The gaming juggernaut that is Call of Duty returns with Black Ops 7, but this latest instalment from Activision struggles to justify its existence beyond being another annual release. Published on November 21, 2025, the game faces unprecedented pressure from rising competitors like Battlefield 6 and Arc Raiders, while simultaneously dealing with growing fan discontent.
A Franchise Showing Its Age
For over a decade, Call of Duty has maintained an almost untouchable position in popular culture, largely immune to critical reviews. However, cracks are beginning to appear in this gaming behemoth. Persistent complaints from the community about inappropriate character skins and increasingly intrusive microtransactions have grown louder, while rival shooters generate the kind of excitement that once surrounded Activision's flagship series.
Despite these challenges, Black Ops 7 will undoubtedly sell millions of copies. Yet beneath the surface, this entry represents one of the franchise's most vulnerable moments - an underwhelming rehash of familiar concepts at a time when innovation is desperately needed.
Campaign Catastrophe
The single-player experience in Black Ops 7 stands out as one of the worst campaigns in Call of Duty history. Described as an incomprehensible deluge of drivel, it serves as a sequel to Black Ops 2 but fails to capture any of that game's magic. The poorly designed narrative feels like a patchwork creation, stitched together from elements of Zombies, Warzone, and curiously gates access to a new 32-player extraction mode called Endgame behind its completion.
Activision's recent decision to untether the Endgame mode from the campaign appears to be an acknowledgment of this failed experiment. When experienced separately, Endgame functions as a decent, if somewhat sedate, take on the extraction genre. Unlike Warzone's DMZ mode, which pits players against both AI and human opponents, Endgame is strictly a PvE experience.
Multiplayer: Quantity Over Quality
Where Black Ops 7 succeeds is in the sheer breadth of its multiplayer offerings. All the classic modes return, including Team Deathmatch, Kill Confirmed, Domination, Hardpoint, and Gunfight. The package introduces two new additions that provide some fresh experiences.
Overload emerges as the standout new mode - a chaotic 6v6 battle where players must grab a device from various locations and place it in enemy drop zones for points. It resembles a turbocharged version of Capture The Flag, played on smaller maps with reversed objectives that require pushing into enemy territory.
The other new addition, Skirmish, offers 20v20 battles where players drop from the skies and compete to capture zones. While it provides an enjoyable expansion of the Hardpoint concept, it feels too familiar to make a lasting impression.
Zombies Galore
The Zombies portion of Black Ops 7 delivers substantial content, though not always to its benefit. The main attraction, Ashes Of The Damned, tasks players with navigating a sprawling, interconnected map while completing objectives and fending off the undead. This mode evolves the large-scale Tranzit concept from Black Ops 2, featuring a upgradable pick-up truck named Tessie for transportation between locations.
For those preferring more traditional Zombies experiences, Black Ops 7 brings back Survival maps for the first time since Black Ops 2. This throwback to simpler times, when survival meant holding out in confined areas, provides nostalgic appeal. Additional variations include Cursed, a hardcore mode without guiding markers, and Dead Ops Arcade, a top-down twin-stick shooter that returns from Black Ops Cold War.
Technical Improvements and Shortcomings
Black Ops 7 introduces several quality-of-life improvements that enhance the overall experience. For the first time in Call of Duty history, unified progression allows players to unlock weapons and perks across all modes. Additionally, after years of community feedback, skill-based matchmaking has been made optional in most playlists.
The movement system sees minor evolution from Black Ops 6's omnimovement. While the ability to sprint and dive in any direction returns, the new wall jump mechanic feels more like a novelty than an essential addition. Though some maps, like the Japanese-themed Den and The Forge, incorporate this feature, it often leaves players vulnerable to enemy fire.
The game's presentation continues the modern Call of Duty tradition of being an inelegant headache. Menus overflow with icons and cycling challenge windows, while AI-generated calling cards clash with sterile widgets and flashy CG models. Despite its massive budget, the game exhibits a charmless tackiness outside of actual matches.
Final Verdict
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 presents a paradox - it's simultaneously the most content-rich entry in the series while also being one of the most disappointing. The awful campaign and lack of meaningful innovation drag down what could have been a triumphant package. New additions like Overload and Endgame provide temporary entertainment, but the overall experience feels like reheated leftovers from better days.
The game releases on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC at a price of £69.99. While the multiplayer suite offers tremendous value and flexibility, the persistent staleness and failure to evolve beyond Black Ops 6 make this a difficult recommendation for all but the most dedicated franchise fans.
