The highly anticipated release of Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7 has been met with significant disappointment from fans, with many branding its campaign the worst in the franchise's history while criticising the increased use of AI-generated artwork.
Campaign Fallout
Following its global launch on November 14, 2025, across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms, the latest instalment in the Call Of Duty series has sparked immediate backlash. Despite being a narrative sequel to 2012's Black Ops 2 and following David Mason's squad, the campaign has failed to impress long-time fans.
Influential Call Of Duty leaker ModernWarzone expressed strong criticism in an X post, stating: 'Just finished the Black Ops 7 campaign solo in four hours and 30 minutes of playtime. I can confidently say that is one of, if not the WORST, Call Of Duty campaign I've ever played in my life.' The leaker awarded the campaign a dismal 3/10 rating, claiming it was worse than both Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops 3.
Technical Issues and Design Problems
The campaign's implementation has drawn particular ire for several technical shortcomings. Unlike previous titles, players cannot access the campaign without an internet connection, creating accessibility issues for solo players. Additionally, the absence of proper checkpoint systems has frustrated many users.
One fan highlighted this problem on X, explaining: 'If you choose a specific mission, there's no save point. If you close the game, you have to start over, so you're forced to play the mission all the way through.' Others criticised the campaign's surreal direction, with one user comparing the experience to a 'four hour Far Cry drug trip'.
AI Artwork Controversy
Beyond campaign complaints, players have identified the use of AI-generated assets for multiplayer calling cards and prestige icons. While previous Call Of Duty titles have employed similar technology, the visible implementation in one of gaming's most profitable franchises has disappointed many enthusiasts.
Activision has been more transparent about their AI usage this time, with the Steam page for Black Ops 7 confirming the development team used 'generative AI tools to help develop some in-game assets'. This admission comes amid growing industry concerns about AI replacing human artists in game development.
The controversy is compounded by Activision's review strategy, as the company did not provide advance review copies to GameCentral and other outlets. This has resulted in limited scored reviews on Metacritic during the crucial launch window, leaving potential buyers with primarily fan feedback to inform their purchasing decisions.
