Modern Warfare 3 includes a Zombies mode set in an “all-new open world” in which players can team up to fight the Zombie hordes in the “largest Call of Duty zombies maps ever”. This is the first Modern Warfare game to include a Zombies mode.
On the multiplayer side, Modern Warfare 3 includes all 16 launch maps from the original Modern Warfare 2, and will see 12 new 6v6 maps come out post-launch. Activision will host an open beta across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC (PlayStation owners get first access). Those who pre-order gain access to the campaign up to a week before release.
Modern Warfare 3 launches on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and S on November 10.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
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