Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 looks like the ultimate first-person shooter package.

It combines a cinematic single-player campaign with innovative multiplayer and, as detailed in the latest Xbox Games Showcase, a practically standalone extraction shooter called DMZ.

Long time fans will recognize this upcoming mode as an evolution of the DMZ Beta that launched with 2022's Modern Warfare 2. It once again has players dropping into a hostile map and duking it out in a battle for scarce resources against both rival squads and roaming non-player character (NPC) enemies, but has been significantly expanded this time around.

At a recent visit to developer Infinity Ward's Los Angeles office, I was told be the team told me that it was built using all of the learnings from the original beta and a careful eye on the evolution of the wider extraction shooter genre.

It takes place in a whole new map: the sprawling Hajin exclusion zone — a huge swathe of land that encompasses parts of South Korea, North Korea, and Russia. It's been evacuated following a deadly nuclear meltdown depicted in the campaign, with players dropping in as part of an off the books CIA operation to recover abandoned military tech.

Danger close

DMZ will offer three distinct ways to play. You can pursue story missions, tackle highly replayable dynamic operations, or drop in with freedom to roam and explore the map.

Each deployment is designed to feel as distinct as possible, with a variety of factors affecting how events will unfold. Enemies move dynamically throughout the map, moving cargo in deadly convoys that can pose a serious threat to players. You can expect encounters with tanks, helicopters, armored juggernauts, and even drone swarms.

Luckily, an all-out fight is always a choice. DMZ has been built with a stealth system that sounds surprisingly in-depth for a Call of Duty title. An on-screen detection meter alerts you when you're about to be seen and killing enemies quietly will help you evade detection.

Players that do go in guns blazing will have to deal with an almost Grand Theft Auto-style wanted system with a star level raises every time you get into a big fight, prompting waves of more advanced enemies to deploy and hunt you down potentially forcing you to extract early.

An advanced weather system is an important part of the experience too. Conditions can vary from sunny days with the odd spell of drizzly rain to lashing thunderstorms and even snow. The devs are even working on a system that should cause the weather conditions to worsen as a match progresses, reflecting the increased danger the long you stay deployed and helping create a real sense of urgency.

DMZ comes with its own progression systems to master, with each of your operators having their own trait tree to work through. You can choose different operators to specialize in, all with distinct roles — for example, creating a dedicated character for stealthy looting and another more geared towards open combat.

If you die in the field you lose your loot, but you are given at least the opportunity to recover your operator by spending money that you've managed to scavenge on sending in an evac team.

It's not just your operators that you're building out either. The entire DMZ experience is centred around a Forward Operating Base (FOB) that you can upgrade with looted swag. It sounds a lot like the upgradeable hideout in Escape from Tarkov, and is complete with a 3D printer that lets you craft gear and a stash for storing your most valuable swag.

Everything that I've seen of DMZ so far suggests that it's a mammoth enough to be considered almost a game in its own right, a sentiment very much shared by the development team.

"I think with the combination of the changes to Core MP [...] and then combining that with DMZ being a game within a game with its own dedicated progression and persistent inventory and upgrading and all of that, I think [Modern Warfare 4] is the biggest, and I think for us even the most impressive Call of Duty that we've ever had a chance to work on," studio multiplayer creative director Joe Cecot told me in an interview during my studio visit.

The mode will be available from day one when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches on October 23, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 4 launches on June 4, 2026
• It adds a new throwback mode inspired by 2012's Black Ops 2
• The mode features classic maps and movement systems designed to feel like the original game

Excitement is ramping up for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, but that doesn't mean Black Ops 7 — the latest title in the series — has stopped receiving major updates. Developer Activision has just lifted the curtain on the game's upcoming Season 4 update, and it includes an unexpected Black Ops 2 throwback.

Come the season's June 4 release, you'll be able to play a new Black Ops Classic multiplayer mode. This mode has been designed bring you right back to the glory days of Black Ops 2, with simplified loadouts, the classic movement system, and, of course, a raft of iconic maps. That means no onmnimovement (which usually allows players to sprint in any direction), no wall jumping, and no sliding — just like the original game.

"We wanted to get as close to a classic moment set (Black Ops 2 as a target) as we could," explained design director Matt Scronce in a recent X post. He went on to clarify that tac-sprint (which has appeared in various forms in most recent Call of Duty games following its addition in 2019's Modern Warfare) will be disabled.

As I mentioned, the mode will be restricted to throwback maps, which presumably means the likes of Hijacked and Raid, in addition to the new Vertigo remaster that's also being added as part of the upcoming season, for matches of classic game modes such as Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, and Kill Confirmed.

Fan reactions to the announcement on social media have been overwhelmingly positive so far. "This mode is a dream bro" wrote a commenter in response to Scronce's post.

"I’m in disbelief, this is literally EXACTLY what so many of us have been asking for", said another. "I'm so excited".

Black Ops 7 Season 4 is also packed with other multiplayer additions, including some all-new maps, a wealth of new weapons, and more. This is alongside big updates to the Warzone, Endgame, and Zombies modes, which you can read all about on the official Call of Duty Blog.

Black Ops 7 is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Xbox One.

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a big departure from its predecessors
• It offers new movement systems, upgraded shooting, a fresh UI and a raft of new mechanics
• A developer tells me the game is "the most impressive Call of Duty" they've worked on

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 could redefine the long-running first-person shooter (FPS) series with its unapologetically gritty campaign, overhauled multiplayer offering, and fully-featured DMZ extraction shooter mode.

Fan-favorite mechanics from older games, like the pick-three perk system, are back, alongside bold new additions such as an automated AI gunsmith assistant and the series' first dynamic multiplayer map called Kill Block. Everything is underpinned by a raft of core mechanical changes that reshape how you navigate environments and engage in combat.

The game even has an all-new user interface, which eschews the boxy Netflix-like look of recent entries in favor of something that feels like a fittingly modern reimagining of the classic 2009 Modern Warfare 2 menu screens.

"I think with the combination of the changes to core multiplayer, with Kill Block and the dynamic multiplayer map experience, and then combining that with DMZ being a game within a game," begins studio multiplayer creative director Joe Cecot.

"It is the biggest, and I think for us even the most impressive Call of Duty that we've ever had a chance to work on. I think I could speak sincerely and say it's my favorite."

Asked whether he's worried that Modern Warfare 4 might feel a little too different, Cecot replies: "I don't think so, because we're looking at the genre, we're looking at how our game plays, we're bringing people in. So the differences we've made, I think, are all healthy changes."

He went on to reiterate the fact that the studio's efforts are all rooted in community feedback. "You don't make changes for the sake of change," he says. "The things you're putting in the game, they need to be making the game play better and feel better, and maybe you're providing a new experience or solving a problem."

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches on October 23, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's movement is considerably faster and more fluid than Modern Warfare 2
• It also offers new parkour mechanics
• The developers say the goal is "being able to move the way you want to"

Multiplayer matches in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 are underpinned by an overhauled movement system that facilitates smoother slides that carry your momentum, a new ledge grab mechanic, and more.

The result is the most fluid feeling Modern Warfare game yet, offering a new level of freedom in contrast to the comparatively clunky Modern Warfare 2.

"We wanted to make sure this time around that being able to move the way you want to and play the way you want to was also supported," lead game designer Jackie Reynolds tells me at a preview event in Los Angeles.

"We looked at all these systems that would have made the game feel sluggish and cumbersome before, and we actually rebuilt them from the ground up to support that more fluid play. We want you to still feel like a gritty badass, but we also want you to feel like you can move with some parkour, kind of like a call back to the Jason Bourne movies."

Adding extra speed to movement is almost certainly going to increase the game's skill ceiling and widen the gap between newcomers and the most experienced players. Still, the team at developer Infinity Ward tells me that they are confident everything is balanced.

"I think the elegance in our movement stuff is that we generally prioritize your forward movement," studio multiplayer creative director Joe Cecot explains.

"We're not moving as rapidly horizontally as the other games, and so you still feel very fluid. You can move quickly, but those players should be a bit easier to track, to pick up, and that sort of thing.

"For us, it's that balance again. We want to make sure that it feels really good to move, but it also feels good for the person who wants to shoot you, and that's the challenge we kind of set for us at the beginning of the project."

According to Cecot, those who prefer to play more slowly will still have plenty of options to do so.

"We have certain equipment in the game that, if you're more of a tactical player and you want to hold down a location, allows you to set up," he adds.

"The razor wire is a great example, where you can pop it like it's a trap that will catch people. It's not very lethal, but it halts them a little bit and gives you a moment to react. Then we have other equipment that helps you search out and find people on the move, so the seeker drone, you throw it out and actually zips through the world, and it finds people, and you can follow it."

This approach comes as the result of plenty of fan feedback, with many players finding recent Modern Warfare games a little too slow.

"You could argue in our previous game, Modern Warfare 2, we tried to push too hard into the tactical at the expense of responsiveness," Cecot says.

"We're not trying to point fingers; we want to be better. We want to provide a better game for those players."

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches on October 23, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 boasts plenty of changes based on fan feedback from Modern Warfare 2
• The team paid careful attention to the visual recoil of weapons
• Guns "shouldn't feel frustrating," a developer tells me

Many long-time Call of Duty fans are undoubtedly worried about the gunplay of the upcoming Modern Warfare 4. After all, much of the arsenal in developer Infinity Ward's previous effort, 2022's Modern Warfare 2, was criticized for what some felt were unpleasantly high levels of visual recoil.

Visual recoil is the screen shake and other similar effects that occur when you pull the trigger. It was a big part of Modern Warfare 2's gunplay, lending rifles quite a realistic and aggressive feel but simultaneously making them harder to aim and appear more difficult to control, leading to complaints on social media and even YouTube guides on how to reduce it.

"When we made Modern Warfare 2, we made some changes that were healthy for the game, but actually made the game feel a little bit less fun and less responsive," studio multiplayer creative director Joe Cecot tells me at Infinity Ward's Los Angeles office. "We learned from that."

This is apparent in the overhauled movement system, which is noticeably sleeker than before, but also extends to the weapons, which in my brief hands-on time seemed much more manageable.

"We're always trying to walk that line that weapons should feel powerful. We want them to feel like real weapons, but they shouldn't feel frustrating," Cecot says.

He explains that some level of unwieldiness is intentional, as it leaves room for players to improve their gear with the many unlockable attachments in the gunsmith, but that addressing these kinds of complaints was still a big focus.

"It's a challenge for us, but there is a goal that the recoil be more understandable and more clear this game," he adds.

Modern Warfare 4 also boasts wholly rebuilt hip-fire mechanics that more accurately simulate where bullets land. Muzzle smoke has been looked at, too, with a new system that should prevent muzzle effects from ever obscuring a target.

These all sound like promising upgrades, but we'll have to wait and see what the community thinks when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 drops on October 23, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

• Modern Warfare 4 is shaping up to be one of the most grounded Call of Duty experiences in years
• It features realistic character designs and playable 'Mil-Sim' operators
• The lead game designer says, "with the gritty stuff, there's a lot of depth"

One of the first things I noticed dropping into multiplayer Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is its grittier tone and overall art direction. It's night and day compared to the more bombastic and stylized direction of Black Ops 7, populated by playable characters that look much more like modern soldiers.

A handful of the beloved 'Mil-Sim' (short for military simulation) operators from past Modern Warfare games are back as well, giving the most realism-focused players the ability to drop in as anonymous soldiers from the likes of the SAS or Korean military rather than the roster of distinct, named heroes.

"We want those characters to feel set in our world and hit the tone and feel of our world," explains multiplayer creative director Joe Cecot as we chat in one of the many meeting rooms of developer Infinity Ward's Los Angeles office.

Even central characters like Ghost have all-new designs that embody a somewhat more down-to-earth aesthetic.

"Joel Emsley, who is our studio art director, is the person behind Price and Ghost and all these different iconic characters," he continues.

"Every game he's leveling up, and thinking 'how do I improve?' We have those kind of 'Mil-Sim' characters, and then we have Ghost, who's like both 'Mil-Sim,' but now he's got the new mask that he's retrofitted from pieces of things he's found. He's this badass character that fits in our world but feels brand new."

"I feel like with the gritty stuff, there's a lot of depth, and we want to continue to explore that," adds lead game designer Jackie Reynolds, possibly hinting at the studio's approach to any post-launch skins.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is set to launch on October 23, 2026. It will be the first modern Call of Duty game to skip previous generations of consoles, launching exclusively on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's campaign will return to the series’ roots "with dark, gritty storytelling" according to developer Infinity Ward
• The campaign will take place on the Korean Peninsula and follow a young Korean soldier thrust into a new war
• Captain Price will once again return and form a rogue alliance separate from Task Force 141

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has been announced, and it will feature a new campaign that returns to the "grounded" roots the series is best known for.

In case you missed it, Activision and Infinity Ward have confirmed that the next mainline Call of Duty game will launch on October 23 for current-gen consoles, including Nintendo Switch 2.

At launch, the game will feature a multiplayer and DMZ mode with all-new maps, as well as a full campaign which is said to "return to the series’ roots with dark, gritty storytelling, cinematic set pieces, and immersive gameplay moments" that "feels both blockbuster in scale and grounded in authenticity."

"A full-scale invasion erupts in a new theater of war, on the Korean Peninsula, igniting a rapidly escalating crisis unlike anything the franchise has tackled before," the studio teases.

"In the high-stakes and unprecedented scale, ripped-from-the-headlines narrative, a volatile mix of political tension, shadow operations, and outside interference pushes the world toward the brink of war, Private Park, a young Korean grunt soldier, is thrust into combat for the first time, as he and his squad are forced to overcome impossible odds in a gripping zero to hero journey."

On top of this, Modern Warfare 4 will once more see the return of fan-favorite character Captain John Price, who will form a rogue alliance operating outside the system and apart from his team, Task Force 141. Price has been a central character in every mainline Modern Warfare entry, but it's unconfirmed if more members of his squad will make an appearance in the upcoming game.

Players will be able to undertake missions around the globe and encounter varied combat scenarios, from trench warfare in Korea to close-quarters battles in New York, as well as high-speed pursuits through Paris, SAS night raids in Mumbai, and city-wide assaults to reclaim territory.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will "mark a new chapter for the studio" and skip PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

I’ve played some multiplayer matches of the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and it might be the most different the long-running first-person shooter franchise has felt since the Modern Warfare reboot took it in a new direction back in 2019.

Everything once again feels rebuilt from the ground up, with a plethora of unique systems designed to improve the look and feel of both gunplay and movement. Weapons now convincingly fit in the virtual environment, lowering when you press up against walls and benefitting from more realistic bullet trajectories when you hip-fire. Meanwhile, maintaining momentum from your slides, automatically leaning around walls, and being able to latch on to ledges adds a new level of fluidity and creates plenty of novel ways to navigate maps.

According to studio multiplayer creative director Joe Cecot, all of these changes have been carefully tested and are rooted in player feedback from 2019's Modern Warfare and 2022's Modern Warfare 2.

"When we made Modern Warfare 2019 and when we made Modern Warfare 2, we made some changes that were healthy for the game, but actually made the game feel a little bit less fun and less responsive. So we learned from that," he tells me at a behind-closed-doors preview event in developer Infinity Ward's Los Angeles office.

"We said 'no, with this game, anything you want to do, we let you do,' but we make sure the result is balanced."

Moving forward

The intention is to create systems that appease fans of both the more tactical pacing of recent Modern Warfare games, but also the faster, arcade action of classic Call of Duty titles.

"When we look at the game being more tactical, we look at the more accurate hip fire, the gun actually shooting where you're shooting, so you feel like you're more connected to the weapon," he said. "I think that helps with the player who wants to play more tactically.

"But then the player who wants to be fluid and move, once you get going, we make sure that you don't feel like [you're being restricted]."

Lead game designer Jackie Reynolds also seems confident that Modern Warfare 4 will deliver the best of both worlds for fans. "I think what we've seen a lot with the franchise over the years is that one of those play styles seems to be the best," he adds.

"One thing that we're really tirelessly running, whether that's through movement or any of the other systems, is whether we think each individual play style is being addressed."

"You can only go so far playing the game every day, so we've brought in higher-skilled users, we've brought in other influencers, we've brought in Call of Duty League pros," reveals Cecot. "We've brought in all these people to play and give feedback, so we're making sure that we're hitting all those notes."

It's a major departure from how previous games have felt, but both developers are optimistic that all these changes will go down well with the community and help give the upcoming title its own distinct identity.

"We're looking at the genre, we're looking at how our game plays, we're bringing people in. So the differences we've made, I think, are all healthy changes," Cecot argues.

"If you're going from Modern Warfare 2 to our game, it's way more responsive, way more clear.

"Players are more visible, red dots on the mini map, the game's way more understandable. We feel very strongly that it's healthy that within the franchise we are different because if you're buying the same game each year, that's not healthy, so we want to make sure that the changes we make in our game are true to what we believe Modern Warfare should be, and that we're making the right changes to make that feel unique and different enough."

It all seems very promising, and I was impressed by my brief hands-on time, but we'll have to wait and see what other fans think when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 drops on October 23, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches on October 23, 2026
• The game will skip last-gen and launch exclusively on current-gen systems including Nintendo Switch 2
• It will arrive with a full campaign, multiplayer, and DMZ extraction mode

Activision has officially announced the next mainline entry in the Call of Duty series, Modern Warfare 4, and it's slated to release later this year on October 23.

Developed by Infinity Ward, Modern Warfare 4 will skip last-gen consoles, including PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, to launch exclusively on PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC. The game will also be the first Call of Duty entry to launch natively on Nintendo Switch 2.

Modern Warfare 4 will "mark a new chapter for the studio with the grounded, authentic, high-stakes military" the games are known for, set against an escalating global conflict centered around the Korean Peninsula that "pushes the series into darker and more dangerous territory as a full-scale invasion of South Korea threatens to destabilize the world."

While developed with the PC community in mind, the studio confirmed the game has been built exclusively for the latest consoles as well and "sets a new technical benchmark for the franchise" by delivering "greater scale, fidelity, density, responsiveness, and immersion across the full game."

A full campaign that returns to the series' gritty roots, multiplayer, and DMZ mode will be available at launch. DMZ is a separate sandbox extraction style mode that's set in a large-scale conflict zone where players can either deploy solo or with a squad.

"DMZ returns transformed from its Beta, building on that foundation to deliver a deeper, more complete extraction experience shaped by player feedback and new system," Infinity Ward said.

The multiplayer mode will feature 12 all-new core 6v6 maps set in a broad range of locations around the world on day one, as well as offer dedicated Gunfight maps and Kill Block, which is described as a "dynamic battleground with more than 500 configurations that reshape routes, sightlines, and cover to keep players adapting round after round."

An expanded, streamlined customization system has also been created, with a unified loadout system for players to experiment with. Apex Attachments will also unlock at max weapon progression, and each weapon upgrade brings new behaviors that open up additional tactical playstyles.

There are also two Prestige paths: Classic Prestige and Regular Prestige. Classic Prestige delivers the traditional reset experience players are familiar with, relocking Create-a-Class progression in exchange for increased XP earn rates and access to exclusive Prestige rewards.

"I think with the combination of changes to core multiplayer, with Kill Block and the dynamic multiplayer map experience, and the combining that with DMZ being a game within a game," said studio multiplayer creative director Joe Cecot in a recent interview with our Gaming Editor Dashiell Wood.

"It is the biggest, and I think for is even the most impressive Call of Duty that we've ever had a chance to work on. I think I could speak sincerely and say it's my favorite."

• Activision has revealed that the next Call of Duty game will be a Modern Warfare title
• It follows months of rumors that a Modern Warfare 4 is in the works
• The announcement comes alongside a message from the new Infinity Ward studio heads

Activision has confirmed that the next Call of Duty game will be a "definitive" new entry in the Modern Warfare series made by developer Infinity Ward.

The announcement was made over on X, where the official Infinity Ward account posted: "Yes, we are making the definitive Modern Warfare," alongside a short behind-the-scenes video with words from new studio heads Mark Grigsby and Jack O'Hara.

Going off the naming convention established by recent Modern Warfare games, it seems likely that it will be titled Modern Warfare 4.

Although it's good to finally have official confirmation, this isn't much of a surprise to anyone in the Call of Duty community. The news follows months of rumors that the next game would be a title in the rebooted Modern Warfare series, with leaks pointing to it being a new story set in Korea.

What is more interesting is the message from Grigsby and O'Hara that was posted shortly beforehand. It outlined the ethos shaping the upcoming game, which is described as both "visceral" and "immersive".

The post continued: "As a new chapter begins for this studio, we're focused on what defines us: passion, precision, obsession, and an unrelenting drive to make the best entertainment in the industry. Our next game is the result of that mindset.

"Determined. Bold. Relentless. Built by a team pushing every detail, every system, every moment to its limit."

This certainly points to a more intense, grounded experience — something fans have been crying out for over the last few years.

Activision recently confirmed that this upcoming entry will not be coming to PlayStation 4 (and presumably also skip Xbox One), which would suggest that there are some big technological advancements in the works.

We'll have to wait and see what Infinity Ward has been cooking up, but so far it seems promising indeed.

• Activision has said that the next Call of Duty game will not come to PlayStation 4
• It will presumably also skip Xbox One
• It's widely expected to be a new Modern Warfare game

Activision has put out a statement to clarify that the next Call of Duty game will not come to PlayStation 4 and, presumably, skip the Xbox One as well.

The developer took to X in the wake of recent speculation that a cross-generation release is planned for later this year. "Not sure where this one started, but it's not true," the new post reads. "The next Call of Duty is not being developed for PS4."

This would make it the first Call of Duty game for PS5 and Xbox Series X and Series S that is not also available on PS4 and Xbox One. Even last year's Black Ops 7 came to those systems, despite them both being more than a decade old at this point.

Prior to this announcement, some rumors had indicated that the next game would skip the previous generation platforms in order to deliver some more significant technical upgrades than other recent entries.

This upcoming Call of Duty title is widely expected to be a new entry in the rebooted Modern Warfare sub-series. The latest leaks point to it being titled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 with a storyline that takes the Task Force 141 team to Korea.

Call of Duty games usually release around October or November each year, so we will likely hear more about it in the weeks and months ahead.

• Terry Crews has come to Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as a playable character
• It's part of the big Season 3 Reloaded update
• Other major additions include a Robocop event with some free skins, plus new maps and weapons

Comedy actor Terry Crews, of iconic Old Spice advertisement fame, has arrived as a playable operator in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Call of Duty: Warzone as part of the games' new Season 3 Reloaded update.

Crews is portraying The Replacer, a suited figure from the game's live action ad campaign. In the ads, The Replacer would take over various jobs and family responsibilities on a behalf of a client so that they could spend their time instead playing more Black Ops.

He's available as part of the new premium Tracer Pack: Luxury Crews Ultra Skin Bundle which also includes a DS20 Mirage blueprint, RK-9 SMG blueprint, Echo 12 shotgun blueprint, and some other goodies like an emote, weapon charm, and loading screen.

Crews aside, Season 3 Reloaded also adds a limited-time Robocop collaboration. Players can tackle a free event pass for some Robocop themed skins, or upgrade to its premium track in order to get the shiny law enforcement cyborg himself as a playable operator.

More maps, more weapons

On the multiplayer front, the new map Onsen is being introduced. It's set in a small spa in a remote region of Japan, with claustrophobic buildings and hot springs that obscure your vision with rising steam.

It arrives alongside a remastered version of Summit, which first appeared in the original Black Ops. There's also Hacienda returning from Black Ops 6 — though rather than a full remaster it's just a basic re-release and hasn't been meaningfully changed this time around.

Players can also drop into the new mode Freerun, which takes place on the exclusive map Freerun: Ascent. It's a parkour mode with no combat at all, and has you leaping between ledges and dodging obstacles against a time limit.

On top of this, the game's arsenal is getting an upgrade with some new weapons like the Siren, a weird-looking energy launcher, and katana plus various conversion kits to put new spins on existing gear.

You can read everything that has been added, including for the Zombies and Endgame modes in addition to Warzone, on the official Call of Duty Blog.

Interested in diving in? Black Ops 7 is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Xbox One.

• Paramount confirms Call of Duty movie release date as June 30, 2028
• Will be written by Taylor Sheridan and directed by Hancock's Pete Berg
• Two Yellowstone spinoffs — 6666 and 1944 — still don't have any production details

Paramount's Call of Duty movie, set to be written by Yellowstone's Taylor Sheridan, has a confirmed release date of June 30, 2028, as producer Rob Kostich revealed at this year's CinemaCon.

“We want to make sure that the authenticity of it is captured on a human level so that it feels really real and infuse that with epic scope," he explained at Paramount's event [via The Hollywood Reporter].

“I told everyone we were only going to make a movie if it’s right. In David Ellison, we found that partnership,” he continued

We have no further details as of yet, but that's not what I'm concerned about. According to IMDB, Sheridan has 12 outstanding projects between now and 2028, including the Call of Duty movie.

Two of those projects — proposed Yellowstone spinoffs 6666 and 1944 — could now be hugely at risk now that the new movie's release date is confirmed.

Opinion: Taylor Sheridan always moves a million miles a minute — but this feels like too much to juggle

Let's break down the Sheridan projects we're expecting to see in the next two years. For TV alone, we've got new seasons of The Madison, Marshals, Landman, Tulsa King, Lioness, and Mayor of Kingstown to be released.

This is without Dutton Ranch, the Yellowstone spinoff launching on Paramount+ from May 15.

Then we've got Frisco King, a Tulsa King spinoff starring Samuel L. Jackson, expected to be released at some point in 2027. Exhausted yet?

Alongside the Call of Duty movie, Sheridan is also writing for 2027 the action thriller movie F.A.S.T, starring 1923 alum Brandon Sklenar and Sam Claflin.

The above takes us up to 10 projects, which is no mean feat. Given that shows like Landman and Lioness seem to be aiming for a "one a year" release date schedule, I'd put my money on seeing the first 9 TV titles all available to stream by the end of 2027.

That leaves two projects in the lurch: Yellowstone spinoffs 6666 (announced in 2021) and 1944 (announced in 2023). Yet in 2026, we still know very little about either.

We're expecting 1944 to chronicle the final years of World War II and a new generation of the Dutton family, while 6666 supposedly follows Jimmy Hurdstram's (Jefferson White) new life. In short, they're two projects that clearly need a lot of effort and attention.

If progress continues this slowly, both spinoffs may remain on the creative back burner for years to come. The confirmation of Call of Duty's release schedule only pushes them further away, with scripts needing rewrites and alterations well into the production process.

Sheridan's spinning a lot of plates here, and something's got to give.

• Xbox and Fanta have partnered for a special anniversary drink collection
• Fans can purchase Fanta drinks themed after games like Halo, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and more
• Each bottle's QR code can be scanned to unlock challenges and redeem in-game rewards

Xbox is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a Fanta collaboration featuring themed products based on a collection of games, as well as new in-game content for those same titles.

Starting in April, fans will be able to purchase special-edition Fanta cans and bottles, with each flavor featuring packaging inspired by some of Xbox's most iconic franchises. This includes Halo, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Forza Horizon, and Diablo.

Alongside the collection, the company is introducing a new special edition flavor, Fanta Crimson, which will feature the Paladin class from Diablo 4.

Each bottle has a QR code, which, when scanned, unlocks Xbox-themed interactive challenges for players to complete. These include minigames called Extract the Cargo, Survive the Sweep, and Shatter the Spell.

By completing these challenges, fans can enter for a chance to win a number of prizes, such as a ROG Xbox Ally, Xbox Series S – 1TB, Xbox Wireless Controller, and one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (though that one can only be redeemed by new subscribers).

Players can also redeem Xbox in-game rewards for special goodies across those games. You can check out the rewards below.

• Halo: Campaign Evolved – The Master Chief’s Fantastic Spartan Armor [Redeemable beginning at launch]
• World of Warcraft – Fantastical Goblin Waveshredder Mount and more WoW rewards
• Call of Duty: Warzone and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 – Tactical Orange Calling Card and 1-Hour 2XP Level Token
• Diablo 4 – Citron Whirl Town Portal
• Forza Horizon 6 – 1966 Toyota Sports 800 Fanta Edition [Redeemable beginning at launch]

In addition to the new drink collection, from May 22 to May 25, Xbox and Fanta are transforming the AMC at The Grove in Los Angeles into an interactive experience for fans, inspired by the world of Sanctuary.

"Upon entering, players will find themselves face-to-face with Mephisto, who has cast a spell over the Fanta Rewards Chest, locking away the prizes," Xbox said in an Xbox Wire post.

Fans will have the chance to win a multitude of prizes, including a trip to BlizzCon, a prize package featuring an Xbox Series S console, Xbox Wireless Controllers, and more, a ROG Xbox Ally, and downloadable game codes.

"Whether you’re racing through Tokyo City in Forza Horizon 6, dungeon crawling in Diablo 4, exploring Azeroth in World of Warcraft, dropping into the action in Call of Duty, or suiting up with the Master Chief in Halo, the special-edition collection celebrates the passion players share for gaming," the post said.

• Developer Activision has revealed what's in store for the third Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 season
• Major multiplayer additions include a raft of fresh maps and plenty of new weapons
• It launches on April 2

Developer Activision has lifted the curtain on what's coming to multiplayer in the next season of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 when it launches on April 2, and it's going to be full of glorious Black Ops nostalgia.

Five multiplayer maps will be available day one: Beacon, Abyss, Plaza, Gridlock, and Mission: Trident. First up, Beacon is a brand-new mid-size map set in a remote snowy region, centred around a freezing Guild facility dotted with shipping containers for cover and offering a mix of indoor and outdoor settings.

Abyss is a much smaller environment, taking place entirely inside a submarine. It's a long, rectangular map that looks pretty similar to the excellent Bullet map from Black Ops 6 (which was set on a speeding bullet train). It seems much more cramped than Bullet, though, with tight corridors and loads of obstacles to navigate around.

Then there's Plaza, another mid-size map and a remaster that's returning from Black Ops 2. Like the original map it's set in a nightclub at the Colossus Resort from that game's campaign, which also appears in a ruined state in the existing Black Ops 7 map Colossus.

The throwbacks don't stop there though, with the first ever remaster of Gridlock from Black Ops 4 arriving the same day. This one follows the aftermath of an armored truck heist gone wrong on a busy Tokyo highway, and given how prominently Black Ops 7 features Japan as a setting it only makes sense to bring it over.

Rounding off the initial offering is Mission: Trident, a new 20v20 map for the massive skirmish game mode featuring a huge harbor and its surrounding warehouses.

An upgraded arsenal

Season 3 Reloaded will then add even more with the spa-themed small map Onsen and a remaster of Summit. Black Ops 6's version of Hacienda is being ported over too, with some small tweaks to the vineyard's layout to accommodate Black Ops 7's enhanced movement abilities.

There's also going to be an interesting new mode, Freerun, which will have its own dedicated map called Ascent. As the name would suggest, Freerun is all about parkour and doesn't seem to feature any combat at all with players instead competing to reach a set finish point in a race.

It wouldn't be a new Call of Duty season without new weapons and attachments either. Launch highlights include the addition of the MK35 ISR assault rifle and VST SMG, with the likes of the Strider 300 sniper rifle and the legendary 1911 pistol following in the Reloaded update. A mid-season event will even let you unlock a bizarre energy weapon, the Siren, which shoots big electric projectiles capable of passing through multiple players. There will also be another event that rewards you with a new katana for melee.

All of these come alongside a paid battle pass filled with neat skins, and a revamped Blackcell tier that now offers it's own exclusive challenges. You can read all about, plus the content coming to Warzone, Endgame, and Zombies, on the official Call of Duty blog.

Black Ops 7 is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Xbox One.

• Activision has slashed the price of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on Steam for the Spring Sale
• It's currently 90% off, available for a record low price of $5.99 / £4.99 / AU$9.59
• The game's player counts have boomed to new heights thanks to the deal

If you're looking for an incredible bargain in the Steam Spring Sale, then Activision has you covered with an incredible discount on 2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.

Right now, the game is a massive 90% off, plummeting to a record low $5.99 / £4.99 / AU$9.59 on the platform. Usually it costs $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$89.95 and has previously only gone down to $19.79 / £16.49 / AU$29.68 when it's been on sale.

I can't think of the last time that a recent Call of Duty game has ever been that cheap, and plenty of other Steam users have obviously taken notice of the deal. The game hit an all-time new Steam peak player count of 61,667 thanks to this deal, with tens of thousands of players right now, according to SteamDB.

Modern Warfare is now one of the most played first-person shooter (FPS) games on the platform, beating out Warzone, Black Ops 7, and Black Ops 6 - which have a total of 17,442 players at the moment in the combined Call of Duty experience. It has roughly double the current Steam players of Battlefield 6, too, no small feat for a game that's now almost seven years old.

The first instalment of the rebooted Modern Warfare series, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, is looked back on fondly as one of the best Call of Duty games in recent memory. It's gritty and grounded, with a superb campaign that contains now iconic sequences like the tense room-clearing action of Clean House.

Although it's no longer receiving major content updates, it has plenty of maps and modes to discover, in addition to a strong arsenal of weapons. Even if you've played it before, the servers are now the most populated that they have been since launch, giving you a rare opportunity to drop back into bustling online lobbies.

There's no saying just how long this boom will last, either, so I'd recommend diving in as soon as possible if you want to give the multiplayer a good go.

Call of Duty: Warzone is about to get its biggest update in years with the arrival of an all-new mode: Black Ops Royale. Inspired by the fan-favorite Blackout of Black Ops 4, this addition is intended to breathe new life into the free-to-play title.

"It's been a little stagnant," explained Warzone game director Pete Actipis in a briefing seen by TechRadar Gaming. "What we wanted to do is make sure, from the ground up, that this mode would have a very different flow to it."

To do this, the development team has been "embracing" the "Black Ops and Blackout experience" while still offering a "brand-new" big map for players to explore, he said.

This was reiterated by Black Ops Senior Director of Production Yale Miller, who described the mode as "a bold new take on battle royale."

New tricks

The mode takes place in a version of the Avalon map from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's co-op campaign and Endgame modes that has been modified based on feedback from the community. One of the biggest changes is the addition of considerably more land, reducing the amount of water that players will need to traverse in order to get around the map.

This change adds new areas to discover and will be exclusive to Black Ops Royale. The map will be altered even further come the launch of Season 3, with a few tweaks to add even more walkable areas.

Although underpinned by the same last-squad-standing formula of traditional Warzone modes, Black Ops Royale still has its fair share of unique gameplay mechanics to set it apart. Core systems from Blackout, like armor upgrades and the trauma kit consumable item, return with unfamiliar twists, with the kit now providing buffs in addition to healing.

Unlike the iconic Gulag of Warzone, defeated players will be able to redeploy via consumable tokens or with a teammate's visit one of the many redeploy towers littered around the map. These present a careful balance of risk and reward, generating significant amounts of noise that reveals your location to those nearby.

With an in-depth weapon rarity system that has five color-coded tiers with varied attachments and core stats, there are plenty of activities in Avalon that you can complete to get kitted out with good gear. Finding surprise shipments, busting locked strongboxes, or taking out roaming surveillance drones (all mechanics clearly drawn from Endgame) offers bonus loot.

Individual pickups aren't shared across your squad either, so a full team of players will need to pursue multiple activities to ensure everyone has the best possible loadouts.

Two cradle breach events start to kick off in the middle of the match, flooding areas with Black Ops 7's toxic red gas and spawning waves of zombie foes. Venturing in gives you the best shot at the rarest gear - but powerful enemies, not to mention other competing squads, should be expected.

Other major mechanics include the introduction of consumable perks, temporary buffs that replace the usual permanent perk system and do everything from increasing your looting abilities to enhancing your close-quarters combat effectiveness.

With a range of Operator Orders, a spiritual successor to Blackout's character unlock missions, to discover with special rewards including camos and blueprints, I'm certainly eager to dive in.

The mode launches today at 9pm PT or tomorrow on March 13 at 12am ET for those on the East Coast. You can play Call of Duty: Warzone for free on PC, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4.

• Call of Duty: Warzone is getting a new battle royale mode
• Titled Black Ops Royale, it was inspired by Black Ops 4's Blackout
• It doesn't feature loadout drops or the gulag

A new battle royale mode is coming to Call of Duty: Warzone, and it was inspired by the fan-favorite Blackout of Black Ops 4.

Titled Black Ops Royale, the mode will be free for all players when it launches next week. It brings back the series' original battle royale experience, with a focus on scavenging for gear in 100-player matches.

Black Ops Royale doesn't have loadout drops or buy stations, forcing you to rely on what you can find lying around in the massive Avalon map.

Weapons that you obtain have a range of possible rarity levels, with higher ones increasing the number of available attachments in addition to bullet velocity and range. New attachment kits let you upgrade the gear that you have on hand through a predefined progression path based on each weapon class.

Unique perks are also available and can be found on the ground or in supply boxes. You can get them alongside other rewards for completing the various activities or missions littered around the world, too.

The mode doesn't have Warzone's gulag, so your team will need to redeploy towers if you die in the field. You can find valuable redeploy tokens, though, which let you jump back in right away.

Many of these mechanics feel reminiscent of those in the old Blackout mode from Black Ops 4, and plenty of fans are loving the similarities.

"Thank you for bringing back Blackout," wrote one player in the comments of a recent developer briefing video. "Loved blackout, can’t wait to try this out," chimed in another.

A thread about the new mode on the community-run r/Warzone subreddit was also filled with similar sentiments. "I am unbelievably stoked about this. Blackout is by far my most played game mode in any game," one user said.

Others were less impressed, though, with some saying that they would rather play the existing Warzone modes. "Willing to give it a shot but not expecting to enjoy it," one commenter revealed, listing the lack of loadout drops as one of the reasons why.

"Are we back? No, but a new mode is interesting," another posted.

You'll be able to dive into Black Ops Royale when it launches Thursday, March 12 at 9pm PT (that's Friday, March 13 at 12am ET for those on the East Coast).

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 2 has been revealed
• It's arriving on February 5, 2026 and adds loads of fresh multiplayer content
• This includes plenty of new maps and a selection of new weapons

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 2 has been revealed and it's shaping up to be another huge dose of content for the already massive first-person shooter game.

Some brand new maps are coming to multiplayer, including Torment – a small 6v6 environment set in David Mason's mind. It's a maze of shipping containers and twisted tree roots, complete with spooky pools of blood and strange rifts that let you teleport around the map.

It's complemented by a second 6v6 map, Nexus. This is again set in a dream world with floating debris and partially destroyed buildings. It can also be played in 2v2 modes, as it's particularly small.

Back in the real world, players will be able to explore Sake – a large Japanese brewing plant with multiple zones including a production facility, fancy bar, and even a little museum for visitors to explore.

Black Ops 2 fans can also dive back into the small streets of Slums. This remastered map has been rebuilt for Black Ops 7, though it maintains the fan-favorite layout of the original. Yes, even that infamous electronics store...

And if that wasn't enough nostalgia, a third fantastical 6v6 map, Torque, is also being added as part of the mid-season update. This one is set in a memory of the iconic Battle of Los Angeles in the Black Ops 2 campaign, with a mix of tight interior and exterior environments complete with huge twisted highway that trails off into the sky.

It will arrive alongside Cliff Town, an updated version of Yemen from Black Ops 2, plus the massive Mission: Peak, a 20v20 behemoth for the Skirmish mode. In addition to all of this, Grind and Firing Range (two Black Ops 6 maps) are also returning.

The fight continues

Expect a wealth of new weapons too. At launch you'll be able to try the new Rev-46 SMG, EGRT-17 assault rifle, GDL Havoc special grenade launcher, and the absolutely brutal looking H311-SAW buzzsaw.

The SG-12 automatic shotgun, Voyak KT-3 assault rifle, and Swordfish A1 marksman rifle will then follow as the season progresses. Each new gun has its own compatible attachments too, giving myriad fresh ways to customize your arsenal.

Of course, there will also be a shiny Season 2 battle pass to work your way through, plus plenty of new bundles in the in-game store.

This is just a small taste of what's coming to the game when Season 2 launches on February 5, 2026. For the full details, plus news on the addition to Zombies, Endgame and Warzone, see the massive official Call of Duty blog post.

Black Ops 7 is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Xbox One.

• Call of Duty might be heading to Nintendo Switch 2 in the near future
• A leaker claims that references to Nintendo platforms have appeared in the game's code
• It's currently unclear which entries would make the jump

A Call of Duty game might be set to come to Nintendo Switch 2, according to a recent leak.

As noticed by VGC, a leaker who goes by the handle '@realityuk' has allegedly spotted some references to Nintendo platforms in the Call of Duty code.

Per their screenshot, the Nintendo references seem to appear alongside code for other major platforms like Xbox and PlayStation.

Ubisoft Connect is also present in the list, which is presumably the result of certain Activision titles, including Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3, becoming available via Ubisoft+ Premium streaming late last year.

The leaker suggests that this means an announcement is "imminent" and that it should be expected as part of the next raft of Nintendo reveals.

It's not clear which games, if any, are going to come to Nintendo Switch 2, but the most obvious contenders would be Black Ops 7 and the free-to-play Warzone battle royale.

An inevitable port?

Fresh claims of a potential Call of Duty Nintendo Switch 2 port shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as Microsoft and Nintendo entered into a binding ten-year legal agreement back in 2023.

At the time, Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith promised that the company would bring Call of Duty games to Nintendo platforms.

The games would allegedly launch "the same day as Xbox, with full feature and content parity" as part of a move towards "providing long-term equal access to Call of Duty to other gaming platforms".

The announcement came in the shadow of an impending Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawsuit against Microsoft, which argued that the tech giant's purchase of Call of Duty owner Activision Blizzard would breach US antitrust laws.

The case was eventually dropped by the FTC, with the $75.4 billion acquisition completed on October 13, 2023.

Although it's clear that Microsoft has missed the opportunity to bring Black Ops 7 to Nintendo Switch 2 "the same day as Xbox," the announcement of a port would still go some way to fulfilling that promise.

• Activision has revealed the Call of Duty x Fallout collab
• It introduces new themed operator skins, modes, and plenty of free rewards
• It all goes live later today

Developer Activision has unveiled the long-awaited Call of Duty x Fallout TV show collab, with the crossover set to arrive later today. It introduces a mix of free and paid content to both Black Ops 7 and Warzone.

In Black Ops 7, players will be able to dive into a new Fallout-themed map variant - Vault Town. Based on Nuketown 2025, it features a unique Fallout aesthetic and loads of easter eggs based on the series.

There will also be two new Fallout limited-time modes to try: S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Mayhem and The Ghouls. In S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Mayhem, players must fight over a variety of power-ups based on Fallout consumables like Jet and Physho. These provide special effects like improved speed or boosts to health and accuracy.

The Ghouls is a twist on the existing Infected mode, replacing the zombies with irradiated wasteland horrors.

Zombies fans will also be able to try a new limited-time mode in Project RADS. This adds new buffs to try and even a boss fight with a fearsome Deathclaw.

The Deathclaw is heading to the co-op campaign Endgame, too, in the limited-time Deathclaw Hunt world event.

Warzone meets Wasteland

A new Fallout-themed limited-time mode is also coming to Warzone: Power Armor Royale. It offers trios games with 66 players in a special irradiated version of Verdansk.

Power Armor occasionally drops from the sky, with players attempting to power up their Fusion Cores in order to pilot it.

On top of all of this, a new Fallout event pass will be available across every mode, which is split into a free and premium track.

Those in the free track can unlock two special operator skins, plus the all-new Sturmwolf 45 weapon, among other rewards.

If you splash out for Premium, you can bag the new Maximum operator plus The Ghoul operator, among other rewards.

Having already beaten the existing Season One battle pass, I'm pretty eager to dive in to hoover up the goodies from both.

The Tracer Pack: Fallout Bundle, featuring a new Lucy operator, is also heading to the in-game store.

Both the free-to-play Warzone and Black Ops 7 are available now for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Xbox One.

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season One Reloaded arrives on January 8, 2026
• It introduces a load of new maps and weapons
• There will also be a Fallout crossover

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's big Season One Reloaded content drop is almost here, with the update set to go live tomorrow on January 8, 2026.

Before diving into some of the additions that it brings to the table, here's when it releases in your region:

• US: 9AM PT / 11AM CT / 12PM ET
• UK: 5PM GMT
• AUS: 3AM AEST / 4AM AEDT (January 9, 2026)

Season One Reloaded comes as part of one of the biggest seasonal updates in Call of Duty history, which has already brought a deluge of new maps, weapons, and more to the world of Black Ops 7.

On the multiplayer front, it introduces three new maps: Yakei, Meltdown, and Fringe. Yakei is an all-new environment crafted for Black Ops 7, set on the colorful rooftops of a Japanese city. It's got a great aesthetic, and the compact design looks like it's going to be a great fit for intense 6v6 matches.

Meltdown is then a remaster of the iconic Black Ops 2 map, representing the first time that it's been brought back outside of Call of Duty: Mobile.

Fringe is another remaster, this time of a map originally from Black Ops 3, though this particular incarnation is a return from its appearance in Black Ops 6, giving players a chance to re-explore it with all of Black Ops 7's enhanced traversal options.

You can see each of the maps in a recent showcase video below.

They arrive alongside a new game mode, Takeover, which sees two teams of six fighting to capture moving territory.

At least two new weapons are dropping too: the Hawker HX sniper rifle and Sturmwolf 45 SMG. On top of this, players will also be able to take advantage of a wealth of gear returning from Black Ops 6, including a number of tacticals, lethals, and scorestreaks.

Season One Reloaded also marks the arrival of a Fallout TV show collaboration, which will presumably involve new playable operators and an in-game event to complete.

Based on Activision's many teases, I'm also expecting a cool Fallout-inspired variant of the Nuketown 2025 map, though this hasn't been 100% officially confirmed quite yet.

Zombies fans will have plenty to dive into, with the new Zarya Cosmodome survival map being added.

For those eager to return to the Endgame mode, there will be fresh world events. This includes the introduction of the Wraith Wing, a fearsome ghostly VTOL boss that players will likely have to squad up together in order to defeat.

For those who have been accumulating COD Points in the current battle pass, a bunch of new cosmetic bundles are set to hit the in-game store throughout Season One Reloaded.

Black Ops 7 is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Xbox One.

• 2025's most-played games on PS5 and Xbox are fairly predictable
• In fact, they're exactly the same as they were in 2024
• The usual suspects include Minecraft, Call of Duty, and Fortnite

You'll get no prizes for guessing what the US's most played games of 2025 were. Especially as they're the exact same five as the year before.

The data comes from Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, who took to Bluesky to share information on 2025's most-played games across both PS5 and Xbox consoles for the US.

It's definitely not the most brain-busting Wheel of Fortune board we've ever seen, with titles like Fortnite, Roblox, and Grand Theft Auto 5 comfortably occupying both PlayStation and Xbox lists. The same now as they did in 2024.

Here's the top 5 PS5 list, for reference:

1. Fortnite
2. Call of Duty
3. Grand Theft Auto 5
4. Roblox
5. Minecraft

The Xbox list features the same five games, but Minecraft and Roblox have switched places. Understandable to a degree, given that the Mojang-developed survival sandbox finds its home at Microsoft these days.

2025 was a pretty astronomical year for video games. It felt like countless landmark titles released last year, including Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Blue Prince, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Silent Hill f, just to name a handful of bangers. It appears that the children still yearn for the mines, though.

• Industry veteran Vince Zampella has died at the age of 55
• He was involved in a car accident in Los Angeles on December 21
• Zampella was best known as the co-creator of the Call of Duty series and the co-founder of Respawn Entertainment

Vince Zampella, an industry legend best known as the co-creator of Call of Duty and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment, has died at the age of 55.

According to NBC Los Angeles, Zampella was killed in a single-car crash that occurred on December 21. It took place on a road north of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Mountains.

"The southbound car veered off the road, hit a concrete barrier and a passenger was ejected," the California Highway Patrol said.

"The driver died at the scene and the passenger died at a hospital, authorities told NBC4 Investigates," the report reads.

It's now been confirmed that he was the driver of a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS, but the passenger has not been identified at this time.

Zampella co-created the massively successful Call of Duty franchise with Jason West in 2003 at their studio Infinity Ward, a series that went on to shape the first-person shooter (FPS) genre in gaming.

Infinity Ward has shared its own statement on X / Twitter following Zampella's passing, writing, "rest in peace Vince. As one of the founders of Infinity Ward and Call of Duty, you will always have a special place in our history.

"Your legacy of creating iconic, lasting entertainment is immeasurable. Our deepest condolences to Vince’s family and loved ones upon this terrible tragedy."

The industry veteran left Infinity Ward in 2010 after a legal dispute with Activision. He and West co-founded Respawn the same year, a studio that developed Titanfall and Titanfall 2, Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

"We're heartbroken by the passing of our founder and dear friend Vince Zampella," Repawn said on X / Twitter. "Vince was a titan and legend of this industry, a visionary leader and a force who shaped teams and games like Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, the Star Wars Jedi series and Battlefield for our community in ways that will be felt for generations.

"His impact reached far beyond any one game or studio. We will remember Vince for how he showed up every day, trusting his teams, encouraging bold ideas, and believing in Respawn and Battlefield. Most importantly, he championed what he believed was right for the people behind those studios and our players because it mattered. We will miss him greatly. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and all who love him."

Before his passing, Zampella acted as the executive vice president at EA, overseeing the Battlefield series. EA also provided a statement to Kotaku.

"This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work, Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching," the statement reads.

"A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come."

• Activision has announced changes to how it releases Call of Duty games
• There will no longer be back-to-back Modern Warfare or Black Ops releases
• The company cites a desire to "drive innovation that is meaningful, not incremental"

Activision is making some big changes to how it releases Call of Duty games.

As revealed in a new post to the official Call of Duty blog, the company will no longer release back-to-back titles from either the Modern Warfare or Black Ops series. It follows the middling reception of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which currently sits at a score of just 67 on Metacritic, and a more negative response to the earlier Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Both games were released just one year after their predecessors, the excellent Black Ops 6 and Modern Warfare 2, respectively. Activision states that it is doing this in order to "drive innovation that is meaningful, not incremental" and "provide an absolutely unique experience each and every year."

The post also affirms that the company is still "committed" to supporting Black Ops 7 and "won't rest" until it's " one of the best Black Ops games we’ve ever made."

The game just received its first major content drop in the form of Season One, which adds heaps of new content for all of its modes. It was one of the biggest updates in Call of Duty history, and I've been loving the new maps and modes.

If you haven't yet tried Black Ops 7, it's definitely worth a go. The campaign is very weak, sure, but both the multiplayer and Zombies modes are some of the best in the series yet.

The game will be available to play for free for a limited time next week on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Xbox One.

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season One arrives on December 4
• It's shaping up to be one of the biggest updates in series history
• It adds a heap of new maps, weapons, and more for every mode

The first season of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has been revealed, and it's one of the biggest updates in series history.

Set to release next week on December 4 it brings heaps of content to all of the first-person shooter's major modes.

This includes four multiplayer maps on day one: the all-new Fate, Utopia, and Odysseus in addition to a remaster of the fan-favorite Standoff from Black Ops 2. These will then be followed by a festive version of Hijacked and, subsequently, an all-new Japan-inspired map called Yakei and a remaster of Meltdown, again from Black Ops 2.

If all that wasn't enough, Fringe, a map from last year's Black Ops 6, will also be introduced.

Out of all of these maps, Fate and Yakei are by far the most interesting to me. Fate is set in a twisted version of Menendez's iconic Nicaraguan lair from the Back Ops 2 campaign complete with a floating island and giant machetes sticking out of the ground.

It's incredibly nostalgic, but with a surrealist flair that, in my eyes, makes it one of the coolest looking maps in the series so far.

Yakei has a similarly strong art direction that makes me eager to dive in. Set on the rooftops a futuristic Japanese city, it's bathed in neon lights and flashy billboards with plenty of ledges that look perfect for parkour.

To accompany this raft of maps is a selection of new modes including the return of Prop Hunt, One In the Chamber, Sharpshooter, Gun Game, Takeover, and Sticks & Stones.

Around the festive period there will be two 'Codmas' limited-time modes too: Snowfight and Holiday Havoc.

A barrage of new weapons will be arriving throughout the season too, including the Kogot-7 SMG, Maddox RFB Assault Rifle, Sokol 545 LMG, NX Ravager Crossbow, Ballistic Knife, Sturmwolf 45 SMG, and the Hawker HX Sniper Rifle.

There will also be new attachments to earn, with one particularly scaring sounding one allowing you to use the super fast-firing Akita shotguns akimbo.

Endgame gets a mega content boost

The campaign's co-op Engame mode, which was recently made available to all players regardless of campaign progress, is about to get even bigger thanks to four incredibly weird new world events.

In 'Colossus of Avalon', high level players will have to take down one of the giant mechanical robots that we previously saw menacingly marching in the backgrounds of Black Ops 2 Zombies maps.

There will be another new boss in the 'Wraith Wing' world event in the form of a giant VTOL that hunts down squads. Rather than focusing on a single big boss, 'Toxic Tyrant' will challenge players to defeat waves of powerful enemies triggered by a deadly bio weapon loose in the world.

Publisher Activision is also teasing one more world event, but we'll have to wait and see what that is.

For the most experienced players, a new Exotic Skill system will offer the chance to further upgrade your character with special abilities by completing these world events.

Zombies expands and much more

The new Astra Malorum map headlines the wealth of additions coming to Zombies with its own new enemy types, wonder weapon, traps, and main quest to dive into.

Fans of the survival mode get a new environment too in Exit 115, which is set in the Reba's Diner area of the existing Ashes of the Damned map.

I'm barely scratching the surface here, as this all comes alongside new challenges, camos, limited-time events and much more.

Big changes are coming to the free-to-play Warzone component too, namely in the form a new resurgence map and two Black Ops 7-themed points of interest appearing in Verdansk.

For the full details of everything coming in the huge Season One release, check out the latest post on the official Call of Duty blog.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is available now for PC, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.

Playing the co-op campaign of first-person shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 feels like diving into season 13, episode 21 of a low-budget network TV show with no prior context.

Set ten years after the events of 2012’s Black Ops 2, it opens with returning hero David Mason heading to the coastal city-state of Avalon with his squad to track down the source of a sinister broadcast purportedly from deceased terrorist Raul Menendez.

Your first mission involves infiltrating the high-tech headquarters of The Guild, a futuristic tech company that’s the apparent source of the video, and right from the get-go, it’s obvious that corners have been cut.

Cutscenes seem a little cheaper than usual, with awkward animations and juvenile, stilted dialogue that’s nowhere near the cinematic espionage excellence of last year’s Black Ops 6.

Back to the future

The pacing is also far too abrupt, front-loaded with big exposition dumps that propel the plot forward at a frankly overwhelming clip.

Early on, the team is exposed to a hallucinogenic red gas, with most sequences taking place inside a dream-like haze. There are some striking visuals, like a fractured memory of Menendez’s Nicaraguan compound or an impossibly twisted L.A. Highway, though they mostly boil down to mowing down waves of reskinned enemies from the Zombies mode and then taking on overly tanky boss fights.

Each mission is structured like a raid from an MMO (massively multiplayer online game), a la Destiny 2; the antithesis of the highly scripted, set-piece driven action that has made previous campaigns so great. In the real world, a handful of missions take place in Avalon with a semi-open-world structure reminiscent of the widely disliked open combat missions of 2023’s Modern Warfare 3.

The map, originally designed for Warzone, is far too large, so you end up having to trudge your way between different objectives.

A few special abilities, like a super jump or a grapple hook that allow you to quickly gain momentum and deploy a wingsuit, provide a welcome, faster method of traversal, but are ultimately a solution to a problem that a Call of Duty campaign should have never suffered from in the first place.

It’s also hard to shake the fact that most of Avalon doesn't really fit in with the rest of the 2035 setting. This is most apparent when you reach an area that first appeared in Black Ops 6 as the Skyline multiplayer map. The rooftop apartment is entirely unchanged from its depiction in that game, which was set more than four decades prior in 1991.

The only real setting that seems suitably futuristic is a segment in the neon-lit streets of Tokyo, in which you play as an entirely different team of characters for no apparent reason, jumping between rooftops using your wall-jump - a new move for Black Ops 7. It’s a clear highlight despite the jarring new faces, and it’s sad that there aren't more moments with tightly designed parkour like this throughout.

Warzone woes

As with the setting of Avalon, a significant number of mechanics in the co-op campaign feel ripped right out of Warzone.

There are weapon boxes littered around the world so that you can gear up, replenishable armour plates protect you from hits, and weapons have different rarity levels that you can upgrade as you go at designated stations. The user interface is indistinguishable too; there are no checkpoints to save your progress within missions, and you can’t even pause the game if you want to take a break.

Despite all of this, I certainly didn’t hate playing through the campaign. It’s nowhere near as boring as the sloppy story in the aforementioned Modern Warfare 3, namely as a result of its co-op. With a friend or three in tow, it all becomes absolutely hilarious.

The writing is rough across the board, so ripe for moments of inadvertent comedy like a ludicrous dream sequence in which you fight a giant version of Harper - one of the playable characters and returning face from Black Ops 2 - or when the main baddie is defeated by an anti-tank missile to the face, only to reappear completely fine mere seconds later.

After you finish the campaign, you’re unleashed into the extraction-shooter-like Endgame, and it’s surprisingly quite a lot of fun.

Dropping into a gas-filled Avalon with countless other players, it has you completing mini-challenges to level up your ‘Combat Rating’ and unlock special perks that do everything from massively boost your firing speed to causing a burst of electricity that stuns enemies every time you reload. You’re working on a strict time limit, and if you’re killed before you can reach an extraction point, you lose all of your progress, so it’s inherently very high stakes and reminiscent of a roguelike in the best of ways.

The map is split into multiple difficulty areas, and progressing through each one is very satisfying. It all culminates in a very challenging boss fight that requires you to team up with other players on the server, an enjoyable moment of collaboration that’s a great little send-off.

In addition to quickly levelling up your weapons and gear for use in other modes, beating the boss with multiple characters rewards you with some great-looking skins, giving you a genuine reason to come back and replay it.

The format is also clearly ripe for expansion, and I’m intrigued to see what kind of additions will come to the Endgame throughout the year.

Place, Japan

On the multiplayer front, Black Ops 7 fares much better. Building on the incredibly strong foundations laid with Black Ops 6, this is comfortably one of the most engaging multiplayer offerings yet. The maps, a bit of a weak point last year, are all absolutely fantastic, and there are loads of them to master. The ones set in Japan in particular look simply stunning, with gorgeous details and impressive lighting that conveys a brilliant atmosphere.

Small maps like Blackheart, Homestead, and Cortex flow wonderfully and don’t suffer from awkward spawn locations. The work especially well with the hectic new Overload game mode, which has two teams clashing for possession of a bomb-like device that needs to be placed in specific locations to score.

The map themes themselves are brilliantly varied, too, with some evocative concepts that I wish had been explored in the campaign. Scar, for example, is set in a distant Alaskan village that’s being torn apart by attacking robots, while Colossus has you exploring the rusted wreckage of the once beautiful resort that was memorably destroyed in Black Ops 2.

The wall jump adds another dimension to traversal, augmenting the existing Omnimovement system (which allows you to sprint in any direction) by giving more skilled players the opportunity to hop above the heads of enemies on vertical routes that require multiple tricky jumps to cross.

Gear Overclocking from Advanced Warfare is back, too, meaning that your most used equipment can be upgraded with new abilities to increase its effectiveness. This pairs nicely with Weapon Prestige, where you can reset your weapon level in exchange for special attachments and exclusive camos, and ensures that, unlike past releases, you’re not going to run out of levels to grind any time soon.

The guns themselves are all very satisfying to use and well-balanced. Assault rifles and SMGs are definitely the most versatile and popular options, though sniper rifles and marksman rifles are still very viable given their incredible damage output, and shotguns such as the fully automatic Akita absolutely dominate at close range.

With a deluge of new maps set to arrive in Season One and the imminent addition of the classic Nuketown, this is shaping up to be one of the greatest years of multiplayer Call of Duty yet.

Arcade action

Like multiplayer, Zombies builds on everything that worked in its Black Ops 6 iteration.

There’s one Round-Based map at launch, and it’s absolutely massive, featuring an upgradeable truck to help you get around. There are heavy references to the legendary TranZit map from Black Ops 2, including some returning areas that have been lovingly recreated and incorporated seamlessly.

It continues the long-running and nigh-impenetrable storyline that’s been going all the way since World at War, with a brand new main quest that requires multiple hidden steps to complete. Long-time Zombies fans will absolutely love it, but if chasing esoteric easter eggs isn’t your speed, there’s a more basic Survival mode that’s perfect for unwinding with friends as you mow down waves of the undead.

This is in addition to Dead Ops Arcade 4, a light-hearted top-down challenge mode that has you running through small combat arenas with retro twin-stick controls, trying to last for as long as possible. This isn’t the deepest mode by any means, but it’s an enjoyable diversion and well worth trying for a handful of runs.

With all of this said, it should be obvious whether Black Ops 7 is for you.

If you’re primarily invested in the multiplayer or Zombies, then you’re going to have a fantastic time - the maps are great and it’s hard to overstate just how refined and polished the minute-to-minute action here feels. The co-op campaign is a very different story, though, and a big miss despite the strong Endgame.

Should I play Call of Duty: Black Ops 7?

Play it if…

Don’t play it if…

Accessibility features

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has a good number of accessibility features.

The UI features a number of reliability options, including the ability to increase subtitle size, adjust background color, adjust the size of text in menus, and fully customize the colors of important information. The multiplayer HUD can also be edited to your liking and made significantly larger if required.

There are multiple control layouts to choose from, with presets for simplified controls on controller and settings to reduce the need for lots of motion. On both console and PC, you can choose to play the game with either a controller or keyboard and mouse.

How I reviewed Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

I played more than 30 hours of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 for this review, including roughly 12 hours in both the campaign and Endgame in solo and co-op and the rest of that time in the other modes.

I played on PC using a 5070 Ti-powered model from retailer Scan. It features a compact Corsair 2000d RGB Airflow case, Asus ROG Strix B860-I Gaming Wifi motherboard, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU, a 2TB WD Black SN770 SSD, 32GB of DDR5 Corsair Vengeance RAM, and an Nvidia 5070 Ti manufactured by Asus.

This setup allowed me to play the game smoothly on custom graphics settings at 1080p with everything set to either Ultra or High. For peripherals, I relied on a Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro mouse and Cherry XTRFY K5V2 keyboard in addition to an Astro A20 X PC gaming headset for audio.

In addition to playing a lot after its public launch, my time with the game included roughly a day of early access. I evaluated the game against previous Call of Duty releases, namely Black Ops 6 and other recent entries like Modern Warfare 3, Modern Warfare 2, and Black Ops Cold War.

First reviewed October-November 2024

Black Ops 7, the latest Call of Duty game, has arrived with fans around the world diving into this bombastic new entry.

This year's instalment is a sequel to the fan-favorite Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 that promises "reality-shattering gameplay" with a mind-bending story campaign that can be played in four-player co-op.

But how does it stack up alongside some of this year's biggest shooters? Join me as I experience all things Black Ops 7 live - with a steady stream of first impressions of the Co-op Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies to help you decide whether it's worth your hard-earned cash.

Black Ops 7 Release Time

Black Ops 7 is available worldwide right now! You can it on PC via Steam, Battle.net, or the Xbox app / Microsoft Store.

It's out on consoles too, including PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Xbox One.

Is Black Ops 7 on Game Pass?

Black Ops 7 is available on Xbox Game Pass for Xbox consoles, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and PC via the Xbox app.

Not all Game Pass tiers will have access to the game, though. You will need to be an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscriber to play.

Live coverage

Hello everyone!

Welcome to the very start of my Black Ops 7 launch day coverage. I'll be leading you through the lead up to the game's release throughout the rest of the day and then pick things up tomorrow for some first impressions.

Black Ops 7 multiplayer maps

Black Ops 7 is going to be one of the biggest Call of Duty games to date and launches with a total of 18 multiplayer maps. This includes 16 6v6 maps and two larger 20v20 maps for the Skirmish mode.

Here's a quick rundown of what they are, so you're fully prepared for launch day:

• Scar
• Homestead
• Blackheart
• Den
• Colossus
• Toshin
• Flagship
• Mission: Tide
• Retreival
• Paranoia
• The Forge
• Exposure
• Mission: Edge
• Cortex
• Imprint
• Raid
• Express
• Hijacked

Will Nuketown be available at launch?

Nuketown won't be available in Black Ops 7 at launch, but don't need to wait very long in order to play it.

Nuketown will arrive as Nuketown 2025 as part of the launch of the Black Ops 7 preseason on November 20.

This futuristic version of Nuketown is a remaster of the map as it appeared in Black Ops 2, which is very fitting.

Is there a Black Ops 7 pre-order bonus?

With time running out until the launch of Black Ops 7, those who have yet to purchase a copy might be wondering whether there are any good incentives for doing so ahead of launch.

Here's what you need to know about the Black Ops 7 pre-order bonuses:

Pre-ordering Black Ops 7 gives you access to the Reznov Challenge Pack skin bundle. This can be used in Black Ops 6 and Warzone and instantly unlocks the Reznov SOG Operator skin. You can then unlock two additional skins through in-game challenges.

Pre-ordering the game also grants you the Guild Override Weapon Camo in Black Ops 6 and Warzone.

Those who pre-order will also get a Reznov Operator skin in Call of Duty: Mobile on launch day. To claim it, you need to log in to Call of Duty: Mobile with your Activision account before November 21.

Pre-ordering also granted you open beta access, though the beta has now ended.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers will also receive these bonuses automatically.

What's in the Vault Edition?

With pre-order bonuses out of the way, the next logical question is whether the pricey Vault Edition version of the game is worth it.

Ultimately, that's going to come down to how much you value certain items and how much you intend to play Black Ops 7.

The Vault Edition includes an Operator Collection, with the following multiplayer skins:

• Karma - Tech Guardian
• Harper - Warranty Breaker
• T.E.D.D. - Aether Assembly and Service Supreme
• Reaper EWR-3 - Mind and Metal

You also get a Mastercraft Weapon Collection with the following included:

• Blank Certainty Blueprint – Peacemaker MK1 (Assault Rifle)
• Authorized Destroyed Blueprint – Dravec 45 (SMG)
• Dire Experiment Blueprint – M10 Breacher (Shotgun)
• Ballistic Scyth3 Blueprint – VS RECON (Sniper Rifle)
• Shock Blade Blueprint – Flatline Mk.II (Melee)

These are cool extras, but the big draw here is the included BlackCell Battle Pass. This nets you 1,100 COD Points, 20 Battle Pass Tier Skips, Exclusive BlackCell skins, and full access to the regular battle pass.

Zombies players will also appreciate the Ultra GobbleGum pack, which unique Gobblegums to try.

Vault Edition owners also get access to a Permanent Unlock Token on day one, to help speed up progression.

When is Black Ops 7 set?

Black Ops 7 is set in 2035, ten years after the events of the futuristic narrative in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.

The story picks up where Black Ops 2 left off, exploring the events after the death of antagonist Raul Menendez.

A new power, a mysterious tech company called The Guild, is threatening global peace, sending returning protagonist David Mason on a series of covert missions in the fictionalized city of Avalon.

In addition to the many Black Ops 2 connections, characters like Troy Marshall return from Black Ops 6.

How long is the Black Ops 7 campaign?

There's no official word on the length of the Black Ops 7 campaign just yet, but the developers have confirmed that it is made up of 11 missions.

This is then followed by the new Endgame mode, which seems more like a separate thing.

Based on the length of previous Call of Duty campaigns, I would expect the 11 missions to last for around eight to ten hours in total - potentially even longer if you intend to seek of collectibles or chase achievements

Of course, we'll be able to know the length for sure once the game is out.

Okay, but what actually is the Endgame?

I was just talking about how the Endgame fits into the overall campaign, but what actually is it?

It's basically a replayable mode that appears right at the end of the campaign, with up to four players dropping into a large open-world map as a team.

In the map you need to work together in order to complete objectives and fight NPC enemies. There are no enemy players in this mode; it's PvE only.

Before you drop in, you're given the opportunity to customize your loadout and choose from a selection of available skills and a number of powerful abilities. These are a major part of Endgame, and include things like Active Camo or the War Machine grenade launcher.

Black Ops 7 features new campaign progression

Black Ops 7 shakes up the usual Call of Duty progression systems in some interesting ways.

The most significant of these is the fact that progression is now shared across every mode - including the campaign.

This means that you can actually increase your player level and earn unlocks just from playing through the story.

If you're usually the kind of player who blazes straight past the campaign in order to start levelling up their multiplayer gear in online matches right out of the gate, this might prove a tempting enough reason to check it out this year.

If you haven't played Black Ops 2 or Black Ops 6, or just fancy a quick recap of some of the events from those games, then it's definitely worth checking out the official Story So Far Trailer above.

It details the most relevant events from those two games and should hopefully avoid you being too confused by everything when you jump into Black Ops 7.

We're nearing the end of the working day here in the UK, and that means I'm going to be heading off soon.

Don't go anywhere, though, as I'll be back first thing tomorrow to pick up with some live Black Ops 7 impressions as I dive in to the game.

Good morning everyone!

I'm still sipping my morning coffee here in the UK, with Black Ops 7 booting up on my PC as we speak.

The game is now available worldwide, so join me for some early impressions. Although it just released, this isn't actually my first time playing the game as I've had some early access opportunities from Activision.

This little head start should hopefully mean that I can give you some pro tips throughout the day.

First things first, here's something cool I saw earlier on social media.

Black Ops 7 actually features a 'Green Screen' map that you can access in private lobbies and it's exactly what the name would suggest: a big green void.

Rather than being your usual PvP map, it's designed for those eager to capture screenshots of weapons or characters. This is going to be a lifesaver for those crafting YouTube thumbnails, or anyone that wants to mess around with Black Ops 7 assets in Photoshop.

I can't wait to see what people do with it!

New traversal options are a big deal on some maps

Black Ops 7 has some neat new traversal options, the most significant of which is a rapid wall jump that allows you to gain height by bouncing off surfaces.

It may seem like a gimmick at first, but some maps have some interesting parkour routes that require it. On Toshin, for example, the roof of the downed monorail and a tactically placed billboard ad let you jump from one side of the map to the other via the karaoke bar and cat cafe.

Mastery of these routes will likely give skilled players a significant advantage, so I'm keen to see how it affects matches online.

Speaking of Toshin, I just want to take a moment to say this map is absolutely gorgeous to look at.

I'm a sucker for neon pink lighting, and this environment has it in spades. The vibes are immaculate too, feeling familiar yet futuristic.

I'm also loving some of the details on the signs around the map, including an ad for a blue and orange sweater - a cute nod to the color scheme of the game's logo.

Time to test the new Skrimish mode

The 20v20 Skrimish mode is something that I've been eager to try since it was revealed, as it seems pretty unusual for a Black Ops game.

In my mind, I always associate this kind of big battles with the Modern Warfare series - so I'm eager to see what it's like.

I'm queuing for a match right now and will report back shortly...

With every player wing suiting into a large map, this mode definitely feels very Warzone-esque. It even has armour mechanics like the battle royale.

It's not what I expected from Black Ops, but that aside it's playing well so far. It almost feels like a Battlefield 6 match, and it could prove to be a fun diversion from the much smaller maps elsewhere in the game.

Okay, things are getting even more Battlefield as it turns out this mode has vehicles too!

I've just managed to get behind the wheel of a helicopter (do they even have wheels?) and I'm seeing plenty of players in buggies and cars too.

Your objective is to claim control points on different sides of the massive map, so it makes sense that there's a quick way to get around.

Hang on, I just got my hands on a grapple hook that's helping me get around even quicker.

It feels just like the grappling gun in Blackout from Black Ops 4 which is awesome. It's a shame that you only get a few goes with it before it runs out of charges, though.

I just completed my first daily challenges of Black Ops 7. That big Skirmish map was a life saver when it came to securing long shot kills.

If you've got that objective too, I'd recommend that you beeling straight for the Skirmish mode to do it.

Which Operator is your favorite so far?

A new Call of Duty game means a new wave of Operators to play as, and I'm liking some of this year's inclusions.

Right now I'm running Wei Lin on the JSOC team and Kagan for The Guild. Kagan looks super cool, and I love the futuristic outfit - she's only unlocked when you reach level 40 for the first time too, which is a great reward.

Here's a little PSA:

You can actually change the look of the UI in the settings menu. This includes turning off certain elements that you don't like, tweaking where they are, and even swapping the entire look for this cool, purple Zombies inspired design.

The M8A1 is absolutely nuts

The Black Ops 2 classic M8A1 is back in Black Ops 7 as a marksman rifle, and it might be my favorite weapon in the game right now.

It deals incredible damage and is very easy to handle, one tapping most foes if you manage to land a headshot. The magazine is a good size and it's pretty quick to reload to boot.

Sure, it only fires in three round bursts - but holding down the button automatically keeps shots going like an automatic rifle.

I just jumped into a standard core match on Hijacked, a classic Black Ops 2 map that's been remastered in this new entry. It plays just as well as you remember it, and the updated look is fab.

I'm clearly not the only one that thinks this too, as it's been the most voted for map in all my lobbies so far.

The maps all seem good so far!

The maps that I've tried so far have all been quite strong, which is great to see. They all have very clear structures, often with three lanes, and the spawn points seem fair.

Skirmish aside, the small scale of these maps definitely helps. As much as I loved Black Ops 6, some of the larger environments there felt a little empty at times.

Obviously it's still a little early to say that there are definitely no stinkers in here, but it's looking promising!

And with that I'm going to head off to grab some food for a quick lunch break!

Don't go anywhere though, as once I'm back I'm going to be diving into the world of Black Ops 7 zombies with my thoughts the campaign coming after.

I'm back!

Just getting Black Ops 7 booted back up for some Zombies action...

Now I'm quickly running through the tutorial.

It's pretty basic stuff if you've played recent Call of Duty Zombies experiences, but it does a good job explaining how to progress and detailing how to enhance your gear in your average game.

I've started off with a Survival match now, playing Solo so I can occasionally pause and write posts like this!

The first map available to me was Vandorn Farm, so that's what I've picked.

That's round one down!

As in previous games, Zombies has its own progression system which different Daily Challenges to other modes and loads of unique camos to unlock.

One of my daily challenges is to survive a total of 25 rounds, so that's what I'm aiming to do now.

Round five have me facing off against my first special enemy type: Ravagers. As far as I know these are new enemies for Black Ops 7 and are basically super fast zombies that run around on all fours.

They have a fair chunk of health, but aren't that hard to deal with - at least for now.

Just used the mystery box for the first time, netting me an MPC-25 with some decent attachments. Still, not quite a ray-gun sadly...

Round ten now - time for some more Ravagers.

I've just learned the hard way that they can run a little faster than the player. Ouch.

Just reached round 12 and things are starting to get dicey... I'm going to go for the exfil.

Okay bad news, initiating the exfil spawned a giant zombie bear. Uh oh.

The bear got the best of me, I'm afraid.

Exfil definitely seems much more challenging than in Black Ops 6, so make sure that you're prepared before you hit the exist button.

If you're curious about how the Operator system works in Zombies, here's a quick run-down.

There are eight Zombies operators, four returning from Black Ops 6 and four fan-favorite heroes from previous incarnations of the game mode.

You can also play as an Operator you have unlocked in Black Ops 7, though you do miss out by picking one as playing as one of the Zombies Operators unlocks exclusive story content and additional extras.

In some good news returning Zombies die-hards, the Operator skins you unlocked by completing Easter Eggs are also available here - for example, Maya's Trophy Collector appearance.

The Black Ops 6 crew has a fresh look by default too, with a creepy new 'Consumed' appearance. If you preferred how they looked in Black Ops 6, there is the option to switch back in the skin menu.

Don't miss some free bonus items

Yesterday I talked about the Black Ops 7 pre-order bonuses, but there's actually a free extra that I didn't mention. Best of all, it's still available to get right now!

If you play any of Black Ops 7 ahead of the launch of Season One you'll automatically obtain ten hours worth of double XP tokens for your player level and weapons.

That's five hours a pop and should massively speed up your progression as you're getting started.

You can check out the official announcement below.

I've just played a few more rounds of Survival Zombies, and it's a lot of fun!

It feels very similar to the Black Ops 6 Zombies experience so far, but that's not a bad thing in my book. I really enjoyed my time with the mode in that game and this seems like a worthy follow-up.

Of course, these levels will all feature extensive Easter Eggs, or main quests, with rewards for those willing to take the time to decipher them.

If that's not you, then you can look forward to a more guided Directed Mode to drop in Season 1 alongside the addition of some more maps.

Now I'm going to try out some Dead Ops Arcade 4 to see what that's all about...

If you're not familiar with Dead Ops Arcade, it's a tongue-in-cheek top-down version of Zombies that originally appeared as a hidden mini game in Black Ops.

You get a few options going into a Dead Ops Arcade 4 match, including the ability to play solo or online. I've gone with Solo again here, for that sweet pausing.

There are two difficulty levels right now, Normal and Casual. Normal has some rewards associated with it like camos, while Causal seems more geared towards learning the ropes.

You can also choose to play either in top-down perspective or first-person. I'm not really sure why you would pick first-person here, as top-down was the whole point of Dead Ops Arcade as far as I'm concerned, but I suppose it's nice that the choice is there.

After a brief animated intro we're in to Dead Ops Arcade 4!

Yep, that's definitely a top-down Zombies. The controls are very arcade-like and the guns are super powerful, which is pretty fun.

I've started off on this little beach next to a talking crab, but a new area is going to be unlocked after just a couple of rounds it seems.

Just about to enter the next area, but not after a trip to the bonus room!

I've been given a choice of where to go next. I've chosen Babylon - a map from Black Ops 6 which seems to have been reused here.

My first round in this new area was a challenge one, with special armoured zombies to defeat.

There are plenty of power-ups dropping from slain foes, including upgraded weapons.

There's no reloading in this mode, or even an overall ammo count, but you can use powerful weapons for a minute or two before they vanish.

The next stop is, of course, some kind of weird racing mini-game.

I'm doing laps around this course in a little green buggy, wracking up extra points by hitting the odd zombie as it wanders onto the track.

Back to (relative) normality now, though I have just picked up a power-up that's turned me into an indestructible tank.

Round 10 complete. Now the action has moved to the festive version of Nuketown, again from Black Ops 6.

As enjoyable as I'm finding this, I'm going to exit my match shortly so we can move over to some campaign action.

Multiplayer and Zombies impressions

Before I move on to my thoughts on the campaign, I thought it would be useful to recap my impressions so far for those who have been following along or are just joining me.

Multiplayer

The core multiplayer in Black Ops 7 is very good, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. The guns feel great to use and the enhanced movement options introduce new possibilities on the battlefield.

It's a strong evolution of the formula that I absolutely loved in Black Ops 6 and nicely builds on that game's key innovations such as omnimovement. It definitely helps that the map selection here is great, with plenty of well-designed environments with good spawn locations and that classic three lane structure.

Although I was unsure about it at first, even the 20v20 Skirmish has grown on me and I'm going to be playing it a lot over the weekend.

Zombies

If you like Black Ops 6 Zombies, then you're going to like this. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but when you've nailed the formula like this that's not such a bad thing.

The first map is strong and lays a solid foundation for its follow-up come season one.

Dead Ops Arcade 4 is also a great little extra. It's not particularly deep, especially compared to the main Zombies modes, but the arcade controls and combat make for a good time. I'm eager to try it with friends soon.

Campaign and Endgame impressions

You've probably already seen a lot of talk about the campaign on social media, here's what I think.

Campaign

I managed to get right up to the end of the campaign in my early access period and, while I have yet to see the credits roll, I'm afraid it's not great so far.

Right from the get-go, it feels like some kind of weird Warzone extension with mechanics like body armour and weapon rarity on full show.

The story is juvenile and very bizarrely written, with plenty of cringe-worthy dialogue and moments that are just plain odd. The pacing is also poor, rushing through major beats like the writers were desperately trying to tick off a checklist.

There are some cool visuals in the more scripted missions at least, but they're interspersed with open segments in Avalon.

These are, sadly incredibly cheap feeling, with obviously re-used environments from Black Ops 6, and repetitive waves of enemies to defeat. I honestly think the whole thing would be so much better if they simply weren't there at all.

The campaign's only saving grace is its co-op. With a friend, or a group of friends, on hand, it's much easier to stomach as you all laugh at its ridiculousness - especially when you get to one of the many silly boss fights.

It's because of this that I would say the experience here is at least better than Modern Warfare 3 - which could have really benefitted from that added levity.

There are no AI companions either for some reason, so solo play is definitely to be avoided.

Endgame

The Endgame is the one part of Black Ops 7 that I feel like I need much more time in. It's definitely an interesting concept, so I'm eager to see whether the developers have been able to pull it all off.

Will it make up for the lows of the co-op campaign? You'll have to wait for my full review next week to see...

And that's a wrap from me!

It's nearing the end of the day again here, and I'm eager to head off for even more Black Ops 7 time.

My main priority is going to be getting some time in the Endgame, and then starting my full review write up.

I'm sure I'll see you all again soon.

• Activision confirms Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will require TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot settings on PC
• It's doubling down on the Ricochet anti-cheat system used in recent iterations
• Both new Call of Duty and Battlefield games will have the same kernel-level requirements

Microsoft's Activision is set to join EA's Battlefield 6 in the battle of the best FPS games of 2025 once Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launches on November 14 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC, and a new update for the latter may leave PC players frustrated.

As reported by TweakTown, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will have TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements at launch on PC, to further boost its current Ricochet anti-cheat system used in previous iterations of the franchise. This is also mandatory for Battlefield 6 players, which uses EA's Javelin anti-cheat found in games like EA Sports FC 26.

The Ricochet (and, frankly, EA's Javelin) anti-cheat system has been heavily criticized by gamers in Call of Duty titles over the years, because it sometimes failed to prevent hackers and cheaters from using in-game aim assist tools – and showcases false detections and hands out bans for innocent players.

Cases of in-game hacks occur more often in older titles, specifically titles like Call of Duty: Warzone (where the anti-cheat system was first used), Call of Duty: Vanguard, and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (2022), and issues are still found in new releases. These cases were recently made evident in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 beta, which Dexerto spotted, with players using wall hacks and aimbots seen in killcams.

It's no secret that many gamers have protested against the use of kernel-level anti-cheat, considering the potential security vulnerabilities, no Linux compatibility, and the performance cost in games. However, it looks like Activision is doubling down on its efforts to prevent cheating, but, as we saw with Battlefield 6, it may serve as more of a detriment to gamers.

Analysis: I hate to say it, but I don't think kernel-level anti-cheat will disappear...

It appears as though publishers (specifically EA and Activision) are bolstering attempts to prevent cheaters, which is a good thing on paper because nobody wants cheaters in games. However, that means the chance of Call of Duty or Battlefield coming to SteamOS decreases even more, and worries of potential system vulnerabilities (due to kernel-level access) aren't going anywhere.

Fortunately, I've never heard of any cases where issues have arisen from kernel-level anti-cheat (at least with systems that mainstream publishers use), in which case, I'm currently more bothered by the neglect of Linux players, especially since many gamers use handhelds with SteamOS, Bazzite, or other Linux distros installed.

What makes matters worse is that some single-player games like Elden Ring (regardless of its co-op element) use kernel-level anti-cheat, and even briefly, the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem, according to its Steam store page, before it was removed.

This is a worrying trend, and I'm afraid the use of these anti-cheat systems could become the new normal. Perhaps it already is...

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will feature a handful of multiplayer maps set in Japan
• This includes Toshin, an urban map set in the middle of a near-future Tokyo
• The setting reflects the core themes of the game according to the developers

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will feature 18 multiplayer maps at launch, with a number of those set in a near-future Japan.

It's the first time that the country has featured so prominently in a Black Ops title, with it appearing "not just as a backdrop, but a major region woven across the entire experience" according to Miles Leslie, associate creative director at developer Treyarch, in a deep dive trailer at Tokyo Game Show 2025.

He explained that the country offered "the right tone, scale, and contrast" to help "ground" the narrative and mechanics of the game.

"The region's blend of tradition and innovation mirrors the themes at the heart of Black Ops 7," added Treyarch design director Matt Scronce.

These ideas were evident in last month's multiplayer beta, which let players explore the all-new map Toshin.

Set in the centre of Tokyo, Toshin is a dense urban environment that's brimming with authentic details. Traditional Japanese architecture is placed alongside futuristic buildings, decorated with bright neon lighting and eye-catching anime-style billboard advertisements.

The map is even home to a cat cafe and an atmospheric karaoke bar, reflecting the playful culture of the real life city.

Toshin pairs nicely with Den, a map set in an ancient Japanese castle not too far from the streets of Tokyo. This environment wasn't available in the beta, but what we've seen so far shows a strong contrast between old and new.

The castle, now occupied by the high-tech The Guild faction, has been outfitted with modern elements like server rooms. These sit right alongside traditional features like a peaceful indoor zen garden.

Returning classics like Express and Raid have also been overhauled to match the new aesthetic, transporting the action to the setting in order to help even familiar layouts feel fresh.

All of these maps will be available in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 when it launches on November 14 for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Xbox One.

If you're eager to get one last taste of the game and immerse yourself in the Japanese setting ahead of its release, publisher Activision recently announced a matcha bar pop-up in London, England that you can attend for free.

• Activision has announced a special Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 pop-up in London
• It will open on November 7, but you will need to book a free slot to attend
• Fans will be able to play Black Ops 7 early and try a special matcha drink

If you're craving one last taste of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 ahead of the game's launch, not to mention a sip of delicious matcha, then this limited time pop-up experience is for you.

Developer Activision is opening a Japan-themed experience in East London where visitors will be able to play some round of Black Ops 7 and sip an exclusive Layered Peach and Mango Uji iced matcha latte by London café Tea Parlour.

Called the 'Toshin Matcha Bar' it will be located at at Unit 2, 110 Pennington St, London E1W 2BB and opens on November 7. You can't just turn up though, as eager fans will need to book a free slot beforehand via the official Eventbrite page.

The venue is fittingly based on the upcoming multiplayer map Toshin, which will take players to a bright and colorful streets of a futuristic Japanese city.

The event may not be all that it seems, however, as Activision promises a trip 'into a secret, immersive world inspired by Black Ops.'

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is set to launch on November 14 for Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC.

Set in 2035 ten years after the events of the fan-favorite Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, this year's Call of Duty follows returning hero David Mason in a new chapter of his battle against the sinister terrorist Raul Menendez.

It's shaping up to be one of the biggest Call of Duty experience yet, with the developers having already confirmed more than 30 multiplayer maps playable in the game's first season.

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is now free-to-play for a limited time
• The free trial is now live and will run until November 3
• The announcement comes just after the reveal of Battlefield 6's REDSEC mode

While we wait for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Activision has announced that Black Ops 6 is now free-to-play for a limited time.

In a social media post on October 27, it was confirmed that the next Black Ops 6 free trial will be available for a short period ahead of the launch of the next Call of Duty title on November 14.

Starting today (October 28) through to November 3, Black Ops 6's Multiplayer and Zombies modes will be available to play for free, at no extra cost.

During this period, players will have access to the ongoing Halloween-themed event: The Haunting, where they can experience the new Rig map and Boo-Town variant map, as well as Slasher Deathmatch and Haunted Havoc modes.

In Multiplayer, 40+ maps, like Gravity and Mothball, and more than 10 modes will be available to play. Meanwhile, Zombies will offer six maps (Directed Mode), including Liberty Falls, Terminus, The Tomb, Citadelle Des Morts, Shattered Veil, and Reckoning.

It could be a coincidence, but the free-to-play offering arrives just as EA drops Battlefield 6's free battle royale mode, Battlefield REDSEC, along with Season 1.

If you're looking to join in on the fun, here's our guide on how and where to download the Battlefield 6 REDSEC battle royale mode.

For our live coverage, including our first impressions on the battle royale, be sure to check out our Battlefield 6 REDSEC and Season One live blog.

• KontrolFreek has revealed new Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 controller accessories
• The Black Ops 7 Performance Thumbsticks cost $19.99 / £19.99, while the Black Ops 7 Aim Boost Kit - Collector's Edition costs $34.99 / £34.99
• Both controller kits come with a limited in-game weapon charm

Gaming controller enhancement brand KontrolFreek has unveiled its brand new Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 accessories for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

The officially licensed Black Ops 7 Performance Thumbsticks are compatible with the DualSense Wireless Controller and the Xbox Wireless Controller, and feature a bright orange design with the Black Ops 7 insignia in the center.

The Thumstick set includes a mid-rise left and mid-rise right stick that are engineered for maximum precision, improved with grip thanks to the laser-etched proprietary GripTek rubber top which offers fluid control, and comfort for extended gaming sessions.

"Reducing the force needed for movements, decreasing hand fatigue, and enhancing accuracy enable players to navigate Call of Duty maps with ease, speed, and precision, ensuring the ultimate advantage to outplay the enemy team," KontrolFreek says.

Then there's the Aim Boost Kit: Collector's Edition, which comes packaged in a sniper case to hold the set of mid-rise Thumsticks and Precision Rings. The kit is also designed to deliver pro-grade precision, improved ergonomic grip, and enhanced aim control.

What's more, both sets also include a digital code for a limited, in-game weapon charm, which displays the game's orange logo.

Both controller kits are now available at the official KontrolFreek website and select retailers.

The KontrolFreek Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Performance Thumbsticks cost $19.99 / £19.99, and the Black Ops 7 Aim Boost Kit - Collector's Edition costs $34.99 / £34.99.

• Former Call of Duty director Glen Schofield isn't happy with the series' direction under Microsoft
• He said: "I worry about it immensely" in a recent interview
• He also commented on the diminishing quality of the titles since his departure

Glen Schofield, former director of numerous Call of Duty titles at Sledgehammer Games, seems to have little hope for the franchise post Microsoft's buyout of Activision Blizzard.

In an interview with VGC at Gamescom Asia, Schofield criticized the direction of the Call of Duty franchise under Microsoft, and following his departure from Sledgehammer Games in 2019. At the studio, Schofield had led development on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011), Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, and Call of Duty: WW2.

“I worry about it immensely, I really do,” Schofield said in regards to the first-person shooter franchise. “Because what’s happening to Gears of War, where’s Halo… you know what I mean?"

Schofield added: “Unfortunately, once you’re assimilated by one of these companies, I think you take on some of their traits. The other thing is, I don’t know, but I would imagine that the Call of Duty bonus system is out, and now you have theirs, and people are going to go ‘that isn’t that’.”

Schofield went on to talk about the Call of Duty games released after his tenure at Sledgehammer, also citing the negative impact of key staff members leaving would have on large-scale projects like this.

“I hate doing this, but since I left Sledgehammer, none of the games have been very good,” he said to VGC. "They still sell well. You know, that happens. You move. I always wonder ‘why did you take that guy out, it’s not going to work later’, and very few times does that work.

After leaving Sledgehammer, Schofield went on to direct The Callisto Protocol, which aimed to recapture the horror and atmosphere of the original Dead Space - which Schofield also manned during his time at EA - to a rather mixed reception.

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• Activision has revealed new information about Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
• The game will feature the classic prestige system with ten levels to master
• The same system was also present in Black Ops 6

Activision has released bucketloads of new information about Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as part of the recent Call of Duty: Next showcase.

For me, the most exciting reveal was the fact that the classic prestige system will be making another appearance in this instalment.

It was present in Black Ops 6 and means that players that reach the maximum level will be given the choice to start fresh without any of their unlocked gear to go through the entire journey again in exchange for exclusive skins, blueprints, and other rewards.

Black Ops 7 will once again offer ten total prestige levels to journey through, culminating in the 1,000 level Prestige Master challenge.

It was a great system in Black Ops 6, recapturing the magic of some of the satisfying systems found in earlier games.

Other recent entries, such as 2023's Modern Warfare 3, made use of a different seasonal system that reset your rank every few months and wasn't quite as compelling in my eyes.

Black Ops 7 is set to launch on November 14 for PayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, and PC.

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• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will feature an upgraded anti-cheat system
• PC players will need TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
• It seems users of older hardware won't be able to play

New details about the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 anti-cheat system have been released ahead of the game's upcoming beta.

"We’re striking cheat makers and sellers from every angle: in-game detections that stop them cold, and legal action that dismantles their operations. And we’re not stopping there." read a recent Call of Duty blog post.

"The launch of Black Ops 7 marks the beginning of a new phase for Richochet Anti-Cheat. We enter it armed with stronger systems and an unwavering commitment to game protection and cheat prevention."

The most important announcement was that the game will require TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in order to play. TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) is a dedicated hardware security chip, the very same one required to upgrade to Windows 11.

If you're PC is currently running that operating system, you have one and won't need to worry - but those on older hardware seemingly won't be able to play Black Ops 7.

Secure Boot is an operating system setting that is designed to prevent programs from interfering with the startup process.

It's quite tricky to enable and requires you to fiddle around with your PC's BIOS. If you're wondering how to do it ahead of the beta dates, refer to your motherboard or PC's manual or check out the official guide on the Windows support site.

According to Activision, the use of TMP 2.0 and Secure Boot will improve the anti-cheat software's ability to detect cheaters.

Both features are also required to play the upcoming Battlefield 6. In both cases, we'll just have to wait to see whether this move proves effective.

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• EE is offering free Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 beta access
• Customers can claim it via text
• There's an online form for everyone else

EE is an official Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 partner in the UK and is now offering 150,000 players the chance to secure free early access to the game's open beta.

Those with an EE pay monthly mobile plan can text BLACKOPS7 to 150 in order to claim their code. Simply follow the instructions in the message that you receive to get access on the platform of your choice.

If you're not an EE customer, then you can grab a code by filling in a form on the EE website by 11:59pm BST on September 28. Just remember to tick the box that reads 'I’d like to get early access to the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Beta' before you hit submit.

The early access beta is set to take place between October 2 and 5. It will then be followed by a more general open beta between October 5 and 8. Both windows represent the perfect opportunity to give Black Ops 7 a try ahead of its release.

If you do decide that you want to purchase the full game, EE is currently offering both Xbox pre-orders and PlayStation 5 pre-orders for a respectable £61.99 each - alongside a wider range of pre-orderable games.

Black Ops 7 is set to launch on November 14 and will feature a four-player co-op campaign set after the events of fan favorite Black Ops 2.

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The series is in the midst of a bit of an identity crisis, with its consistent stream of crossover skins. We are on the precipice of a new Battlefield title, which has been received incredibly well in two record-breaking betas. On top of that, this year’s entry in the long-running franchise is a sequel to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which was released less than 12 months ago.

The last time this happened was with the release of Sledgehammer’s Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 in 2023. That entry was critically panned for its cobbled-together campaign and a multiplayer that feels like a step back from the rest of the reimagined trilogy. So, what is stopping Black Ops 7 from meeting the same fate?

The answer is that both Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7 were developed in parallel to one another by the same studio. I had the chance to sit down with Miles Leslie, Associate Creative Director at Treyarch, and Natalie Pohorski, Lead Narrative Producer at Raven Software, at Gamescom 2025 to learn all about it.

We discussed Black Ops 7’s ties to Black Ops 6, bringing the franchise back to the future, the new endgame mode, Avalon, and its inspirations, and, in Pohorski’s own words, the opportunities for the team to craft a “mind-bending, character-driven roller coaster”.

Back to the future

Call of Duty has taken a long break from futuristic entries in the series. The last time the series travelled into the future was with 2018’s Black Ops 4, and you have to go back to 2016’s Infinite Warfare to find a full campaign in that setting.

During this period, fatigue with jetpacks and vertical gameplay led to the series hard-pivoting back to more traditional gameplay for almost a decade. So why is now the right time to step back to the future with Black Ops 7?

“Well, I think it makes a lot of sense for where we're going with the story,” Pohorski says. “We talk a lot about Black Ops 2,” which Black Ops 7 serves as a direct sequel to. “When we started focusing on David Mason, he was a character we always wanted to return to. A lot has happened for him in 2025, so where does that put him in 2035?”

While David Masion serves as the main protagonist of Black Ops 7, the game also sees the return of Mike Harper (played by Michael Rooker) from Black Ops 2 and Troy Marshall from Black Ops 6, effectively a hall-of-fame for Black Ops characters to a certain degree.

Pohorski follows up with “a lot of time has passed, so I think it was interesting for us, from a storytelling perspective, to get to learn more about these characters and more of what they're dealing with post the Menendez attacks in 2025.”

Leslie adds, “There were all these loose threads that we wanted to go back to. So it was actually really easy to go, we got to tell that story [set after Black Ops 2], because it's so ripe for storytelling and gameplay moments”.

Developing both Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7 together has allowed Raven Software and Treyarch to weave a narrative with more intention than what is usually afforded to Call of Duty studios when there are several years between each entry.

Pohorski describes this experience as “so satisfying”, highlighting that “we have a lot of teams that work on this game, and so it took a lot of planning to make sure that it made sense [during development]”. Leslie follows up, “In Black Ops, we take our story and our characters seriously, and we love planting seeds. So the opportunity to plant [threads] between Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7 and have a payoff was really intriguing to us.”

Black Ops 7’s main threat, The Guild, was set up during Black Ops 6’s campaign initially as a weapon-smuggling organisation to arm underground criminal organisations in the fictional city of Avalon. But, since then, Sevati Dumas (Sev), one of Frank Woods’ crew during the Black Ops 6 campaign, has led The Guild and grown it into a massive corporate tech company, promoting her protégé Emma Kagan, who now serves as CEO of The Guild.

That kind of interweaving lore and world-building is something we haven’t really seen before in Call of Duty, as characters or locations are often not revisited until years later, and rarely ever planned from the get-go.

“You've already met the guild, you've already met Avalon,” Leslie says. “Now there's a payoff for what's happened in the world. And then we can connect it back to Black Ops 2 and say, ‘remember all these characters in the world’. We love that world-building, and we hope players fall in love with that.”

Embracing the madness

Black Ops 7 also marks a major shift for the series as it leans hard on the more mind-bending aspects of the Black Ops subseries. The future setting affords the studio a lot of luxury to play around with what is believable, but what is it like to strike the right balance between the narrative twists that Black Ops fans love and their expectations from a military shooter?

Leslie believes that the Black Ops name gives Treyarch and Raven permission to be bold and brash when it comes to creating a story where “what you think you expect…[will be] really flipped on its head”.

“Expect the unexpected. That's what Black Ops delivers. That's our style, and I think that's what players fell in love with [Treyarch]. You don't get what you expect from a sort of normal military shooter”, Leslie remarks. He follows up, highlighting that “coming into Black Ops 7, we knew we were going to the future… but then it was like, what's the right twist?”

For the team, that twist was the hallucinations that have run throughout the series, but directly confronting your own fear and regrets in a world that is in constant conflict in 2035. Inspiration came from across the whole team as they looked to Memento and Scarecrow’s depictions in Batman for ideas.

“It's a layer across the whole game,” Leslie emphasises. “It's what I think makes it special is we like to say, embrace the madness”. That tagline acted as a guiding principle during development.

He continues, “the team got excited behind this sort of mantra… So we've got maps. We've got equipment that leans into this. We've got enemies that lean into it, and it's across campaign and multiplayer, and it just feels right.”

New game, new risks

One core theme that runs through the Black Ops games is that it has never been afraid of taking risks with its gameplay or narrative. Whether it is Black Ops 1 and Black Ops 2’s campaigns, Treyarch’s Zombies mode and storytelling, or Black Ops 4 taking a lot of bold risks when it comes to multiplayer, including removing automatic health regeneration.

With Black Ops 7, that same mentality comes in the form of an endgame-style, replayable co-op epilogue set in the city of Avalon at the end of the campaign. Leslie believes that “if you look at all the [Black Ops] games… every single game is different. Coming into Black Ops 7, we knew we wanted to innovate on the campaign and make it a more shared, immersive experience.”

This endgame is described as “a brand-new, replayable experience where you and your squad will need to survive overwhelming odds, adapt under pressure, and break the rules of what you thought a Black Ops Campaign could be.”

Once you reach the mission, you will unlock Operators to use and level up via their Combat Rating. You can also bring across your unlocked abilities from the campaign and create custom loadouts. However, failure to survive in the mode will mean your loadouts and combat rating are reset.

Leslie was quick to highlight that if you play through the linear campaign to the end, you will still get a satisfying end to the story. However, it is “a continuation of the story” that is completely optional if players want to jump into it.

Leslie says that the mode’s genesis came from Treyarch’s previous work with Outbreak and the fact that the studio was “building a library with all these fun moments, enemies, and content.” At one point, the studio asked itself, “I want all of that in a different way”.

When pressed about whether they hope this Endgame experience becomes a third replayable pillar in the series alongside Multiplayer and Zombies, Leslie was quick to say the studio only focused on Black Ops right now. But, they do hope that “through the co op campaign and endgame, more players [get] into the story, get immersed in the world, fall in love with the characters”.

So while Black Ops 7 may be following the same release pattern as 2023’s Modern Warfare 3, it seems that it won’t fall into the same traps. There is a lot more meat on the bones this time around, and the game’s development seems far less rushed than Sledgehammer’s latest outing.

Whether that will be enough to draw attention away from Battlefield 6 and a busy Fall season of game releases, we will have to wait and see come November 14, 2025.

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Call of Duty Next will return next month (September 30), bringing a whole host of reveals related to Black Ops 7, Warzone, and Call of Duty Mobile. The start date has been revealed, and we can expect there to be a huge live event featuring all of the biggest Call of Duty streamers.

Black Ops 7 is likely to be the focus of Call of Duty Next, given that we've still got a fair bit to learn about the new FPS game. There's set to be a Black Ops 7 beta later this year, too, so hopefully we'll see more on what's included and how to participate. If early signs are anything, Black Ops 7 is a new direction for the series, one that could end up hitting with fans. The game could even end up on our best PC games list by the end of the year.

Here's the Call of Duty Next start date, as well as some info on what to expect based on last year's event. As we move into September, Activision is likely to announce more details on the streamers involved and the show length. For now, here's everything we know so far.

Call of Duty Next start date

Call of Duty Next airs September 30, 2025. Precise timings have yet to be revealed, but given that it's usually held in Los Angeles, expect it to revolve around Pacific US Time.

Call of Duty Next - what to expect

Activision is yet to announce the full details for Call of Duty Next. What we do know is that it'll be a live event that shows off what's next for the franchise. This means Black Ops 7 reveals, Warzone updates, and details on future Call of Duty Mobile content. Here's what's been said about the event so far:

• First look at what's ahead for the COD franchise
• Black Ops 7 Multiplayer and Zombies gameplay and streamer access
• All new experiences in Warzone
• The latest content coming to Call of Duty Mobile

Call of Duty Next - predictions and what I'd like to see

Call of Duty Next events are always a great mix of extended gameplay sessions and reveals around the new games. Personally, I'm not sold on Black Ops 7 yet, especially given we only got Black Ops 6 last year. I loved BO6, but dropped off shortly after launch, mostly pulled away by other games like Marvel Rivals.

I need to see more information on the Campaign, as the 'online co-op' aspect is ringing some alarm bells. Namely, reminding me of Modern Warfare 3, the last game that followed only a year after its predecessor. This Campaign was an underbaked and largely recycled mix of Warzone areas and open-ended gameplay. Hopefully, Treyarch can convince me that Black Ops 7 is indeed a full game, but I'll need to be shown proof at the Call of Duty Next event.

I expect there to be a focus on Multiplayer at the event, with map reveals and a look at the new movement mechanics. This will then be followed by a switch to streamer gameplay, as they'll likely all be in the same hall playing at individual stations. Call of Duty usually saves Campaign deep dives for later, but it's possible we'll see a short mission or get interviews with some of the actors that feature in the story.

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• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be removed from Call of Duty HQ today
• Both games will need to be reinstalled as standalone downloads
• Legacy content related to Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3 modes will be automatically removed from the main Call of Duty install on August 7

Activision has announced new changes to Call of Duty HQ that will see the removal of two games.

As detailed in a new Steam blog post, starting today at 9am PT / 5pm BST / 12pm ET, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be removed from the Call of Duty HQ game launcher and main install to become standalone downloads.

When the change goes into effect, players will be required to redownload each game separately to access them.

The publisher also said that legacy content related to Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3 modes within the main Call of Duty install will be automatically removed on August 7, "to free up storage space", but operators and weapons for Warzone won't be impacted.

Activision didn't give a reason for the latest change, but it was likely made in anticipation of Black Ops 7, which is planned to be released later this year and be part of Call of Duty HQ.

Last year's Black Ops 6 will remain on the launcher, so the decision could be down to simply wanting to free up hard drive space for players.

Black Ops 7 was announced last month during the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 and will be released for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, the latest entry will return to a futuristic setting and be set in 2035, 10 years after the events of Black Ops 2.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has now been confirmed as the next game in the shooter series, expected later in 2025 based on previous launch timings (no release date has been mentioned officially, though). As someone who enjoyed Black Ops 6 quite a bit, I should be quite excited to dive back into the spy-tinged world of Black Ops, right?

Well, I find myself thinking back to the last time Activision released two consecutive games from the same sub-series, wincing as I’m reminded of what I consider to be the worst Call of Duty game ever released. Of course, I’m talking about 2023’s Modern Warfare 3.

It was a real low point for the series. It received the lowest score TechRadar Gaming has ever given a Call of Duty game, and frankly put, it was a perfect storm of recycled content, blatant corporate greed, and the worst parts of the live service model all rolled into a $70 / £70 package.

With Black Ops 7 following just one year after Black Ops 6, these are the five things Treyarch has to nail to swerve the mistakes of Modern Warfare 3 and avoid the same disappointment.

A proper Call of Duty campaign

Of all the criticism leveled at Modern Warfare 3, the one that crops up the most regularly is the fact that it’s just a glorified expansion disguised as a full game.

This is glaringly evident upon loading up the campaign, which features open-ended missions that take place in recycled Warzone locations.

The Modern Warfare 3 singleplayer story mode runs three to five hours in total, woefully shorter than the rather excellent blockbuster offerings featured in the games preceding it: most notably Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops Cold War.

It’s abundantly clear from the outset that the one-year break between Modern Warfare games led to a pared-down campaign experience, a decision that just doesn’t mesh with the game’s $70 / £70 price tag.

We don’t know all that much about Call of Duty Black Ops 7 yet, only that its campaign is set to follow on from fan-favorite Black Ops 2. We also know that the campaign will feature co-op, something that immediately raises alarm bells for me, as I predict more open-ended Spec Ops-style missions that lack a strong story element.

After brilliant campaigns in Black Ops: Cold War and Black Ops 6, Treyarch needs to keep the quality high, regardless of the integration of full squad co-op. If Black Ops 7 follows the extremely consistent launch schedules of the franchise so far (you could set your watch to it), it'll arrive just one year after the last Black Ops campaign.

As such, I’m concerned about the accelerated development timeline and unconvinced that it could possibly lead to a proper Call of Duty campaign. We’ll have to wait and see.

Brand new maps, designed around Black Ops 7’s gameplay changes

The Black Ops 7 announcement confirms “brand new maps” for Black Ops 7, which should help the game avoid one of the biggest missteps of Modern Warfare 3.

Strangely, Modern Warfare 3 (2023) launched with a set of maps composed entirely of remade environments from Modern Warfare 2 (2009). While it was nice to see maps like Favela return looking better than ever, there was a clear mismatch between the fast-paced gameplay of Modern Warfare 3 and the design of the nearly 15-year-old maps.

Hopefully, Black Ops 7 will feature mostly new maps at launch, especially given that Omnimovement will be returning in a slightly updated capacity.

Now that you can dive in any direction and sprint around with much more control, players need maps designed around enhanced movement, built to accommodate and complement Omnimovement from the outset.

A revised price point

Since Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Call of Duty games now launch day one on Xbox Game Pass. This has alleviated the frustration of having to shell out $70 / £70 each year for a new Call of Duty for those who use the subscription service, but not for players on other platforms like PlayStation.

I do wonder whether Modern Warfare 3 might have been received better had it been positioned as more of an expansion and priced accordingly. If Black Ops 7’s campaign ends up being a pared-down experience, and the multiplayer offering is kept largely the same as last year, then it’d really help if Microsoft could lower the price of the game at launch.

Of course, this would mean having to admit that these annualized sequels are less than their full-priced counterparts, which isn’t something I see happening anytime soon.

I remember loading up Modern Warfare 3 for the first time back in 2023. After a massive download, I was greeted with the same launcher, the same persistent error messages, and only a slight UI change to confirm that yes, this is actually a different game from the one I’d already paid for last year.

It was a tough pill to swallow, one that soured me on Modern Warfare 3 almost immediately.

If Black Ops 7 is to be accepted by the player base as a distinct entry from Black Ops 6, there has to be more time put into setting honest expectations. If Black Ops 7 is a slimmer package, which its potentially extremely quick release cycle would suggest it is, then I’d love to see a $50 / £50 price point at launch.

If it is actually a full Call of Duty title, which it may well be, then that full price needs to be reflected in the launch offering of maps, the scale of the campaign, and the evolution of mechanics like Omnimovement.

At present, we don’t know too much about Black Ops 7, and it’s entirely possible that this is a very different development situation from what happened with Modern Warfare 3.

Treyarch and Raven are leading development here, potentially just one year after launching a mainline Call of Duty, one that’s still being updated as we speak, and that makes me question just how possible it is that Black Ops 7 could release in a state that justifies its status as a sequel.

If we are to see more of these annualized follow-ups to mainstays like Black Ops and Modern Warfare come directly after each other, perhaps it’s time to drop the numbering schemes and switch over to yearly expansions to an ongoing platform.

Black Ops 7 definitely has a lot of convincing to do before I’m ready to shell out another $70 / £70 so soon. Hopefully, whatever it ends up being will be worth it.

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• Call of Duty: Blacks Ops 7 was revealed at the latest Xbox Games Showcase
• The game is set to come to Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC
• That said, the team is reportedly still "committed" to a Nintendo Switch 2 version

The next Call of Duty game, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, was revealed at the recent Xbox Games Showcase, and is expected to launch for Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC.

The current lack of a Nintendo Switch 2 version is certainly interesting, as Microsoft and Nintendo entered into a binding 10-year legal agreement back in 2023, which Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith promised would bring Call of Duty games to Nintendo platforms.

The games would allegedly launch "the same day as Xbox, with full feature and content parity" and came as part of a move towards "providing long-term equal access to Call of Duty to other gaming platforms".

The announcement came in the shadow of an impending Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawsuit against Microsoft, which argued that the tech giant's purchase of Call of Duty owner Activision Blizzard would breach US anti-trust laws.

The case was eventually dropped by the FTC, with the $75.4 billion acquisition completed on October 13, 2023.

Although there is currently no official word on a Black Ops 7 Nintendo Switch 2 version, a source told Eurogamer that the company was "committed to getting the franchise on Switch" with "both [development] teams working on it."

With Black Ops 7 details set to release throughout the year, I would expect some more concrete news on a Nintendo Switch 2 port in the weeks and months to come.

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Black Ops 6 Season 3 launches later today (April 2), adding new maps, some new weapons, as well as a set of iconic tie-in skins (this one's for Kevin Smith fans). This means that next week, players will have a whole host of new features to check out, whether that's in Zombies, Warzone, or core Multiplayer.

Even without extra Season Three, we're still having a blast with Black Ops 6, landing it a place on our list of the best FPS games to play in 2025. This upcoming refresh sees the return of Verdansk to Warzone, and it's looking very close to the original indeed.

Here's what we know about Black Ops Season 3 so far, including a closer look at Wednesday's confirmed release time, as well as what's set to be added. It's worth noting that times do vary depending on your time zone, so be sure to check out the information below for when Season 3 launches in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and Japan.

Update (April 2, 2025): Now that we're just hours from launch, we're coming to you with the news that Black Ops 6 Season 3 will be free-to-play for 24 hours after it launches. This is while Warzone is down in preparation for the massive Verdansk update. Make sure you pre-load Black Ops 6 and make the most of the free trial!

Black Ops 6 Season 3 release time in your time zone

The Black Ops 6 Season 3 release time is April 2 at 9AM PST / 12PM EST / 5PM GMT. Here are some more specifics related to the release schedule per your timezone:

• 9AM PST: West Coast (US)
• 12PM EST: East Coast (US)
• 5PM BST: United Kingdom (UK)
• 6PM CET: Europe
• 2AM JST (Friday, February 21): Japan
• 4AM AEDT: (Friday, February 21): Australia

Black Ops 6 Season 3 - what's being added?

Activision has now announced what'll be added to Black Ops 6 as part of Season 3. This includes new maps, weapons, and modes, as well as big updates to Warzone. Here's a brief summary of what's being added:

• Maps: Barrage (6v6), Nomad (6v6, 2v2), Firing Range (6v6)
• Weapons: CR-56 AMAX Assault Rifle, HDR Sniper Rifle, Nail Gun Special Weapon, Kali Sticks (Melee)
• Attachments: Monolithic Suppressor, SWAT 5.56 Grau Conversion, C9 10MM Auto 30-Round Mags
• Modes: Sharpshooter, Demolition
• Perk: Close Shave - Automatically use your Dedicated Melee attack when you perform a weapon butt attack. Simply tap the Melee button to attack. Like the old days
• Bundle: Jay & Silent Bob, Digital Dreamin', United Force Tracer Pack
• Warzone: Return of Verdansk, back to basics gameplay tweaks. More in this blog.
• Zombies: Shattered Veil map, Double Tap Perk, Ray Gun Mark II & Wunderwaffle DG - 2 Wonder Weapons. Elder Disciple and Toxic Zombie enemies. New Gobblegums.
• Events: Black Ops Tribute
• Operators: Hudson, Mace, R0-Z3

For a full breakdown of Black Ops 6 Season 3, visit the Call of Duty blog. You'll be able to see the specifics on the new maps and modes that'll arrive soon.

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• Verdansk is coming back to Warzone on April 3
• The classic map has been rebuilt by Beenox
• It will feature overhauled visuals, including better lighting

Fan-favorite map Verdansk is finally coming back to Call of Duty: Warzone and it looks absolutely stunning.

The development team at Beenox, the studio helming the updated version of the classic environment, has released a new Intel Drop video showing it off and explaining some of the work that's gone into it.

"It's rebuilt from the ground up to recapture the original battle royale experience but now it has stunning new textures [and] improved visuals," explained environment artist Simon Duschense.

"We really wanted to keep this nostalgic feeling while also upgrading it with new technology," he added.

Although it might not look like much has changed, when you compare this new Verdansk to the old environments it's clear that there have been some massive upgrades plus some small changes to its layout.

The lighting is hugely improved, with significantly more realistic shadows and textures that now appear in much higher resolution.

That said, some fans don't seem too thrilled with the news. "We need old feeling, old movement, old TTK, old game. Not just [the] map," said one YouTube commenter. " Another added "it won't be the same unfortunately."

A number of players also seem skeptical about the reliability of the game's anti-cheat systems. "Invest in a better anti-cheat or none of this matters" is currently one of the highest-rated comments under the video.

Verdansk returns to Call of Duty: Warzone on April 3. The game is available now as a free-to-play title on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and PC.

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• Dr. Squatch has revealed a new line of Call of Duty collaboration products
• It includes two bars of soap and two deodorant sticks
• They have scents inspired by the characters Soap and Ghost

Male grooming brand Dr. Squatch has announced a new Call of Duty collaboration with a line of new products inspired by the most iconic members of Task Force 141.

It includes two bars of soap and two deodorant sticks. The Ghost Grit Bar Soap is a heavy-grit bar described as having 'deep earthy scents of pepper, leather, and smoky charcoal' while the Sarge Soap Bar boasts 'invigorating notes of Scottish juniper, pine, and moss' - presumably meant to call to mind the character's Scottish heritage.

I'm not a huge fan of gritty soap, so the Sarge Soap Bar definitely sounds the most appealing to me here. I also can't pretend that there isn't something funny about the inherently ridiculous nature of a Soap soap bar.

As for the deodorant sticks, there's the Ghost Sticc Deodorant, with a 'bold, earthy scent;' and the Sarge Sticc Deodorant, which is apparently 'crisp and revitalizing'. Key ingredients include field balm extract and ghost plant extract (which I suspect were chosen given their obvious associations with the characters) plus moisturizing coconut oil.

Inside each soap bar is a code to unlock an exclusive in-game item - a cool little calling card with the Dr. Squatch mascot dressed as Soap that I certainly wouldn't mind rocking in my online matches.

The products are available now via the Dr. Squatch website in three separate bundles in both the US and UK. You can choose between a two-pack of soaps that costs $16 / £16, a $22 / £21 two-pack with one soap and one deodorant stick, or a complete four-pack with both soaps and both deodorants that comes to $43 / £42.

This is far from the first Call of Duty collaboration, but it is quite an amusing one. The connection between (the character) Soap and soap seems pretty obvious in hindsight and the scents here don't sound half bad either. On top of this, anything that might encourage the average gamer to improve their personal hygiene can only be considered a win in my book.

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• A new Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 free trial has been announced
• It will run from February 6 to February 10
• It will let you try the latest multiplayer modes and zombies map

Activision has confirmed that you will be able to try Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the latest installment in the blockbuster first-person shooter (FPS) franchise, for free over the weekend.

The game’s latest free trial, which runs from February 6 to February 10, is set to kick off later today and will give you a comprehensive taste of everything it has to offer. You will be able to play a number of key multiplayer modes, including the all-new Overdrive game mode which sees you racking up stars with every elimination and unlocking powerful buffs.

Maps introduced in the game’s latest season, Season 2, will be available too, including Bounty, Dealership, and Lifeline. There will also be plenty to experience outside of core Multiplayer with a handful of Zombies content. You could explore the overrun town of Liberty Falls, or discover the secrets of the newly added The Tomb map.

The directed mode, which walks you through the map’s storyline, will also be available for those more interested in a narrative-focused experience.

The full list of content that will be accessible as as follows:

• Multiplayer Playlists and Game Modes:
• Nuketown 24/7
• Stakeout 24/7
• Overdrive
• Gunfight
• Team Deathmatch
• Hardpoint
• Domination
• Kill Confirmed
• Kill Order

Zombies Maps and Playlists:

• The Tomb (Standard)
• Liberty Falls (Standard + Directed Mode)

That’s an awful lot of content to keep you busy over the weekend and, if you want to keep playing, the standard edition Black Ops 6 is currently discounted by 30% on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One. It is also available as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

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• The Call of Duty Squid Game event has arrived
• It features new modes and operator skins
• There is also an Event Pass with free skins to earn

A new Squid Game crossover event has arrived in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in collaboration with Netflix. It introduces new in-game multiplayer modes, free rewards, and plenty of cosmetic skins.

The highlight for me is the introduction of the Red Light, Green Light multiplayer mode which lets you recreate the iconic death game from the show. It’s divided into three rounds, with players attempting to reach a finish line under the watchful eye of the creepy Young-hee doll.

You can only move when the doll says ‘Green Light’, with unlucky players immediately executed if they fail. Interestingly, weapons are introduced in rounds two and three allowing you to speed up the game by eliminating other players yourself.

It’s not the only new mode, however, as there is also Pentathlon - which mixes Domination, Kill Confirmed, and Hardpoint with the all-new Piggy Bank Team Deathmach and Roulette. Piggy Bank Team Deathmatch sees each elimination contribute to a Mega Piggy Bank, which rewards a massive payout during the match.

Roulette rewards players for scoring eliminations with the Roulette Handgun, which has a small chance of killing you every time it is fired.

The Squid Game Moshpit seems to offer a more traditional multiplayer experience, though it does have some interesting twists. It includes Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Hardpoint but with new Squid Game inspired mechanics. This includes the Red Light, Green Light Scorestreak, a Piggy Bank which can drop on eliminations for added score, and the Roulette Handgun.

Zombies is also getting the Squid Game treatment with new Squid Game variants of Liberty Falls and Citadelle des Morts. These feature distinct Green Light and Red Light phases, with the latter draining Essence from players that move. There’s also a Dead Light phase, which spawns more powerful enemies.

Things are getting squiddy over in Call of Duty: Warzone too, with new Squid Game challenges for players to master.

Earned XP across Black Ops 6 and Warzone contributes to the new Squid Game Event Pass, which is free for all players. There is also an optional Premium Track, which costs 1,100 COD Points. The free path contains two operator skins (the ‘Player 006’ skin for Niran and the ‘Player 115 Skin’ for Maya) in addition to a new melee weapon. Those who purchase the Premium Track can bag new weapon Blueprints, plus the exclusive Front Man operator.

Finally, three new Squid Game bundles are dropping in the in-game store. This includes the Squid Game 2: Pink Guards Tracer Pack, Squid Game 2: The VIPs Tracer Pack, and the Squid Game 2: Young-hee Tracer Pack. The latter gives you the seriously creepy Young-hee operator, plus a new finishing move and some other digital goodies.

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• Xbox has announced a new Squid Game collaboration
• Two limited edition Xbox controllers have been revealed
• An in-game crossover is also coming to Call of Duty

Xbox has announced a new collaboration with Netflix in celebration of the upcoming second season of the hit TV show Squid Game.

Two limited edition controllers are coming as part of the crossover, both created in partnership with gaming peripheral brand SCUF. The first is the Pink Guard Instinct Pro Controller for Xbox, which has an eye-catching pink design inspired by the bright guard uniforms in the show.

If you want to get your hands on this limited edition gamepad, it will be available via Best Buy Drops or the SCUF website. The Game Over controller, also by SCUF, is then based on the competitor’s tracksuits and is numbered from 1 to 456. It will be available as a competition prize as part of ‘Squid Game: The Experience at Manhattan Mall, New York on December 16.

You can also tune in to an Xbox Twitch Livestream for another chance to win, or enter a sweepstakes for the controller by reposting a recent contest announcement post on X / Twitter.

Those participating in the in-person event will also be up for a chance of winning the ‘Young Hee Gaming Cabinet Grand Prize’ - a full-size gamer cabinet inspired by the Red Light, Green Light doll that comes with both controller variants, a Lenovo Legion 7i gaming laptop, an Xbox Series X console plus a standard Xbox Wireless Controller, Asus ROG Ally X, and a 12 month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate code.

Both controllers are based on the SCUF Instinct Pro Controller, a premium Xbox pad that boasts features like remappable rear paddles, configuration profiles, trigger lock settings, and interchangeable thumbsticks.

A Squid Game integration is also coming to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in January next year, which will presumably see the addition of some new cosmetic items inspired by the show.

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Black Ops 6 CODMAS is currently live, allowing players to try out some seasonal holiday-themed events as part of this year's Call of Duty Christmas update. There's plenty being added, including limited-time modes, events, and skins. Nuketown is getting a snowy makeover, and even Zombies Mode is joining in on the fun.

With Black Ops 6 now running its Season One Reloaded content, there's been a whole host of new maps and weapons to try out. So far, these updates have certainly cemented the game's place on our best FPS games list, so hopefully, CODMAS offers even more of a reason to keep logging back in.

Here's when to expect the rest of the Black Ops 6 CODMAS event, as well as some info on the Call of Duty Christmas content that's still set to be added. As we get closer to the launch period, we'll likely hear more specifics from Activision. Stay tuned for updates.

When to expect Black Ops 6 CODMAS

The Black Ops 6 CODMAS started December 5, 2024, with the launch of Nuketown (Holiday). This year's event is more of a staggered rollout, and while we still don't have release dates for everything, we do know that the Ran-Snack and Infectious Holiday limited time events will arrive December 12, 2024. Shortly after that, on December 17, the Jingle Hells Holiday Zombies mode drops. Currently, the Merry Mayhem event is live as well, right up until December 19, 2024. Earn XP to unlock some holiday-themed rewards.

Black Ops 6 CODMAS - what's being added?

Activision has now announced what'll be added to Black Ops 6 as part of CODMAS. This includes new map variations, limited-time modes, and new skins. Here's a brief summary of what's being added:

• Warzone Limited Time Modes: Holiday Rush (Area 99), Slay Ride Resurgence (Urzikstan)
• Black Ops 6 Limited Time Modes: Ran-Snack, Infectious Holiday
• Zombies Limited Time Modes: Jingle Hells (Liberty Falls)
• Events: Merry Mayhem, Archie's Festival Frenzy
• Bundles: Sweater Ops, Season's Bleedings

For a full breakdown of Black Ops 6 Season 1 Reloaded, head on over to the Call of Duty blog. This includes an overview of the Call of Duty Christmas content being added.

Call of Duty Christmas modes

Call of Duty is getting five modes as part of the CODMAS event:

• Ran-Snack (Black Ops 6): Trade gold for sweets in this festive LTM that challenges teams to gather and deposit the most cookies. Grab cookies from the rotating crate, fallen Operators, and by breaching the enemy’s cookie box and taking the goods back to your own.
• Infectious Holiday (Black Ops 6): Even the undead are getting into the holiday spirit as zombies and fallen Operators don festive clothing in this festive twist on the fan-favorite Infected mode.
• Jingle Hells (Zombies): Last seen in Black Ops Cold War, Jingle Hells drops you in what could optimistically be called a winter wonderland, as the entirety of the Liberty Falls map is festooned with wreaths, ribbons, twinkling lights, Christmas trees, garlands of fir tree bunting, and a thin blanket of snow.
• Holiday Rush (Warzone): Enter Area 99, newly outfitted with Deck the Halls trees and Snowball coolers. Get right to the point with access to high-tier loot along with a smaller gas circle and faster transitions between collapses.
• Slay Ride Resurgence (Warzone): Undead Santa has hijacked the train. Toss deadly snowballs, capture trees, hunt reindeer, and battle for control of Santa’s Slay Ride. Last team standing wins.

Black Ops 6 Nuketown Holiday - a look at this year's Call of Duty Christmas map

The Call of Duty Christmas map for this year is Nuketown Holiday, which gives the iconic Black Ops 6 map a snowy makeover. In addition, there are Holiday glow-ups that come with the new modes, and as part of the Jingle Hells Zombies mode. Unfathomable horrors beyond comprehension, now wearing Santa hats!

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• Call of Duty has ramped up AI with code optimizations to catch cheaters
• Since ranked play launched a week ago, 19,000 bans have been enacted
• But cheating still remains a thorny problem with Black Ops 6

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has been out for a month, and multiplayer is, of course, where cheaters are doing their best to ruin everyone else’s fun – but Activision is doing its best to catch them with an increasing emphasis on using AI.

Call of Duty games use an in-house anti-cheat (at the kernel level) called Ricochet, and on X, the developer has outlined the latest achievements in terms of taking out cheaters.

Apparently, Ricochet has facilitated the ban of over 19,000 cheaters in ranked play since that mode launched (a week ago).

As you can see from the post on X, there are “hourly sweeps” to eject cheaters from the ranked play mode (and leaderboard), and we’re told that AI systems are being ramped up with “code optimizations” to better achieve this goal.

Analysis: The war on cheats

Fewer cheaters is good news for everyone, of course – except the offenders themselves, naturally. However, as someone replying to the above post on X points out, all cheaters do after they are banned is create another account. Or, we should clarify, persistent or dedicated cheaters do this.

So, should Activision just give up and not bother? Obviously not, and some more casual cheaters might be put off by a ban (or repeated bans, certainly). But what about the more hardcore cheats out there? The workarounds to obtain a new account (including buying a hacked one) aren’t expensive or that difficult to do, sadly.

While AI is likely to very much help to police cheating, especially as these systems get honed more and more, it’ll have to be doing so in a really timely manner to start putting proper roadblocks in the way of those who want to break the rules in Black Ops 6 (or other games).

Meanwhile, the arguments continue as to the best way to deal with determined Call of Duty cheaters, including forcing two-factor authentication for accounts to at least help combat the number of accounts getting stolen – but there are thorny issues whichever way you look at this.

Via Neowin

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