Call of Duty: Black Ops 7: Everything We Know So Far
Seldom is the mundanity of life disrupted by surprises – some better, others worse. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 shocks me. Rest assured, the jump from Black Ops 6 to 7 isn’t a repeat of the glorified expansion Modern Warfare III was to II. Courtesy of Activision, I was invited to Treyarch to preview the game and go hands-on with pieces of what’s shaping up to be one of the biggest Call of Duty releases in years.
While Infinity Ward’s entries are my preferred flavor, I respect and admire Treyarch’s often bold game design as they strive to reimagine what a COD game can be. Between the campaign, multiplayer, and respectable zombies mode, Black Ops 6 was a significant step in a new direction with the addition of omni-movement—a system that’s proven to be a double-edged sword.
On one end, it’s a fresh spin on general movement that serves the gameplay on a base level. On the other end, it’s occasionally abused due to the game’s fast movement speed, amplified by wild dives, slides, and tactical sprint, and a moderately high TTK. I’ve mostly had a great time with Black Ops 6 with several grievances along the way.
Black Ops 6’s roadmap has been a roller coaster with some ups and many downs. To each their own, but the abundance of licensed and wacky operators, an ever-shifting meta for weapons, and fairly lackluster map design left me with low expectations for the annual follow-up.
Back to The Future
I walked into Treyarch expecting the worst. It’s a beautiful studio full of remarkably talented people, and I was grateful to be there. Still, I feared the publishing machine might have forced another rushed project, preventing the developers from building upon what they’ve achieved and fulfilling their desired vision. The seventh entry in a series within a series sounds ridiculous, but following the lengthy presentation, my worry is lifted.
Being developed in partnership with Raven Software, “Unleash the future of Black Ops” is the game’s slogan, seemingly emphasizing that the series within a series will not conclude at 7. Campaign, multiplayer, and zombies are its core pillars, all of which are full-course meals in Black Ops 7.
The Black Ops narrative can be tricky to keep up with. We’re in the near future in 2035, occurring between the events of Black Ops 2 and 3. On a side note, it’s funny how distant 2025 felt in Black Ops 2 when it released in 2012.
Enter the Void
Black Ops campaigns are set apart with their signature dips into the surreal, uncanny valley, or straight-up acid trips. Treyarch claims Black Ops 7 is their most mind-bending story yet, shaped by player choices, diverse missions across the world, and new abilities dubbed “2035 combat.”
Treyarch showed off small pieces of missions featuring some new abilities like a mega jump, bubble shield, combat drone, cloak, and the return of the grapple hook. I like that the team is leaning into the series’ strengths. A few of the incredibly trippy sequences they teased look to keep the journey unpredictable, in addition to the many locations you visit.
The campaign supports co-op up to four players, as each of the four main characters plays a distinct role in the story, and solo play. Most notably, campaign global progression is here for the first time, accompanied by new camos to unlock, reticle challenges, and sixteen mastery camos. I’m typically satisfied with a well-crafted story and epic set pieces in COD campaigns, but the addition of progression and numerous unlockables improves the experience.
We’re In The Endgame Now
It doesn’t stop there. Black Ops 7 features a massive Endgame—a replayable experience that drops up to 32 players into the open world of Avalon. There, they alter their loadouts, equip unique abilities, and complete missions and challenges. You and your squad are progressing toward level 60, where you then transition into the most challenging region of the map. The details of that region and its rewards remain unclear, but the team ensures it’s worth the grind.
Every time you level up, you’re rewarded with a new skill choice. If you and your team die on your quest to level 60, your progress is reset. It’s a mode that further contributes to progression, and while the team didn’t explicitly call it an extraction mode, it strikes me as one. It could be the series’ pseudo follow-up to the unfulfilled potential of Infinity Ward’s DMZ.
I admire a few extraction shooters and have sunk hundreds of hours into the more casual-friendly Hunt: Showdown. While I couldn’t get into DMZ, I still believe in the potential of a great extraction mode for COD. Maybe I’m overthinking Black Ops 7’s Endgame, but it seems to be a mode the team can expand upon if it’s popular. Having a variety of PvE experiences I can share with friends on those nights we get burnt out on multiplayer is an idea I dig.
Unburdened By What Has Been
Thankfully, Treyarch and Raven have factored fan feedback into Black Ops 7’s development with significant changes to combat, weapons, and map design. The best news I have to share is that Tactical Sprint is now a perk instead of a default ability. It’s a decision I’m confident is favorable. It’s available to those who want it, but generally reduces the overall movement closer to traditional speed.
Base omni-movement remains with some tweaks. Instead of Black Ops 3’s controversial wall run, Black Ops 7 features a wall jump. Based on the clips, it looks like a fun platforming ability. You can seemingly use it to quickly reach greater heights or navigate portions of maps strategically. Another change I appreciate is the removal of ADS during dives, slides, and wall jumps. Instead, you use the tactical stance aim, the middle ground between hip fire and ADS.
You can also now move while mounted, like sliding your weapon from side to side when peeking over cover, or standing up and crouching while mounted to the side of a wall. It’s a change that even the devs admit is overdue.
A Feast of New Content
I’ve been able to adapt and keep up with Black Ops 6’s demands. The high movement speed abused by dives, slides, tactical sprint, and higher than average TTK collectively make for an exhausting experience. I’m usually ready to call it a night after a few matches. The notable changes to Black Ops 7 movement may upset some, but I believe they’ll ultimately make for a more satisfying gameplay experience overall.
Most will likely be happy that 7 isn’t a direct repeat of 6. It should be fun to adapt. Treyarch does offer all-new perks that boost movement, provide quicker recovery times, and the gung-ho perk also returns. I’m glad that darting around like an action hero is available to those willing to forgo other beneficial perks instead of forcing the entire player base to embrace superpowers.
There are aspects of each Black Ops title I dig, but my favorite memories are with Black Ops 2. Treyarch is embracing the game’s legacy with the return of multiple iconic weapons like the Peacekeeper submachine gun, and the return of Raid, Express, and High-Jacked, which have been slightly reimagined for Black Ops 7 gameplay.
Ultimate Player Expression
Black Ops 7 is launching with 30 weapons, 16 of which are entirely new. Players are now able to share their weapon builds with friends directly, and even generate a QR code they can share across social media. That will undoubtedly be a prominent feature used by pros and streamers to share with their respective fans throughout the game’s lifecycle.
Weapon Prestige is back with new bonuses. Every time you prestige a gun, you unlock an exclusive attachment, camo, and charm. Master levels cap at 250, where you unlock a gun’s master camo. Over the years, I’ve begun to recognize how prevalent camo grinding has become. I know some players who are motivated to buy every COD for the camo grind alone. That subset of players will eat well in Black Ops 7.
Progression continues with the new Overlock system. Why stop at weapons? Now, you level up equipment, score streaks, and field upgrades. For example, with active camo equipped, your charge speed increases at Overclock level 1. At level 2, you can re-cloak after firing your weapon. The list of upgrades for all your gear and abilities is substantial. I can’t imagine how difficult it is to balance before launch, and it’s safe to assume it may be a bumpy road for a while when it does.
The team only shared a handful of upgrades to expect, but they appear to fit nicely into the sandbox. Three new hybrid combat specialities are included for a total of six. Two new perks that stand out to me are Networked and Looper. Networked shares buffs with your teammates, while Looper enables you to loop score streaks.
On and On It Goes
There are also hybrid perks like Overwatch that grant bonus score for bullet kills after assists. Scout hides you from the mini map and compass after kills, and Captain charges your field upgrade charge through stealth kills. Specialist bonuses earn you additional perks instead of score streaks. As you progress between 200, 400, and 600 score during a streak, you earn more perks. Reach a score of 1200, and you unlock them all.
Treyarch is introducing some new score streaks as well. D.A.W.G. is a sentry dog that roams the map. One of its Overclock abilities turns it into a turret you can mount with a trophy system equipped. The team pitched it as a strong solution to capturing and holding points in modes like domination.
Other score streaks include the powerful Gravemaker sniper, a juggernaut robot you can pilot called Rhino, Hunter Killer Drones, the VTOL warship that functions similarly to a chopper gunner, and Squad Link, which buffs your team’s equipment. There’s a ton going on in Black Ops 7 multiplayer. It’s either going to be a disaster or cater beautifully to player expression.
I’m happy that the team has altered their map designs for more explicit lane definition. I appreciate the map ambition in Black Ops 6. Many of the locales and the philosophy behind them are great on paper, but most perform poorly in execution. They’re not unplayable, only lackluster compared to many Black Ops legacy maps.
Plenty of Space to Rumble
16 6v6 maps will be present at launch, including the three Black Ops 2 remakes, with two maps supporting the new Skirmish mode. Treyarch describes Skirmish as 20 v 20 players made up of 4-player squads on each team. On large-scale maps, players battle it out through shifting objectives. One minute you’re capturing points, the next you’re destroying an objective or escorting another.
You can spawn at your team’s HQ or on your teammates, similar to Battlefield. The mode doesn’t appear to be at the scale of a Battlefield game, but may be the team’s latest spin on Ground War. You can wingsuit, grapple, and drive vehicles to traverse the map. It looks like it’s designed to appeal to players seeking a more casual experience. Although it’s competitive, the large-scale maps with various means of traversal are naturally less intense than the core 6 v 6 modes.
Zombies’ Return to Glory
A Treyarch COD isn’t complete without Zombies. Black Ops 7 features another iconic mode from Black Ops 2 that my friends and I still herald as Zombies’ magnum opus: TranZit. This time, players drive their battle-ready truck, the Wonder vehicle, instead of boarding an automated bus. I like the way that sounds, but part of the original mode’s fun was deciding when to board the bus.
The new mode features the biggest round-based map the team has ever designed. Similar to the original TranZit, you navigate between several locations and battle robots on the roads between. I fondly remember many nights in TranZit mode with my friends, and I can’t wait to make new memories with them in Black Ops 7.
Each of the locations across the map is also playable as a singular survival map. Players can also jump into Dead Ops Arcade 4, the twin-sticks shooter that debuted in Black Ops 1. I haven’t spent much time with any of the Dead Ops games, but the new version looks rad, and some players will be happy with its return.
The Glitz and Glamour
The team also shared a few of their technical updates. They’re prominently focused on immersion with Black Ops 7. Dynamic fog shifts as it’s interacted with, there are upgraded GPU particles and vector fields, and terrain deformation is featured for the first time.
By now, it should be clear that, shockingly, Black Ops 7 is a feast. Maybe I was wrong to doubt Treyarch, because they’ve always delivered. Perhaps it’s how jaded I’ve begun to feel by the onslaught of live service elements that have impacted the series over the last few years, especially in Black Ops 6.
During the presentation, the team addressed a few critical issues. Players will be happy to hear that most of their stuff from Black Ops 6 will carry over into Black Ops 7. That certainly means Beavis and Butt-head, Terminator, the Ninja Turtles, American Dad, and all the other unhinged cosmetics will be present on day one.
It’s a necessary inclusion considering the amount of money people pour into the games these days. Excluding their investment from a direct sequel would result in pandemonium and impact sales. That said, the team did say they’ve listened to the players who are unhappy with the presence of licensed cosmetics. It’s undeniable that it impacts the identity of the series.
I understand their inclusion, as they’re significant revenue generators, but there has to be a solution to satisfy both crowds. Some have suggested having the option to toggle their visibility on and off. For example, if you have them toggled off, a player cosplaying as Nicki Minaj will appear as a default soldier. The team hasn’t shared how they’re addressing the situation specifically, but says they’re considering their options.
Fighting the Plague
I had the chance to speak with Design Director Matt Scronce and Senior Director Yale Miller for a few minutes. I asked them to speak candidly about their feelings toward cheaters. These massive teams are comprised of human beings who pour their hearts and souls into creating these games for years, only to have their hard work and thoughtful design manipulated, exploited, and broken by an onslaught of losers. It’s easy for the community to grow frustrated and take it out on the dev team, which some view as faceless drones creating their entertainment.
With a bit of research, you’ll understand how detrimental it is across all competitive multiplayer games, especially Call of Duty. Matt and Yale are limited on what they’re willing to say in response, but they did share how disappointing it is. I could sense their sincerity. They claim that the team responsible for Ricochet anti-cheat has laid out a long road map for tackling the plague, beginning with requiring the verification of emails and mandatory secure boot on PC to access the game.
That’s nice to hear, but I’m already concerned with secure boot being a glorified placebo. The Battlefield 6 beta required secure boot, and there’s clear evidence online of many players having bypassed it. Ultimately, it’s a solid first step that should prevent and dissuade many from cheating. However, the cheats market is a vast and lucrative underbelly. So long as there’s a market, it’ll carry on—Godspeed, Ricochet team.
The Road to Launch
My friends and I frequently play Warzone. I’m bummed we haven’t heard what’s on the way, but we don’t have to wait much longer. The plans will be revealed at NEXT on September 30th.
This preview turned out to be far longer than I’d anticipated it would be before visiting Treyarch. I’ve included everything they’ve revealed, and I hope it’s leaving you well-informed and as interested as I am. Lastly, I can share that I’ve gone hands-on with multiplayer and zombies, but can’t share my impressions yet. For more on Black Ops 7 on the road to launch, stay tuned to COGconnected.
***Travel, hotel, and invitation to preview event provided by Activision***
