Tag:

Black

Black Ops 7 release date, platforms, early access, open beta, and gameplay reveal

by admin August 20, 2025

The official Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 release date has finally been confirmed, giving fans a clear look at when they can jump into the next chapter of Treyarch’s iconic series. Alongside the launch date, Activision has revealed key details about supported platforms, early access opportunities, and what players can expect based on the gameplay showcase.

From Campaign and Multiplayer to the return of Round-Based Zombies, Black Ops 7 promises to be an exciting entry in the subseries. Whether you’re a veteran of the franchise or a newcomer eager to dive in, here’s everything you need to know about BO7.

Black Ops 7 release date and platforms

Plenty of time to gear up. Image via Activision

As confirmed during the Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025, Black Ops 7 will officially launch on Nov. 14, 2025, marking the return of Treyarch and Raven’s collaborative development for the Black Ops subseries. The game will release across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Battle.net, Steam, and Xbox app). Players who subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass will be able to play the title from day one as part of the subscription service.

While there has been speculation about a possible launch on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, Activision has confirmed that the game will not be available for the console at release. However, the company has not ruled out future support for Nintendo’s hardware.

Black Ops 7 early access and open beta dates

Players eager to try the game ahead of launch will get their chance during the early access and open beta sessions taking place in early October. The early access beta begins on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 12pm CT and runs through Sunday, Oct. 5, lasting 72 hours. Immediately after, the open beta kicks off on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 12pm CT and continues until Wednesday, Oct. 8, also spanning 72 hours.

Get a firsthand experience. Image via Activision

Early access is reserved for those who pre-ordered the game on any platform, console or PC, as well as eligible Game Pass subscribers. The open beta, on the other hand, will be completely free and available to everyone across all platforms.

This testing phase will mark the first opportunity for players to explore the new maps and experience the updated gameplay systems firsthand.

Black Ops 7 gameplay reveal highlights

BO7 Co-op Campaign

Set in 2035, Black Ops 7 pushes the series forward with its signature mix of near-future combat, political tension, and psychological twists. Players take on the role of David “Section” Mason (reportedly portrayed by Milo Ventimiglia), now at the helm of a JSOC unit tasked with dismantling a covert organization known as The Guild. Along the way, the campaign revisits familiar and new characters such as the notorious Raul Menéndez and The Guild’s CEO Emma Kagan, while missions span diverse backdrops including futuristic Japan, the sunlit Mediterranean coast, and mind-bending sequences that blur the line between reality and the human psyche.

Jump into the campaign with your friends. Image via Activision

For the first time in Black Ops history, the Campaign supports both solo play and drop-in co-op for up to four players. Every kill, completed objective, and milestone contributes to a unified global XP progression system that seamlessly carries over between Campaign, Multiplayer, Zombies, as well as Warzone, ensuring that all modes feel interconnected and rewarding.

The Co-op Campaign concludes with Endgame, a bold new mode that goes beyond a traditional final mission. Designed as a replayable experience, Endgame challenges squads to survive relentless encounters, adapt to unpredictable scenarios, and fully utilize the personalized abilities unlocked throughout the campaign. With each run offering fresh progression and surprises, players can also explore the wider world of Avalon beyond the structured missions.

BO7 Multiplayer

Multiplayer continues to be the core of CoD, and Black Ops 7 delivers with a robust lineup of 16 brand-new maps built for classic 6v6 action, complemented by two expansive 20v20 Skirmish maps.

Player movement has been overhauled with the enhanced Omnimovement system, giving matches a smoother, more responsive feel. While it avoids returning to the over-the-top sci-fi mechanics of past titles, like jetpacks and full wallrunning, it does include a wall jump mechanic for added mobility. Additionally, the removal of the default Tactical Sprint further refines pacing and balance on the battlefield.

You can also look forward to an arsenal of new weapons, scorestreaks, equipment, field upgrades, perks, and hybrid combat specialties designed to open up new strategies and ways to dominate Multiplayer.

BO7 Zombies

No Call of Duty entry feels whole without Zombies, and Black Ops 7 proudly revives the classic Round-Based Zombies format that first made the mode a fan favorite. Treyarch has teased this version as their most ambitious yet, promising larger, more intricate maps, hidden Easter eggs for dedicated hunters, and a narrative arc that runs deeper than ever before.

Beyond undead slaying, the game also reintroduces Survival maps and Dead Ops Arcade 4, while expanding customization with a wide arsenal of new weapons, attachments, and a robust camo progression system that seamlessly carries across every mode.

Dot Esports is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy

Source link

August 20, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Black Ops 7 devs address Call of Duty’s controversial skins

by admin August 20, 2025

Black Ops 7 devs have opened up about controversial Call of Duty skins, mentioning how they’re considering feedback from the community.

Much like any other shooter, the Call of Duty franchise offers a plethora of different skins that players can use, some of which are part of limited-time crossovers from different franchises.

Black Ops 6, for example, has its share of crossover skins or bundles that players are fond of. However, it’s no secret that some out there have not been well-received by the community.

Article continues after ad

One major complaint stems from how the choices of some characters feel out of place, leading to fans dubbing them ‘wacky’ as they clash with the game’s aesthetics. As the hype for Black Ops 7 mounts, devs have spoken up regarding players’ feedback on this very subject.

Black Ops 7 devs are paying attention to feedback for skins

activisionCall of Duty has been releasing goofy skins like this for years.

In an interview with IGN, Associate Creative Director Miles Leslie responded to a question on whether fans can expect to see these kinds of designs in the upcoming title.

Article continues after ad

Having thought about this, he explained that the team is “always looking at community feedback.

Article continues after ad

He’s aware that “there are fans who those may not be their favorite.” That said, he assured players that the team is going to “try to calibrate that” as they “move forward” and “take that feedback seriously.”

Ultimately, he stressed: “But again, we are trying to make sure that all fans feel represented in the game and figuring out that tight balance is something we’re paying attention to.”

As many players have already pointed out, one of the main issues with some crossovers is that they feel “cartoonish” in a game like CoD. This is a very different case from Fortnite, which has a stylized look instead of a more realistic and gritty style.

Article continues after ad

Black Ops 7 is set to release on November 14, 2025. It’ll still be a while until then, but so far, devs have shared plenty of details, such as having more Mystery camos, Tac-Sprint change, as well as 16 6v6 maps.

Source link

August 20, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Game Science reveal Black Myth: Zhong Kui, a new action-RPG that aims to catch Wukong players “off guard”

by admin August 20, 2025

Black Myth: Wukong developers Game Science have revealed Black Myth: Zhong Kui, another single-player action-RPG steeped in Chinese mythology. It casts you as a ghost-hunting god who wanders between hell and Earth. Here’s a CG short from Gamescom’s Open Night Live 2025, which shows the fearsomely bearded Zhong Kui himself riding an extravagantly sized tiger.

Watch on YouTube

In a Q&A on the official site, the developers call the game a “tentative first step – to build more distinct game experiences, to challenge ourselves with bolder features, and to bring fresh ideas to our world and narrative design”. They want Wukong players to feel “right at home” while “catching them off guard in the best way”. That said, for now the new game remains “little more than an empty folder”, with no release date and little sense in the CG trailer of how Zhong Kui fights, compared to Wukong. I’m guessing that tiger is a useful ally, though.

We quite liked the original Black Myth, with bygone reviews editor Ed Thorn (RPS in peace) calling it “a refreshing adventure after Elden Ring’s knotty DLC”. We were less keen on the mildly draconian PR messages to certain streamers, cautioning them to avoid “feminist propaganda”, “politics” and discussion of the Chinese games industry.

These gamergatory memos followed a lengthy report from IGN about alleged workplace sexism at Game Science. The devs refused to say anything to Ed about this when he asked at a preview event. If we’re invited to preview Zhong Kui, we’ll give it another shot.

Check out our Gamescom 2025 event hub for all the PC game announcements and preview coverage from Cologne.

Source link

August 20, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Black Ops 7’s co-op campaign culminates in a DMZ-like ‘Endgame’ activity for 32 players in an open-world map, plus it has unlockable weapon camos

by admin August 20, 2025

Call of Duty is aiming for its next campaign to be a part of the “connected” experience of the overall live-service game, starting with Black Ops 7.

During a media briefing event last week, Treyarch revealed that the BO7 campaign is playable for up to four players in co-op, played over 11 standard, explosive set-piece missions. Not only that, but you will be able to unlock campaign-specific weapon camos (including four Mastery camos), reticles, player cards, and other cosmetics, all while earning XP to progress your overall level and even individual battle passes. There will even be daily and weekly challenges to complete.

Image via Activision

The campaign stars David Mason and his Spectre One team, including Mike Harper, Eric Samuels, and newcomer Leilani Tupuola, with support from BO6 character Troy Marshall who is now several decades older in this story. Some sort of red, hallucinogenic gas seems to be the main catalyst for weird visions and trippy missions, given what little gameplay I was shown.

Once that story’s 11 standard missions are completed, however, a new “Endgame” experience will unlock, featuring an open-world Avalon map for up to 32 players to explore and fight enemies in. Gamers will be able to fly into the battle royale map-like zone to fight AI soldiers and robots, complete missions, and rank up their operators with new abilities and a level-up system called Combat Rating.

Increasing your Combat Rating (max level 60) will give players access to higher-tier areas of the map, but here’s the catch: if you die, you wipe and have to start all over again, similar to games like Modern Warfare II’s DMZ mode or Escape From Tarkov. That’s right, wiping as a squad will reset your progress for that operator.

Each individual, playable operator also has their own abilities and skill specializations that can be unlocked and leveled up, such as a Grapple Hook, Mega Jump, or Drone Charmer that spawns quad-rotor drones to take down enemies.

Treyarch says that Endgame will be the “final proving ground where all of your campaign progress is tested in a new environment.” Progress is tied to “shutting down Guild activities” as you “move into the hardest regions.”

Image via Activision

A lot about Endgame is still being kept secret for now, but players looking to expand their BO7 experience and unlock everything it has to offer may find some real fun in this new co-op experience to play alongside multiplayer and Zombies modes.

BO7 launches for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC later this year.

Destructoid is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy

Source link

August 20, 2025 0 comments

Esports

GameScience reveals Black Myth: Zhong Kui

by admin August 20, 2025

Chinese studio GameScience, creators of Black Myth: Wukong, formally revealed their upcoming action RPG “Black Myth: Zhong Kui” at Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 20, 2025.

Black Myth: Zhong Kui serves as the second installment in the Black Myth franchise, presenting a single-player action role-playing experience grounded in ancient Chinese mythology. Developed by GameScience using Unreal Engine 5, the game draws inspiration from the traditional Chinese legend “Zhong Kui Banishing Evil”.

The development team promises unique gameplay mechanics and experiences that challenge their creative boundaries, while incorporating innovative concepts and improvements designed to resolve previous shortcomings and unfulfilled ambitions.

About Zhong Kui

The story of Zhong Kui was first recorded in “Tang Yishi” (“Unofficial History of the Tang Dynasty”) and gained wider circulation through Northern Song scholar Shen Kuo’s (1031–1095) “Dream Pool Essays”. Born on Mount Zhongnan, Zhong Kui travelled to Chang’an during Emperor Gaozu’s Wude reign to sit the imperial military examination but failed. In despair, he struck his head on the palace steps and died. Grateful for the green burial robe (the attire of lower-ranking officials, a token of imperial recognition) bestowed by Gaozu, he vowed to rid the Tang realm of every Xuhao (Chinese: 虚耗, Xūhào, meaning “wasteful expenditure” and “consuming blessings for nothing”) ghosts and harmful spectres.During the Kaiyuan era of the Tang dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong fell ill, and a month of treatment brought no relief. One night, while asleep in sickness, he dreamed of a small ghost slipping into the palace to steal Consort Yang’s embroidered sachet and his own jade flute. The ghost called itself Xuhao, a bringer of waste and disperser of blessings. Just as the emperor was about to summon someone to expel it, Zhong Kui rushed into the hall, seized the creature in one swift motion, gouged out its eyes, and swallowed them whole. The emperor awoke drenched in a cold sweat—only to find his illness cured.Taking this as an auspicious omen, Xuanzong ordered the court painter Wu Daozi to create “Zhong Kui Capturing the Ghost”. From then on, it became customary to paste images of Zhong Kui on household doors at year’s end, especially on New Year’s Eve, to “banish baleful wraiths, and still the miasma of evil”.

For more news on Black Myth: Zhong Kui, stay tuned to GamingTrend!

Share this article

The link has been copied!

Affiliate Links

Source link

August 20, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

As Battlefield 6 commits to ‘keeping it grounded’ with skins, Call of Duty director makes an unconvincing promise to ‘calibrate’ cosmetics in Black Ops 7

by admin August 19, 2025

We’re set for another Call of Duty vs. Battlefield face-off this year, and it’s already been fascinating to watch how these two military shooters present themselves. When it comes to one of the most incendiary topics in multiplayer games at the moment, the rising prevalence of goofy Fortnite-style skins, Call of Duty has become the poster child of ugliness run amok.

The growing exhaustion over incongruent cosmetics that erode Call of Duty’s art style is what prompted Battlefield Studios’ stance on skins in Battlefield 6: “It has to be grounded. That is what BF3 and BF4 was—it was all soldiers, on the ground. It’s going to be like this. I don’t think it needs Nicki Minaj. Let’s keep it real, keep it grounded.”

Time will tell if Battlefield 6 actually sticks to that mission statement—the allure of tacky crap might be irresistible when enough players are eager to buy them—but it’s telling that, given the same opportunity to renew its stance on cosmetics, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 developers were decidedly wishy-washy about the whole thing.

“We have thought about this, and I think if you look at us, we’re always looking at community feedback”, Treyarch associate creative director Miles Leslie told IGN in an interview ahead of today’s Blops 7 reveals.

“We always try to make sure that we are trying to touch the widest audience. I’ve had the pleasure of working on Call of Duty now for almost 20 years, and we’re constantly looking at ways to push into different audiences and fans, and that’s what you saw with that; there are fans that really love it. Obviously, there are fans who those may not be their favorite. We’re going to try to calibrate that as we move forward, and we take that feedback seriously. But again, we are trying to make sure that all fans feel represented in the game and figuring out that tight balance is something we’re paying attention to.”

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Direct – YouTube

Watch On

It’s the usual marketing-approved gobbledygook that almost sounds like something meaningful was said, but wasn’t: Activision has heard the complaints, is taking them “seriously,” and will “calibrate” going forward.

What sort of calibration it has in mind is open to interpretation, and non-specific enough that Blops 7 can still comfortably cash in on collaborations with cartoons, ’80s action heroes, and Amazon Originals without going against its stated stance.

My read on it is that, while Call of Duty’s full-bodied embrace of goofy skins probably isn’t loved by many of the developers actually creating the art that gets slopped over by the Store tab, the backlash is not a particularly pressing concern for Activision at large. There are two sides to this, after all—lots of people enjoy uglifying their operators (to the tune of $20 per bundle).

There’s another wrinkle to Blops 7’s “calibrated” cosmetic plan: Starting with Season 1 of Blops 7, all weapons and cosmetics from Black Ops 6 will carry forward, inviting a tidal wave of fashion nightmares introduced over the previous 12 months to the new game.

Best graphics card 2025

All our current recommendations

Source link

August 19, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

New Black Myth game announced by Game Science, following Wukong success

by admin August 19, 2025

Black Myth: Wukong studio Game Science has revealed it’s working on the next game in the series.

Black Myth: Zhong Kui will be an all-new follow-up, focused on the titular ghost-catching god who wanders between hell and earth. Like Wukong, it will be another single-player action-RPG rooted in Chinese folklore.

A brief teaser trailer was shown at Gamescom Opening Night Live, showing a couple of men hiding from a parade of mythical characters, including Zhong Kui himself riding a giant tiger.

Game Science’s New Title | Black Myth: Zhong Kui – Teaser Trailer (English Dub)Watch on YouTube

So why not release a Wukong sequel? Game Science explained over on the new game’s website.

“Upon completing the journey with the Destined One, we now aspire to take a tentative first step – to build more distinct game experiences, to challenge ourselves with bolder features, and to bring fresh ideas to our world and narrative design,” reads a Q&A.

“Zhong Kui came as a natural choice born of that aspiration and other contributing factors. We are confident that, in this new project, we can make refreshing changes, create new things, while taking a hard look at our past flaws and regrets. And to all friends who love Black Myth: Wukong: the westward journey won’t end here.”

There’s no release date yet, but it’s planned for PC and “mainstream console platforms”.

Wukong was a huge success for Game Science, selling 10m copies in just three days after its release last year. It’s considered China’s first AAA release and has paved the way for a whole string of Chinese-made action-RPGs on the way.

This is a news-in-brief story. This is part of our vision to bring you all the big news as part of a daily live report.

Source link

August 19, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 open beta starts 2nd October

by admin August 19, 2025

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will have an open beta starting on 2nd October for those who pre-order the game or subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, or Game Pass Console. For those who don’t pre-order, the open beta begins on 5th October.

Pre-orders also include the Reznov Challenge Pack, which provides access to the SOG Reznov Operator Skin in Black Ops 6 and Warzone (this must be redeemed before 14th November 2026). You’ll also get the Stalingrad Reznov and Memory Reznov Operator Skins.

It’s worth noting the game is available as a cross-gen bundle, meaning if you buy it you’ll gain access to Black Ops 7 on the Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Xbox PC. You might want to make sure you have an active Game Pass subscription going though, especially if you claim the game through Game Pass Ultimate.

Check out the latest Black Ops 7 trailer here.Watch on YouTube

This is a news-in-brief story. This is part of our vision to bring you all the big news as part of a daily live report.

Source link

August 19, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Black Ops 7 release date spotted in the wilds ahead of Call of Duty’s latest Gamescom blowout

by admin August 19, 2025

True to the game’s billing as the twistiest of duty-shooters, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s release date trailer appears to have leaked ahead of a possible Gamescom Opening Night Live showing tonight. The new FPS will launch on 14th November, close to a month after rival Battlefield 6’s release on October 10th. Also, it appears to have jet packs and mechs.

The leak comes care of that ever-dependable source of military intelligence, a video advertisement that seems to have been accidentally published early. The ad has now been removed, but not before CharlieIntel spotted it and shared it on the Xeetbox, along with some thoughts based on the user’s own pre-release access. “Just to tone down expectations, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 does not have jet packs or double jumps as part of its movement,” CharlieIntel claims. Alas for Black Ops 3 and Halo: Reach players. Good news, I guess, for people who relish the ‘omnimovement’ of Black Ops 6.

Here is what we know of Call of Duty: Bleven for sure: it requires secure boot, to avoid cheaters. It’s got the usual co-op, zombies and competitive multiplayer bits. The campaign is set in 2035, hence the mechs and jet packs, and expands upon the global calamities unleashed in Black Ops 2 and Black Ops 6. It sees grizzly grumbleface David Mason chasing after an enigmatic new foe who “weaponise fear”. There will probably be hallucinations and other Manchurian Candidate-esque horseplay to wash down the gadgets and gunnery.

As reported by VGC, today’s release date whoopsie corroborates a previous leak that also included a price tag for the Standard Edition – $70 or €80 – with a Vault Edition priced at $100 or €110. If legit, this means that Microsoft has still yet to cross the Rubicon and raise the game’s base US price to $80, as they tried to do with The Outer Worlds 2 until the internet started screaming at them.

Check out our Gamescom 2025 event hub for all the PC game announcements and preview coverage from Cologne.

Source link

August 19, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

Leaked Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 release date suggests there’s still no Nintendo Switch 2 version at launch

by admin August 17, 2025

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will reportedly release on 14th November, 2025, and there’s still no Nintendo Switch 2 release planned.

That’s according to noted and highly reliable Dealabs leaker billbil-kun, who suggests the latest instalment of Activision’s tentpole franchise will be coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series, but will not be available on Switch at launch.

Why Tiktok Thirsts over Call of Duty’s Ghost.Watch on YouTube

We noted Nintendo Switch 2 was notably absent from the launch platform line-up when the game was revealed during Summer Games Fest, running counter to Microsoft’s 10-year promise to launch Call of Duty on Nintendo platforms on “the same day as Xbox, with full feature and content parity” if its gargantuan $69 billion offer to buy Activision Blizzard was approved. Which it was, of course.

At the time, however, sources confirmed to Eurogamer: “We’re committed to getting the franchise on Switch. Both teams [are] working on it. Will share details when ready.”

Dealabs posits that all this release information will be confirmed at next week’s Gamescom, including news of a physical release (with a disc included) and pre-orders set to go live on 20th August, following a reveal the night before at Opening Night Live. While U.S./UK pricing has yet to be leaked or confirmed, the leaker suggests it’ll retail for €79.99 in Europe. Xbox has, of course, previously pledged not to raise prices past $70 USD.

Former Activision Blizzard president Mike Ybarra thinks Battlefield 6 will “boot stomp” Call of Duty this year, and that this will push the CoD series to stop being “lazy”.

Source link

August 17, 2025 0 comments