Early in October, Activision and Treyarch opened the beta for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (BOP7), the eighth entry in the Black Ops franchise. The beta offered players an early look at both the multiplayer and Zombies modes marking the first time Zombies has ever been included in a Black Ops beta. It’s a smart move, as much of the “new” content seems to live in the undead arena this time around.
“New” might deserve quotation marks, though. While there are tweaks and adjustments across the board, BOP7 feels more like a fresh set of maps layered on top of a familiar experience than a fully new chapter. The Black Ops series has long had a fascination with the future: Black Ops II imagined warfare in 2025, Black Ops III pushed it to 2040, and Black Ops 4 reached 2045. While we’ll leave real-world comparisons of futuristic combat to our military experts (thank you for your service), BOP7 reminds us how close we’re getting to Treyarch’s imagined 2025 battlegrounds.
Gameplay during the beta felt a little different though it’s hard to say whether that’s perception or performance. Character movement seemed slightly tweaked, though the infamous “bunny hoppers” are still hopping right into crosshairs. One noticeable addition is the wall jump. Be warned: this isn’t the beloved wall-running mechanic from Advanced Warfare it’s more of a wall “stick” that often ends with players plummeting into pits while trying to pull off old tricks. It’s new, sure, but maybe not essential. More promising is the Rhino, a mechanized suit that introduces new possibilities for strategy and chaos.
A new multiplayer mode, Overload, also makes its debut. Teams fight to capture an overload device, transport it into the opposing team’s zone, and score points eight points secure the win. The device initially spawns in the center of the map before new spawn points appear as the match progresses. Overload manages to balance the needs of campers, run-and-gunners, and sentry players so long as someone remembers to actually play the objective. The small map size can be punishing for newcomers, though an expanded version could make the mode even more engaging.
Perks have received an update as well. Players can now create hybrid loadouts that combine two specialization trees for unique bonuses.
- Red/Blue grants temporary invisibility.
- Red/Green rewards assists by boosting elimination points for ten seconds.
- Blue/Green charges field upgrades faster when using stealth tactics like suppressed or melee kills.
On the Zombies side, the beta leans into classic survival mechanics: restore power, survive waves, and exfiltrate when ready. New Gobblegums (in-match boosters) help extend survival time, while a new Perk-a-Cola Wisp Tea summons a spectral ally that can heal, distract, or devastate undead hordes. Returning features like elemental ammo get fresh twists too, such as Fire Work, which lets each bullet launch fireworks that actually damage enemies. A new field upgrade, Toxic Growth, allows players to deploy poisonous thorns that slow zombies — though they eventually fade away.
For newcomers, much of this may sound overwhelming, but Treyarch has included training modes for both multiplayer and Zombies. Even experienced FPS players might want a quick refresher to reacquaint themselves with the new mechanics. If you’re new to Zombies, the tutorial is essential it keeps you from being that teammate who doesn’t know how to turn on the power.
Ultimately, Black Ops 7 offers a mix of nostalgia and novelty. It doesn’t reinvent the formula, but it refines it, adding new layers to familiar chaos. For hardcore Zombies fans, the beta suggests that the undead experience will be a major draw this year. For everyone else, it’s a reliable, easy-to-jump-into Call of Duty with just enough new toys, skins, and gadgets to keep things interesting.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is set to launch November 14 on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation.
