ACall of Dutyplayer posted a macabre, grim set of AI-generated art featuring whatSpongeBob SquarePantswould look like if he were a solider in Activision’s FPS franchise. The images were posted on Reddit, which caught the attention, upvotes, and comments of many users on theCall of Dutysubreddit.
SpongeBob SquarePants, arguably one ofthe most iconic Nickelodeon charactersof all time, first hit the small screen in May 1999. The show was renewed for a 14th season earlier this year, with multiple film projects currently in the works from parent company Paramount. Just over four years after the start ofSpongeBob, the first, eponymousCall of Dutygame came out on PC in October 2003. The newest entry in the series,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, was released just over a month ago. Though each respective series has next to nothing in common with one another, there is a surprising overlap in the audiences that have watched the former and played the latter over the span of two decades.
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A Reddit user by the name of bonemech_meatsuit posted a set of four different AI-generated images that featured SpongeBob in military fatigues. Each image featured a different weapon in his arms, with different expressions on his face to tell the maddening, macabre horrors of modern warfare. The expressions ranged from plainly-written fear to insane laughter on SpongeBob’s face. The post received over 1600 upvotes in just over a day. In the comments, bonemech_meatsuit stated they used an AI called “Midjourney” to generate the images. The comments also complimented how accurately the AI made SpongeBob’s hands and some compared the scenes to those depicted inclassic war films such asSaving Private RyanandFull Metal Jacket.
While AI-generated art remains a touchy subject in the eyes of artists, some of the imagery it can generate can make for some creative concepts. This can extend to showing what other video game characters would look like in styles made famous in other series, such asRed Dead Redemption 2’sArthur Morgan in the concept art style ofMetal Gear Solid, and make it seem as if it were drawn by the original artists. Though the ethics and commercial practices surrounding AI-generated art remain controversial, the technology will continue to evolve as time goes on.
In terms of AI having more practical uses in gameplay,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2has had its fair share of hiccups. Fromfunny glitches that feature flying AI opponents inModern Warfare 2to bugs that can make unfortunate victims of players, there has been no shortage of AI-related issues for Activision and Infinity Ward to take on. Suffice it to say, AI as a general concept is not leaving the spotlight anytime soon, for good or for bad.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
