Following the explosive open beta for EA's Battlefield 6, Activision had much to prove with its gameplay reveal for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. During Gamescom Opening Live, we finally got our first look at the next installment in the long-running shooter franchise.
The reveal trailer shows off a mix of gameplay from both the co-op campaign and the game's multiplayer. The campaign story is set in the year 2035, following the events of Black Ops 2 and Black Ops 6.
"Black Ops 7 drops you into 2035, our version of the near future," explained Treyarch Associate Creative Director Miles Leslie. "Raul Menendez is back, and his return sends shockwaves across the globe. You’ll face cutting-edge tech, a rising global threat, and familiar characters wrestling with the fallout of their past decisions. Whether you’re here for nostalgia or diving in fresh, Black Ops 7 delivers a bold new chapter in the Black Ops universe."
Although the game's story is set about a decade after the events of Black Ops 2, Leslie assured that you don't need to have played that game to understand what is happening. "The Black Ops 7 story stands strong on its it."
The story predominantly follows David "Section" Mason, who, upon leading an elite JSOC team on a covert mission, discovers a sinister plot that will put the world on the brink.
"He’s been carrying the weight of what happened in 2025, decisions he made, actions he regrets, and the fallout that followed. For years, he’s tried to make peace with what he sees as personal failure. But now, with Menendez back and the world on edge, David and his team are pulled into a mission that forces them to confront their deepest fears," revealed Raven Software Lead Producer Natalie Pohorski.
Pohoroski continued: "This isn’t just about global threats and high-tech warfare, it’s about facing the past, reckoning with memory, and pushing through fear and regret. David is a complex character, and we felt this was the right moment to bring him back into the spotlight, with a performance that brings depth and humanity to David’s journey, and we’re excited for players new and returning to experience it."
Story details aside, the gameplay trailer is filled with explosive action and some unique psychological environments reminiscent of the "Separation Anxiety" campaign mission in Black Ops 6. Pohorski acknowledged that Black Ops 7 "is all about embracing the madness."
"The Black Ops series has always provided players with new twists and mind-bending experiences, where you don’t know who you can trust, or even what’s real. We took players to some trippy places in Black Ops 6 throughout those missions, and the response from the community really motivated the team to keep pushing the boundaries for this Co-Op Campaign. Players are in for a wild ride this time around," the producer teased.
CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 7 Beta Announced; How To Get Early Access
As teased in the trailer, Black Ops 7's campaign will feature co-op, allowing you to play with a squad of up to four players. Pohorski confirmed earlier rumors that the campaign will build up to a massive new endgame experience featuring up to 32 players.
"As you progress through the Campaign missions, you’ll unlock new abilities and face increasingly intense challenges," Pohorski explained. "Endgame is where it all comes together. It’s where the world of Avalon fully opens up for the first time, and you and your squad take on high-stakes assignments designed to push everything you’ve learned to the limit. You’ll be able to select Operators in addition to the four main Campaign characters, craft custom Loadouts, and level up your Combat Rating as you take on new challenges in Avalon."
Black Ops 7 will feature a global progression system across the entire game. Whereas previous games in the franchise have seen zombies and multiplayer share progression, Black Ops 7 adds your campaign achievements into the mix. Every elimination, objective, and breakthrough you achieve in the campaign will contribute directly to your Global XP.
Speaking of multiplayer, Black Ops 7 will launch with 16 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps. These will take players across the globe, from Alaska and Avalon to Japan and the Australian Outback. A few fan-favorite maps from Black Ops 2 are also getting a bit of a 2035 makeover for Black Ops 7.
The 20v20 maps at launch will be playable through a new game mode called Skirmish, which features large-scale "combat chaos" with the ability to wingsuit around the map.
More details about multiplayer, including Overlock upgrades and the upgraded Omnimovement system, will be shared at the Multiplayer Reveal during Call of Duty: NEXT on Tuesday, September 30th. This will feature in-depth details and footage from both the Multiplayer and Zombies game modes.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is scheduled to launch on November 14, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, and PC (Xbox, Battle.net, Steam).
