Activision and Treyarch have posted a new community update addressing Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and one of the biggest takeaways is how progression and content will (and won’t) carry over from previous titles.
The studio confirmed that Operators, Operator Skins, and Weapons from Black Ops 6 will not carry forward into Black Ops 7. The decision is framed as a way to keep the new game feeling authentic to its setting and tone, rather than weighed down by legacy content. Progression items like Double XP tokens and GobbleGums, however, will transfer, in recognition of the time players have already invested. Importantly, this reset only applies to Black Ops 7. All Black Ops 6content remains intact in Call of Duty: Warzone, which will continue as the persistent hub for crossover cosmetics and operators.
This change has been one of the most debated topics among fans, and the update directly acknowledges the wider discussion around the franchise’s identity. According to Treyarch and Raven, the guiding principle for Black Ops 7 is to act as a “spiritual successor” to Black Ops 2, while still taking risks across Multiplayer, Zombies, the Co-Op Campaign (including the Endgame mode), and even Dead Ops Arcade 4. The decision to wipe the slate clean for Operators and weapons is meant to help the game stand on its own rather than feel like a continuation of last year’s release.
Beyond carry-forward changes, the update also focused on anti-cheat efforts. Building on progress made with RICOCHET during Black Ops 6, the next installment will add tougher protections. Starting November 14, PC players will be required to enable Secure Boot and TPM 2.0, giving the developers more leverage to block cheats at the system level. New detection tools will be tested during the Beta and deployed fully at launch, with the goal of kicking cheaters earlier and reducing the impact on matches.
Player feedback is also shaping how Treyarch balances the game’s overall feel. Bundles and cosmetics will be designed to align with the darker, immersive style that the Black Ops brand is known for. More details are coming soon on refined movement mechanics, map and weapon design, and the studio’s approach to “moment-to-moment gameplay” improvements.
For Zombies fans, Season 7 will bring a new Wonder Vehicle, an alternate Dark Aether version of the original crew, and expanded systems aimed at rewarding hardcore players. Progression is also being reworked: XP and weapon levels will carry across every mode, including Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies. Classic Prestige is returning, weapon-specific Prestige is being introduced, and a weekly challenges system will debut in Season 1.
The full Multiplayer reveal will arrive September 30 during Call of Duty: NEXT, followed by Early Access Beta on October 2 and an Open Beta for all platforms running October 5–8.
Taken together, the update feels like a balancing act. On one hand, Activision and Treyarch are resetting cosmetics and weapons to keep Black Ops 7 authentic. On the other, they are giving players new ways to invest in long-term progression across modes. Whether this approach wins back skeptics or fuels further debate will become clear once fans get their hands on the beta in October.
