Activision has recently developed a novel method to generate hype for games that aren’t real. They are using artificial intelligence to produce fake advertisements aimed at piquing interest in non-existent titles.

“This isn’t a real game, but it could be someday!”

Imagine seeing an ad for an exciting new title from a renowned developer. You might feel tempted to check it out, only to discover that it was merely a scheme orchestrated by a market research firm, designed to gather consumer opinions instead of releasing an actual game.

This includes a recently viral ad for a supposed Guitar Hero Mobile, which turned out to be a front for gathering survey responses, proving untrustworthy for consumers.

The advertisements promote fictitious titles like Call of Duty: Zombie Defender and Crash Bandicoot Brawl, all backed by ineffective AI-generated assets. Clicking through leads to phony store pages offering nonexistent gameplay experiences, ultimately directing onto a survey.

These deceptive tactics raise questions about the ethical implications of using AI in marketing, especially within the gaming industry.