Latest from Windows Central in Call-of-duty

"Not on Xbox Game Pass This Year": I can't believe Activision now has to spell it out for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

Adam Hales — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 20:51:46 +0000

It was no secret that this year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 wasn't heading to Game Pass. It's a large part of the reason Microsoft was able to cut the price of Game Pass earlier this year, scoring Xbox a major win during Asha Sharma's first moves as Xbox CEO.

Now, while Sharma has scored some wins, we're all too aware of the concerns surrounding the next couple of months at Xbox, but I digress. What really caught my eye, however, is that Activision is now reportedly advertising Modern Warfare 4 online with a very specific message.

It states, and I quote, "NOT ON XBOX GAME PASS THIS YEAR," while urging people to pre-order the game, which also provides early access to the game's campaign.

I, myself, am actually fine with Call of Duty not being on Game Pass. As someone who didn't enjoy last year's Black Ops 7, even if I had, the money saved from the Game Pass price cut is enough to buy the game each year anyway, which is what I've typically done for my dad. This year, though, he's insisted on Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, despite my pleas to get 007: First Light instead, since we share games.

That said, Modern Warfare 4 does look pretty okay. It's still hard to say, as it does just look like another Call of Duty, but with promises to stay clear of goofy skins and the like, it's at least more promising than Black Ops 7 to me.

Despite it not necessarily being for me, I do still wish Activision the best. As someone who comes from a time when Call of Duty 4 dominated back in the Xbox 360 days, I hope a more grounded Call of Duty can help the franchise return to its roots, and a more grounded Call of Duty is definitely something I can get behind.

Maybe that's just me, though. Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll!

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 4 Reloaded challenges universe-accurate crossovers with new Nick Cage bundle alongside new content for all modes

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:53:12 +0000

After facing intense scrutiny for quirky crossovers in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Treyarch committed to keeping its operator bundles more lore-accurate for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Then they added Dave Chappelle as part of a Half Baked crossover in April. Now with Season 4 Reloaded, we're getting a crossover with Nick Cage.

Call of Duty: Season 4 Reloaded kicks off on June 25 at 9AM PT/12PM ET, and here is everything you can expect for multiplayer, Zombies, Endgame, and Warzone.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 S4R Endgame

Act IV of Endgame features Operation King Killer. (Image credit: Activision)

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's Endgame mode was originally locked behind campaign progression, but Treyarch ultimately decided to move the underappreciated mode to Call of Duty: Warzone and make it temporarily free-to-play. However, at the time, no end date for the free-to-play era was announced. It is now confirmed that Endgame will remain F2P until the end of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 5.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is expected to launch on October 23, with campaign early access going live on October 16. While it has not been confirmed that Black Ops 7's post-launch support will end at Season 5 instead of the standard 6 seasons we've seen with previous launches, the early launch date for MW4 does make that possibility more likely.

For Season 4 Reloaded, Endgame fans can expect Operation King Killer to be the next chapter of the story, which will push players to locate the Central Command Node and eventually face off against the Glitch Boss. Ten escalating challenges in Zone III and higher will challenge players as they unlock new rewards and weapon camos.

Endgame gets new operator abilities and equipment in Season 4 Reloaded. (Image credit: Activision)

Endgame players can work their way through the new Guardian skill track with the Payback perk that ricochets enemy damage and increased ammo spawns on enemy eliminations. The Guardian skill track is for the tanky team player, allowing for friendly revives just by being in proximity to downed teammates, reduced flinch, and reduced damage for equipped armor plates.

The newest minor ability for Season 4 Reloaded is the psych grenade with a brain rot affect common in other Black Ops 7 modes. A new Exotic Skill, Fission, will result in players triggering an explosion that deals damage to nearby enemies when killing elite foes. The latest nightmare skill to make its way to Endgame is Sleeper Agent, which provides a chance for base enemies to become allies that rush nearby hostiles and detonate on impact.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 S4R Multiplayer

(Image credit: Activision)

Season 4 Reloaded will bring two new maps to the multiplayer roster, one brand-new and one remastered.

New map: Zenith (6v6, 2v2, Medium-sized)

Season 4 Reloaded gets 1 brand-new map set in a jungle facility. (Image credit: Activision)

Zenith is a brand-new map coming to Black Ops 7's multiplayer during Season 4 Reloaded, bringing back to the Jungle vibes we've seen in previous Black Ops titles, but this time featuring a massive compound with state-of-the-art tech and security. The three-lane map features flanking paths on either side and a running waterway that leads into the compound's lower bunker.

Remastered map: Launch (6v6, Medium-sized)

Classic Black Ops map "Launch" has been remastered for Season 4 Reloaded. (Image credit: Activision)

This classic map from the original Call of Duty: Black Ops has officially been remastered for Black Ops 7, featuring a Russian rocket facility where the launch initiation protocol begins at the halfway point of each match. Launch has a soft spot in many COD players' hearts for its design, which caters to a variety of play styles thanks to the complex layout that lends itself to long sniper sightlines from elevated positions and tight corridors with plenty of potential flanking paths.

Returning mode: Team Blueprint Sharpshooter

Multiplayer modes coming to Black Ops 7 with Season 4 Reloaded include Team Blueprint Sharpshooter and Knife Fight. (Image credit: Activision)

Blueprint Sharpshooter challenges players to eliminate enemies with a rotating cycle of loadouts. The higher your kill streak, the more power ups you unlock to help you keep going. Operator bonuses are as follows:

1-Streak: Faster movement speed.
2 -Streak: Faster reload speed.
3-Streak: Faster sprint recovery.
4-Streak: Faster aim down sights speed.
5-Streak: Double score.

Knife Fight offers a melee-only take on the popular 2v2 Gunfight mode. (Image credit: Activision)

Returning mode: Knife Fight

This melee-only mode is a close-quarters variant of Gunfight for the 2v2 crowd who are looking to make some progress on weapons like the H311-SAW and MK.II. No scorestreaks or field upgrades, though players can receive ranged equipment a few seconds after the round starts. The first duo squad to win six rounds wins the match.

New updates: Black Ops Classic

Treyarch has been priming fans of Black Ops for the Black Ops 1 and 2 ports coming to PlayStation later this summer with the Black Ops classic playlist that will now become a permanent fixture in the playlist rotation. This mode features the roster of classic Black Ops maps and weapons with limited mobility, perks, and scorestreak options for that throwback vibe.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 S4R Zombies

Kowakujō is the latest map to come to Black Ops 7 Zombies. (Image credit: Activision)

Welcome to Kowakujō, the newest round-based map for Black Ops 7 Zombies coming in Season 4 Reloaded. Treyarch has been teasing Kowakujō for a couple of weeks, as well as the supernatural Oni enemy, scorched Zombies, and a fiery new take on Hellhounds.

The story will have players battling the undead on the slopes of a volcano with a dragon flying overhead as they attempt to free the final Shadowsmith and recover the World Seed — failure means catastrophe for the material world. That's easier said than done, however, when the foreboding Oni is ready to attack with its electrified melee weapon. A new wonder weapon could help make things easier, but Treyarch is keeping the details of the new tool close to its chest until Season 4 Reloaded goes live.

The Main Quest for Kowakujō goes live on June 25 at 9AM PT/12PM ET.

Takeo and Carver will be the central focus for the Main Quest storyline on Kowakujō. (Image credit: Activision)

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 S4R Warzone

No more snow. Rebirth Island returns to a lusher, more green color palette for summer. (Image credit: Activision)

Season 4 Reloaded will bring some new changes to Call of Duty: Warzone, though not as significant as we've seen in some other updates. Players who have been enjoying the snow-covered Rebirth Island will have to say goodbye to the frost caps as the island returns to a more seasonally appropriate color palette. However, the Season 2 changes to points of interest will remain intact.

New modes are coming to the playlist rotation for Warzone, including Squad Gun Game on Resurgence maps and Buy Back Quads for Battle Royale Maps. Those of us pining for duos or trios playlists on Black Ops Royale are still out of luck, unfortunately. But hey, the Champions Quest is back for those teams who want to challenge themselves to consecutive victories that meet specific criteria.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 S4R Events

I'm not sure who asked for this but we're getting Nick Cage in Call of Duty. (Image credit: Activision)

It's not a new season without some new events, and the first one planned for Season 4 Reloaded gives us Nick Cage — for, reasons? Treyarch is touting the addition of Nick Cage to Call of Duty as part of its "action-packed summer" themed event, offering a free and premium track to unlock a variety of rewards by earning XP during a limited time. The free track includes:

“Opportunist” Samuels Operator Skin
“Wide Eyed” Spray
1-Hour Double Weapon XP Token
“On Set” Loading Screen
Battle Pass Tier Skip “Art of Respect” Animated Emblem
“Hired Muscle” Grimm Operator Skin
“Personal Tyrant” Weapon Charm
New “Executioner’s Duet” Melee Weapon
New “AN-94” Assault Rifle

While the premium reward track will cost players some out-of-pocket cash and include the following:

New “Nick Cage” Operator
“Elegant Transformation” Animated Calling Card
“Shedding Limits” Peacekeeper MK1 Assault Rifle Weapon Blueprint
“Get In Position!” Emote
“Snake Handler” Jäger 45 Pistol Weapon Blueprint
“Calmly Ended” Finishing Move
“Burn Into Memory” HUD Theme
“Studded Pelt” Dravec 45 SMG Weapon Blueprint
“Fiery Streak” Gunscreen
“Unlimited” Nick Cage Operator Skin

The "Summer of Action" event will feature a new Daily Login event that includes the following rewards:

1-Hour Double Player XP Token, Tier Skip
“Loaded and Locked” Emblem, Tier Skip
1-Hour Double Weapon XP Token, Tier Skip
“Air Time” Sticker, Tier Skip
1-Hour Double XP Token, Tier Skip
“Against the Odds” Calling Card, Tier Skip
“Catharsis” X9 Maverick Assault Rifle Weapon Blueprint, Tier Skip

Zombies players can also look forward to their own Kowakujō Event with rewards including weapon camos and GobbleGums.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 S4R Free Trial

Kowakujō will introduce a new enemy to BO7 Zombies, the Oni. (Image credit: Activision)

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has been a contentious entry to the franchise, with the game's psychologically-thriller style campaign deterring players who were expecting a more traditional single-player experience. However, the multiplayer has been applauded as one of the best in the franchise's modern history, mainly due to Treyarch's willingness to listen to player feedback on features like out-of-place operator skins and Skill-Based Match Making.

If you haven't yet tried out Black Ops 7's multiplayer and Zombies mode, a free trial period is coming later during the Season 4 Reloaded window to give players a chance to check out what they've been missing.

Treyarch has excelled at listening to player feedback, but still drops the ball on operator bundles

This crossover singlehandedly ruined the future of creative operator bundles in Call of Duty. (Image credit: Activision)

Call of Duty's development teams have taken quite a hit in the 'goodwill' department from fans of the franchise since the explosion of weed-themed and cel-shaded operator bundles hit the in-game store in full force during Modern Warfare 3 (2023)'s post-launch seasons. The ridiculous operator bundles and cross-overs became even more egregious with Black Ops 6, when we were stuck with the likes of cel-shaded Beavis and Butthead and American Dad operators running around.

A lot of players have hot takes about other operator bundles like Nicki Minaj or the more colorfully adorned operators, and I can almost see their point. What I, personally, find more frustrating is the out-of-universe nature of some of the crossovers. I don't expect Call of Duty to be a milsim, and I am not ashamed to say that I am first in line to scoop up a unicorn bundle or a female operator with some witchy vibes. I'm still gleefully jaunting around Black Ops Royale in the witchy raven operator bundle I purchased a few years ago, actually.

I prefer unicorns over random celebrities in Call of Duty. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Treyarch has had a spectacular year in multiplayer, where they've really made an effort to give players the Black Ops experience they've been begging for, and it has been — hands down — one of the best Black Ops multiplayers in recent memory. And yet, they just refuse to turn loose of these senseless crossovers with celebrities. It's a commitment to going against the audience that I just don't understand. Give me rainbow tracers any day of the week. It's Dave Chapelle, Nick Cage, and other out-of-universe celebrities that have me feeling like the ball is being dropped.

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"Microsoft and Xbox really hate their own customers": Xbox is porting two classic Call of Duty games to PlayStation, but haven't announced needed fixes for Xbox, PC

lowryb3865@gmail.com (Brendan Lowry) — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 20:14:11 +0000

Treyarch — the Call of Duty developer under Xbox and Activision that's created and contributed to many of the franchise's titles over the years — has announced that two of its classic games will soon be ported to PlayStation (presumably meaning 4 and 5).

The news from the studio came on Wednesday afternoon, with Treyarch revealing in a social media post that both 2010's Call of Duty: Black Ops and 2012's Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will be brought to Sony's platform in July. Both games were originally made by Treyarch, though Iron Galaxy Studios, known for its support work, will handle the process of creating modern PlayStation versions.

Black Ops and Black Ops 2 — titles released for Xbox 360, PC, and PS3 — have been playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S since 2016, soon after Microsoft began the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program. The PS4 and PS5 are not backwards compatible with PS3 games, however, so until now, the only way to play these Call of Duty titles on modern PlayStation consoles has been to stream them through PlayStation Plus Premium.

At the moment, it's unclear if those who own Black Ops and Black Ops 2 on PS3 will have ways to get the new native PlayStation port for free or transfer their progress. If they exist, they may only be available to those who have a digital copy of the shooter.

It's also presumed that the ports will hook into the games' existing server network and won't use new servers, though this hasn't been confirmed.

It's official: the original Black Ops and Black Ops 2 are being ported to PlayStation in July, courtesy of our partners at @IronGalaxy. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/uqTZ6u09B5June 17, 2026

It's great to see that PS5 and PS4 owners will finally get access to two of the most popular classic Call of Duty games without having to stream them, and that these ports are coming in just a few short weeks, too.

With that said, though, many Xbox and PC players are frustrated that the ports have been announced without mention of critical fixes for the other versions of the games that they sorely need.

Indeed, there are widespread complaints that both Black Ops and Black Ops 2 are locked to basic 720p resolution when played through Xbox Backwards Compatibility, and that hackers have infested the servers across both games on both platforms for years. Players also aren't happy that the titles aren't on Xbox Game Pass and still have DLC you have to pay for.

"Microsoft and Xbox really hate their own customers," writes one angry fan. "Yes a Xbox 360 version exists. But they are locked at 720p. They are full of hackers. After 2.75 years of the ABK acquisition they still aren't even on Game Pass. The DLCs aren't bundled in. What the f*** man."

This is yet another case of Xbox players feeling less important to the people in charge of their own platform than fans on rival consoles, and I'd argue it's quite a bad look for the brand. At the very least, Xbox, Treyarch, and Iron Galaxy should work to update Black Ops and Black Ops 2 on Xbox and PC so it's on par with the new PlayStation versions. Hopefully we'll see that happen.

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Head of Xbox's Call of Duty studio Treyarch retires after 22 years — here's who's stepping up to fill the role

lowryb3865@gmail.com (Brendan Lowry) — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 22:07:28 +0000

After 22 years at the developer, Mark Gordon — the studio head at Treyarch, one of the lead development teams at Xbox working on Call of Duty — has chosen to retire from his position at the studio and "focus on his next chapter."

Treyarch announced the news on Monday afternoon with a letter to fans on social media, celebrating Gordon's long and storied tenure at the developer while simultaneously revealing who will step up to fill his shoes.

"We're incredibly grateful to Mark for his steady guidance and deep care at the studio, its culture, and its people. Mark's impact on the franchise has been immeasurable, from Call of Duty 2: Big Red One and Call of Duty 3, to World at War and the entirety of the Black Ops series," wrote the studio.

Thank you, Mark. 🧡 pic.twitter.com/ZhgY5mXeWcJune 15, 2026

"As we look ahead, we're pleased to announce that Treyarch's Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller will step into the roles of co-studio heads," it continued. "Kevin and Yale are veterans of the franchise with decades of development and leadership experience, both bringing a wealth of deep game knowledge and a shared commitment to Treyarch's culture and creative ambition."

Hendrickson and Miller will oversee Treyarch as it contributes to the future of Call of Duty under Microsoft and Xbox, which acquired the legendary franchise when it completed its Activision Blizzard merger in 2023.

Primarily, that work will most likely include new entries in the Black Ops series, though I expect to see Treyarch helping out with other Call of Duty titles as well. Notably, it's listed as one of the contributing developers on this year's upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 from Infinity Ward.

As for Gordon himself, he's undeniably helped shape one of the most successful gaming properties in the world, and I wish him nothing but health and happiness as he moves on from Treyarch and Call of Duty.

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Want an early access code to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta? The upcoming Call of Duty Endowment Bowl is your chance to score — Here's when and how to watch

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:01:00 +0000

The Call of Duty Endowment is gearing up to celebrate the seventh annual C.O.D.E. Bowl, and it's your chance to tune in and possibly win an early access beta code for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, as well as unlock rewards for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Call of Duty: Warzone.

The Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2009 by Call of Duty publisher Activision Blizzard — now under the Xbox umbrella — that focuses on helping U.S. and U.K. military veterans find high-quality civilian careers after their service ends. Since its inception, the Call of Duty Endowment has helped more than 169,000 veterans find meaningful employment.

The Call of Duty Endowment's annual C.O.D.E. Bowl is a livestreamed event where U.S., U.K., and Canadian military esports teams come together with top Call of Duty creators to duke it out in Call of Duty: Warzone.

Content creators participating in CODE Bowl VII include Swishem, Swagg, BennyCentral, Emzy, Joewo, and Repullze. (Image credit: Activision)

How to watch C.O.D.E. Bowl VII

This year's C.O.D.E. Bowl is set to broadcast live on the official Call of Duty Twitch and YouTube channels on June 20 at 9AM PT/12PM ET from San Diego Race Weekend.

Tune in June 20 at 9AM PT/12PM ET to the official Call of Duty channels on Twitch or YouTube to watch C.O.D.E. Bowl VII and earn rewards for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone, as well as a chance at an early access beta code for Modern Warfare 4. (Image credit: Activision)

How to earn rewards during C.O.D.E. Bowl VII

Tune in to the CODE Bowl and you could unlock customization rewards for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone. (Image credit: Activision)

In addition to the chance at winning a beta code for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, those who tune in to CODE Bowl VII on June 20 can unlock cosmetic rewards for use in Call of Duty: Warzone and Black Ops 7. Those rewards include:

"Paint Trader" weapon blueprint
"Brain Bucket" weapon charm
"Burn Rubber" animated emblem
"Finish Line" spray

In order for the rewards to be available, you must first link your Activision ID to your YouTube or Twitch account.

To link your Activision account to Twitch and YouTube:

Log in to your Activision account.
Select the LINKED ACCOUNTS tab.
Select the LINK ACCOUNT button next the platform you wish to link, in this case, YouTube or Twitch.
You may need to verify your account to make changes.
After verifying your account, you will be taken to either Twitch or YouTube, respectively, to complete the linking process.

Once you've linked your Activision and Twitch or YouTube account, simply tune in on June 20 at 9AM PM/12PM ET to watch C.O.D.E. Bowl VII. The longer you watch the Call of Duty Endowment Bowl, the more rewards you unlock.

Early access beta codes for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will be broadcast throughout the event. Dates for the open beta for Modern Warfare 4 have not yet been confirmed.

If you're unable to secure an early access code to the open beta during the C.O.D.E. Bowl, don't fret — you can still unlock early access by preordering Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 ahead of its October 23 release date. Preordering also gives you access to the campaign one week early, starting October 16.

Modern Warfare 4 will launch on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation® 5, PC Battle.net, Xbox on PC, Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2. Despite being a first-party Xbox title, it will not be included on Xbox Game Pass or PC Game Pass until 1 year after launch.

Players have barely got a taste of what Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has to offer and the game is already breaking records. Preorder now to experience a brand-new thrilling campaign, reworked multiplayer, and a new DMZ experience this October. Digital preorders unlock early access to the MW4 Campaign starting on October 16.View Deal

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The wait for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 just got a little bit shorter as early access to the campaign becomes a preorder bonus

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Infinity Ward and Activision have officially confirmed another preorder bonus for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Players who preorder the game digitally will receive early access to the upcoming first-person shooter's campaign starting on October 16.

Infinity Ward officially revealed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 ahead of the June 7 Xbox Games Showcase at the end of May and has been surprisingly forthcoming in what players can expect when it launches in full on October 23. The reveal trailer for Modern Warfare 4 has racked up an astounding 58 million views on YouTube in just two weeks, already surpassing the 49 million views of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 reveal trailer from nine months ago.

Since the initial reveal, Infinity Ward has released several devlogs detailing the studio's philosophy behind the new game, and a proper reveal of the upcoming third mode, DMZ, was part of the Xbox Games Showcase. There are still a lot of details left unknown about Modern Warfare 4's campaign, however. Players last left the characters of the Modern Warfare franchise grappling with the death of Soap MacTavish at the hands of series antagonist, Makarov, while a post-credits scene showed beloved character Captain Price take out General Shepherd in his office at the end of Sledgehammer Games' Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Infinity Ward has shifted the focus of the campaign for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 to Private Park, a young soldier enlisted in the South Korean military who is faced with live combat when North Korea launches a full-scale invasion of the South.

Barry Sloane reprises his role as Captain Price in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. (Image credit: Activision)

While the war between North and South Korea serves as the front lines of the campaign, players will see Captain Price return in a new light as he is fueled by the need for revenge of Soap's death. In the reveal trailer, players see a scene between fan-favorite Simon "Ghost" Riley and Captain Price where the two appear to be adversaries. Ghost claims Price has "broken a lot of rules", to which Price replies, "No more rules."

We also know from the reveal trailer that Captain Price has teamed up with former TF141 adversary Valeria "El Sin Nombre" Garza as he seeks a powerful weapon that could ultimately shift the balance of power.

Spoilers for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 have become a hot topic as the developers at Infinity Ward have openly discussed the game's storyline in great detail as part of the reveal of the DMZ mode. With the campaign now serving as a preorder bonus, players who wait until launch or just after are at an even greater risk of spoilers from those who unlock access early by preordering.

The first look at Simon "Ghost" Riley's Vault Edition operator skin for Modern Warfare 4. (Image credit: Activision)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is available to preorder now at participating retailers, in-game, on platform stores, or at CallofDuty.com. The game launches on October 23, with campaign early access for preorders kicking off on October 16, and will be available on XBOX Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via XBOX on PC, Steam, and Battle.net. It is the first Call of Duty title to not be available on last-gen consoles.

Despite being a first-party XBOX title, Modern Warfare 4 will not be available on XBOX Game Pass or PC Game Pass until October 23, 2027 as part of a recent move by XBOX to cut the price of the subscription service.

The Vault Edition for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 includes the base game — complete with the campaign, multiplayer, and access to DMZ — as well as additional content that includes the Hostile Alliance Operator Pack, Special Forces Operator Pack, Signature Weapon Collection, 1 Season of BlackCell, and a DMZ Deployment Bonus. Preordering also unlocks early access to the Open Beta ahead of the game's launch, and 1 week of early access to the Campaign.View Deal

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Welcome to Hajin — Here's everything you need to know about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's new take on DMZ

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 15:01:00 +0000

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 developers Infinity Ward revealed new information about the upcoming first-person shooter's dedicated third mode, DMZ, ahead of the 2026 Xbox Game Showcase, part of this year's Summer Game Fest activities.

The new mode will embrace the extraction shooter genre, adding a new set of gameplay options to the franchise's standard Campaign and Multiplayer offerings.

Four years ago, Infinity Ward released its first attempt at an extraction-genre mode with the initial DMZ Beta. The DMZ Beta launched for free as part of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022) and Warzone 2.0 package. The Infinity Ward team described the original DMZ beta as "a crazy experiment" that "quickly became a proving ground and a test bed... through seasonal updates and live experiments."

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's third mode, DMZ, will see players infiltrating a map named Hajin, which will feature dynamic weather with a variety of story missions and randomized events. (Image credit: Activision)

Studio Multiplayer Creative Director for Infinity Ward, Geoff Smith, said that watching the extraction shooter genre grow, as well as data from the initial DMZ beta, helped the team to learn what resonated with players and what the mode was lacking in its earliest state.

"All that knowledge and those action items became this foundation for us as we were shaping up this new vision of DMZ from the ground up," said Smith.

Infinity Ward's new take on DMZ has been crafted with a rich story — crafted by the studio's single-player narrative team — that picks up after the events of the Campaign and ties directly into the existing Modern Warfare universe and lore.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 DMZ — Hajin

The new extraction sandbox is set in the Korean city of Hajin, an area that has been affected by a nuclear reactor meltdown, creating a demilitarized zone polluted by radiation. Players will find Hajin marked with increasingly dangerous AI threats, environmental puzzles, and narrative story missions that make the world feel more like a game within a game than just a simple third mode.

Before infil to Hajin, players begin at the DMZ's forward operating base, a hub for player progression where you can manage gear, squad up, and prepare for combat. Each player is an off-book asset working for the CIA, scouring the DMZ for military tech to capture and neutralize. But there are other rogue agents to watch out for.

DMZ's Hajin map will launch with nine distinct points of interest:

Hajin City
Casino
Fallout
Hospital
Military Base
Farmlands
Prison
Broadcast
Town

From sunshine to fog to rain to snow, the weather in Hajin will lighten and intensify throughout a match. (Image credit: Activision)

Three different countries converge to create the DMZ map, Hajin — a South Korean exclusion that has been hit the hardest by the radiation, makes up the majority of the map, while parts of North Korea and Russia also lend themselves to the mode's stage.

Hajin creates a living world for DMZ, where players can look in the sky to see air carriers moving cargo overhead or intercept convoys moving throughout the world, but it's also a living world that is affected by dynamic weather conditions.

Some infils will drop you into a Hajin that is bright and sunny, while others can have you standing in the rain or obscure your vision with dense fog. The weather itself is not always severe; it can intensify or lighten up as your time in Hajin progresses.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 DMZ — Progression and gameplay

Players can encounter roaming convoys and other events throughout the DMZ. (Image credit: Activision)

Before you can infiltrate Hajin, you must first choose what activities you want to experience while you're in the DMZ. Players can choose from Story Missions, Dynamic Missions, or Free Roam when loading into the zone.

Infinity Ward has shared that the story missions for the DMZ were crafted by the Modern Warfare 4 single player team and built upon the world experienced by players in the campaign. Dynamic Missions provide squads with a randomized checklist of activities to explore while in the DMZ, while Free Roam turns players loose to find their own activities.

Those who are queuing up without a full squad, but have squad fill on, will be matched with players who are queuing for the same tasks. For example, if you have a group of three and are looking to play a Story Mission while in the DMZ, the random player who is added to fill out your squad will also be someone who was searching to join for a Story Mission, minimizing the risk that your random squad mates might leave you hanging high and dry if you they don't want to play the same tasks as your group.

However, not all players in the DMZ will be performing the same mission as your squad. You may have signed up to free roam, but you may encounter other players who are attempting to complete story missions. The DMZ operates on a "Same world, same time" premise, where squads are grouped together by tasks, but the world itself is populated with players who all have a variety of goals.

DMZ offers PvPvE gameplay across story missions, dynamic missions, and free roam. (Image credit: Activision)

Team members from Infinity Ward described the studio's philosophy for DMZ as "You push, and the world pushes back." Players will encounter various convoys and air traffic that can pose challenges for their squads, but only if they are willing to engage with them. Infinity Ward has baked in stealth mechanics that can serve as 'kill switches' for activated events, giving the player a chance to duck out from roaming encounters.

Run-ins with other players, however, are more difficult to escape. As players work their way up the food chain, earning player kills and making a name for themselves amongst the DMZ leaderboards, they may become subject to bounties. Players with bounties drop a dog tag that can be exfilled from the DMZ for a reward. Would-be bounty hunters can pay for intel on marked operators within their match, similar to how bounties of the past have played out in Call of Duty: Warzone.

Do you think you can survive if a bounty is placed on you mid-match in the DMZ? (Image credit: Activision)

Standard Call of Duty multiplayer fans might be wondering what the big deal is with having a bounty placed on you in the DMZ, and the answer to that leads us to player progression in the zone. Unlike multiplayer or resurgence modes, where spawning is free and virtually unlimited, players' progress in the DMZ is tied to operators similar to Black Ops 7's Endgame progression system.

Each operator has a set skill tree that players can unlock according to their own preferences, and players can have multiple operators in order to experience a variety of gameplay styles. Operator death in the DMZ is semi-permanent: downed operators lose their current gear within the DMZ, and after the match, the lost operator becomes MIA. Based on those operators' unlocked traits and the player's stats, a cash value is assigned to that operator that the player must pay if they want to bring them back from being MIA.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's DMZ progression is dedicated to the DMZ mode and is not impacted by gameplay in other Call of Duty modes.

When and how to play DMZ

Looting crafting materials is important to player progression in Modern Warfare 4's DMZ. (Image credit: Activision)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Battle.Net, Steam, PlayStation 5, and the Nintendo Switch 2 on Friday, October 23, 2026. DMZ is a dedicated third-mode, and — unlike its predecessor, which released as a beta — it is not expected to be free as part of the Call of Duty: Warzone package.

Those who want to infiltrate Hajin will need to pick up Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 to do so, as the game will not be included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscriptions until at least one-year post-launch.

Infinity Ward has shared a considerable amount of information about Modern Warfare 4's development since its initial reveal on May 28, with a recent dev talk going into detail about the game's audio development. We've taken the time to break down every multiplayer map and mode confirmed for Modern Warfare 4, new create-a-class and movement details, as well as give impressions on our time hands-on with the game.

For even more info about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, check out our interview with Infinity Ward ahead of the game's reveal.

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"Defining Modern Warfare by its sound signatures": The latest sneak peek into this year's Call of Duty shows off soundscapes powered by Microsoft Triton tech

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:55:06 +0000

When Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard in 2022, there was rampant speculation of how Xbox's control of the popular first-person shooter franchise, Call of Duty, would affect the game's development.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 developer Infinity Ward's latest episode of the behind-the-scenes series, From the Ward, gives us one clue.

Studio audio director Stephen Miller shared details on Infinity Ward's use of Microsoft Triton — an immersive sound propagation project previously used for first-party Xbox titles Gears of War and Sea of Thieves — to produce a more realistic soundscape for Modern Warfare 4.

Microsoft's Triton audio tech takes the geometry of game maps to pre-bake in audio reverb, causing players to hear reliable audio reflections that are relative to their placement on the map.

With complex models consisting of the actual wave physics of sound propagation through complex 3D spaces, replacing expensive wave simulation tech with a more streamlined baking that precomputes on static visual 3D geometry to more accurately represent the way sound waves move in space. Where obstructions like a concrete wall would dampen and muffle speech in real life, so too will it affect hearing speech through a wall in Modern Warfare 4.

This technology affects all of the game's audio, from weapon fire to the sound of an exhausted magazine dropping to the floor on reload. But it doesn't just stop there; it also impacts proximity chat, giving players a new way to utilize audio for situational awareness during multiplayer matches.

Playing with your TV on too loud, with a chirping smoke detector in the background, or chatting it up on a hot mic just might be what gives you away in the heat of battle.

Infinity Ward shared footage of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 in development using Microsoft's Triton technology for immersive audio. (Image credit: Activision)

"Prox chat is now really in the world," says Miller, "In previous games, it was still this 2D sound that played in stereo like it was through a radio. Now the people are going to actually be in the environment. So that means affected by reverb, affected by occlusion, which is a building or wall that is in your way."

Project Triton isn't the only engine powering Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's audio, however. Infinity Ward has paired Triton with its own Convolution tech, which Miller states has been used to record over 200 impulse responses for Modern Warfare 4 alone — effectively creating a more immersive soundscape.

From the sound of an empty mag dropping to the floor to the explosive blast from a tank shell, Infinity Ward's sound team captured live audio for everything possible to create a more immersive experience. (Image credit: Activision)

Infinity Ward's sound team has traveled to several locations to capture audio for every weapon in the game — both loud and suppressed — as well as audio for helicopters, tanks, bullet impacts, and even explosions. To capture as much sound as possible, stereo and mono microphones were strategically placed both on the weapons being recorded and up to 200 yards away.

"We are trying to create our own realism for the game," says Miller, "It is defining what is Modern Warfare by its sound signatures."

Following Treyarch's hyperfuturistic Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, the team behind Modern Warfare has pushed the game's more realistic boots-on-the-ground gameplay and style. From promising to forgo "clowny skins" to changes in movement and innovative multiplayer maps, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's dev team has been very vocal about the studio's desire to create a grittier experience.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is available to preorder now on Xbox, PC, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch 2, which grants access to the game's open beta ahead of the October 23 release date.

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“Globetrotting is a key part of Modern Warfare”: Here’s what we know about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer maps and modes for launch

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:05:38 +0000

The Call of Duty franchise has had to tread a thin line in recent years, with a player base constantly pulling the development teams in conflicting directions. Among the divisive topics is the annual map rotation.

The question of whether or not Call of Duty should launch with remastered maps from yesteryear or the number of maps that are available regularly dominates the conversation around a new launch.

While last year’s Black Ops 7 launched with a robust map rotation that featured some remasters of nostalgic offerings from the past, this year’s Call of Duty title from Infinity Ward has forgone the remastered maps at launch strategy and is instead swinging out of the gate with all-new, never-before-seen maps.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 — Confirmed multiplayer maps

Here are the maps confirmed to be coming to Modern Warfare 4’s multiplayer mode at launch:

Silkworm
Reactor J92
Rooftop
Mumbai
Lithium
Munition
Caschette
Nautical
Lotus
Sentry
Coal
Transit 23
Korean Nuclear Reactor (KNR)
Kill Block

In an interview prior to the reveal of Modern Warfare 4, Infinity Ward’s multiplayer team confirmed that many of the maps coming at launch were based on locations and events from the campaign. Specifically, the maps were approached as if they were “2 blocks down” from the campaign events, with a separate fire team engaging in combat parallel to the events of the campaign.

The first to come to life under that concept was Silkworm, which — in combination with the upcoming map of a coastal Korean town, Lotus — afforded the team the opportunity to generate rural and urban assets of South Korean towns that could be used logistically throughout both the campaign, multiplayer, and DMZ.

During a prebriefing with press, studio and multiplayer leads spoke candidly about the map design process and the importance of making sure that each map feels distinct, with its own personality and flair.

The team emphasized the importance of clearer sight lines, reduced visual clutter, and more intentional engagements to ensure that players were taking on human opponents rather than fighting the environment.

Geoff Smith, Studio Multiplayer Creative Director for Infinity Ward, showed some of the behind the scenes work on the dynamic map, Kill Block, for Modern Warfare 4. (Image credit: Activision)

However, one map does throw a wrench into the game. Kill Block is specifically designed to be a dynamic map that changes with each round of a match. Studio Multiplayer Creative Director Geoff Smith was inspired to design Kill Block based on the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid. This unique stadium has a retractable pitch, which allows its playing field to be rotated out to meet various event needs via a complicated underground system.

To create Kill Block, the team reimagined the battlefield as three separate slabs. The center slab is called the hero slab and serves as the anchor, but the layout of Kill Block updates live throughout round-based matches. This randomized rotation ensures that no two matches ever feel the same.

Smith has confirmed in a devlog that the team has enough assets to potentially generate over 900 slab combinations for Kill Block. However, at launch, the team is aiming for 500 live combinations — with more coming post-launch, including possible throwbacks to recognizable locations from past Modern Warfare titles.

Kill Block’s footprint is the same as that of the former fan-favorite, Shoot House. From experience playing it during an early preview, the map scratched the itch for those of us looking for quick, risky engagements and some good, old small map mayhem. Kill Block will support all core multiplayer modes at launch.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 — Confirmed multiplayer modes

Some game modes are just destined to be in a Call of Duty title, but there’s always the potential for a new mode to become a beloved addition to the rotation, as well. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is confirmed to launch with the following modes:

Team Deathmatch
Domination
Hardpoint
Kill Confirmed
Counter Attack
Inflation
Hijack
Gunfight 10v10
Party modes
- Gun Game
- Drop Zone
Big War
- Combat Outposts
- Frontal Assault

Team Deathmatch, forever a staple of Call of Duty’s multiplayer playlist roster, is expected to return, but the team at Infinity Ward has taken a little creative liberty with the TDM spinoff mode Inflation. Inflation will challenge teams of six players to take each other out, but with the added risk and reward of a bounty.

Taking out a player drops cash on the ground, which can be picked up to add to the team’s tally. Players carrying high amounts of cash on their person become high-value targets for an extra challenge. The team holding the most cash at the end of the match runs away with the victory.

The popular Gunfight mode has also gotten some tweaks for Modern Warfare 4. Each match will be be roundbased, with each player assigned a randomized loadout. But the randomization doesn’t stop there. Gunfight 10v10 will pit two teams of ten players each against each other on the new Kill Block map, which also randomizes each round. It’s every bit as hectic as it sounds, but a word of warning for the run-and-gunners: tread lightly or spend the entire match spectating your teammates!

Following the first reveal of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Infinity Ward has been surprisingly forthcoming with additional details about what players can look forward to during the game’s launch window.

However, there is still plenty left to learn as we wait for the game’s release on October 23. If you’re already sold on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 with the info that is already out there, though, you can go ahead and preorder both the standard edition and the Vault Edition now.

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Modern Warfare 4 gameplay shows off the new movement system and first look at Create-a-Class emerges

Adam Hales — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:20:40 +0000

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is here. Set during a North Korean invasion of South Korea, the team behind the game, Infinity Ward, is promising a more grounded Call of Duty. Perhaps those promises are working, as the game's reveal trailer has now surpassed 46 million views in just two days.

Thanks to several posts on X (formerly Twitter), we now have a fresh look at the game's movement system. Since X embeds never seem to work, thanks Elon, I'll attach a YouTube video below instead.

As you can see from the gameplay above, movement appears much faster than in Modern Warfare 2 and noticeably smoother too. Players can jump, mantle, tac-sprint, and then slide almost immediately, while mantling doesn't seem to break momentum in any meaningful way.

While it doesn't look quite as extreme as omni-movement, it still appears to offer a fair amount of freedom, even when players are prone. One addition that particularly stood out to me was the ability to climb pipes, which adds a new layer to gameplay that we haven't really seen before and opens up new opportunities for flanking.

It does also appear that slide canceling has returned, but it does seem more restrictive than the previous game, which I’m sure is all part of Infinity Ward's efforts to make the game feel as responsive as possible without just making you move faster.

MW4's new Create-a-class system. (Image credit: Activision)

What I do also like is the new Create-a-Class. It's refreshing to get a redesign of a system we've been using for years, and I think it looks much better to me. It features a new vertical layout, as you can see, and interestingly, it appears you can now assign specific operators to individual classes. It also shows there are now three weapon slots: a primary, a secondary, and a dedicated melee weapon slot.

I also like how much cleaner the overall layout looks. Everything seems easier to read at a glance, and having killstreaks displayed alongside your loadout should make it quicker to see exactly how a class is set up before jumping into a match.

It's still early days, and my mind isn't quite made up on Modern Warfare 4 yet. The developers are promising a more grounded experience with "No Lady Gaga," as they put it, and after not really enjoying Black Ops 7, this could be the game that pulls me back in. Thankfully, I've got until October to make up my mind.

But what about you? Has Infinity Ward managed to pull you in, and what do you think of the movement changes and updates to Create-a-Class?

Let me know in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll below:

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"No Lady Gaga. No Omni-Man." Call of Duty doubles down on grounded Modern Warfare 4

Adam Hales — Sun, 31 May 2026 13:22:51 +0000

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is Infinity Ward's latest entry in the Call of Duty franchise, and it's already making quite a splash. The reveal trailer alone has surpassed 40 million views, and the developers are planning to fix one of the franchise's most frustrating issues while also leaving last-generation consoles behind.

I mean, I'm kind of intrigued. If not for myself, then at least for my dad.

Now, we've got another reason to pay attention. The developers have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to push back against the idea of wacky multiplayer skins, instead promising a more grounded Call of Duty experience. As someone who has grown tired of some of the more outlandish collaborations in recent years, that certainly caught my attention, so let's take a look at the details.

In a post on X, Infinity Ward stated:

“Every aspect of Modern Warfare 4 is anchored in the game's narrative. Every feature, every decision needs to feel authentic to what Modern Warfare is, and that includes cosmetics and collabs. We're committed to keeping it grounded and transparent, and we want to hear from you on what you'd like to see in our game.”

Many fans were quick to take a "believe it when I see it" stance, as this isn't the first time Call of Duty has pushed back against wacky skins, only for them to appear later down the line.

One fan, however, took things a step further, quote-reposting the post and saying:

“Screenshot this tweet to throw at their faces whenever they decide to toss in Lady Gaga, Omni-Man, or some other goofy collaboration into the game.”

To that, the official Call of Duty X account replied:

“No Lady Gaga. No Omni-Man. No Teletubbies. No SpongeBob. Keep the receipts.”

It's nice to see, but I'm also in the camp of "believe it when I see it." I used to love Call of Duty back in the day, but I must admit I've grown a bit tired of the franchise's yearly releases.

That's not to say they can't win me back, though. Modern Warfare 4 has certainly made an impression so far, and if Infinity Ward sticks to its word, that only makes the game more interesting to me.

But what about you? How do you feel about the comments made by the team? Is it enough to sway you, or are you not interested at all?

Let me know in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll!

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 dev Infinity Ward says it plans to fix one of the franchise's most annoying issues — I hope it stays gone forever

lowryb3865@gmail.com (Brendan Lowry) — Fri, 29 May 2026 21:31:00 +0000

Those who've played new Call of Duty games in the past several years are no doubt familiar with the "Update requires restart" notices you'll frequently get whenever the franchise's client goes through a patch. As the popup says, you have to completely close and restart the game every time this happens.

It's a major annoyance that players have had to contend with for ages now, regardless of whether they're playing on Xbox, PC, or PS5. It's particularly irksome when Call of Duty gets several updates in a short amount of time, and players have reported getting stuck in loops where they're continuously forced to restart the game over and over before as well.

Fans have hoped for a change to how the client handles updates for years now, but sadly, one has never come. At long last, though the developer of the next entry in the franchise has reportedly confirmed that it's taking a swing at the issue.

Indeed, Infinity Ward — the studio behind Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, the newly unveiled title that's scheduled to launch across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, PS5, and Switch 2 on October 23 later this year — has confirmed it intends to get rid of post-update restart requirements with the new game, according to a report from the credible Call of Duty news outlet CharlieIntel.

Separately, we can also confirm that the developer plans to move updates to shaders into updates that are performed while Call of Duty is closed. This means that you'll no longer have to compile shaders in-game on PC, and can get right into the action once you boot the client up.

Infinity Ward officially confirmed they are looking to end “update requires restart” starting with Modern Warfare 4 pic.twitter.com/6SA8ZscFHNMay 28, 2026

In the grand scheme of things, these hardly seem like big issues — and ultimately, they're not. Nevertheless, they're still frustrating and tedious hiccups in the experience, and over time, dealing with them has become quite grating for many. Thus, it's great news that Infinity Ward plans to address them, and I'm glad to finally see something being done.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 itself is all-but-guaranteed to be one of Microsoft's biggest Xbox games this year, and surprised fans of the series with its overall premise and setting. Though it's a direct continuation of where 2023's Modern Warfare 3 left off, the story will take players to South Korea and puts them in the boots of a young South Korean soldier amidst an abrupt and overwhelming North Korean invasion.

The game sports a focus on more grounded action compared to Black Ops 7, and what we've seen of it thus far looks fantastic in terms of graphical fidelity — a benefit of the game not launching on last-gen consoles, no doubt. For more details on the multiplayer experience, maps, weapons, and overall development, I recommend reading our recent interview with Infinity Ward. There's lots of juicy and interesting info in it, such as a deep dive into how the new "Gunny" system for attachment combinations.

It's also worth noting that unlike the last two Call of Duty games, Modern Warfare 4 won't be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch. It will likely come to the service a year after launch; Microsoft has taken day-one availability away to significantly cut the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

Excited for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4? Share how you're feeling about it below.

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Xbox is sunsetting Call of Duty: Warzone alongside Modern Warfare 4 on last-gen Xbox One and PS4 consoles — and the last day to download is just a week away

lowryb3865@gmail.com (Brendan Lowry) — Thu, 28 May 2026 18:47:52 +0000

I figured that we wouldn't see Microsoft and Xbox announce the next Call of Duty game until the big upcoming Xbox Games Showcase on June 7, but it and developer Infinity Ward decided to go ahead and reveal it a week and a half before the presentation. Indeed, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has officially been unveiled, and is headed to Xbox, Windows PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch 2 on October 23 later this year.

Ahead of its announcement, we knew the game wasn't going to be released on PS4 from an official confirmation of that on social media, and most guessed that Modern Warfare 4 wouldn't be on Xbox One either since it's a last-gen system too — a prediction that turned out to be true.

Something a bit more surprising, though, is the news that Call of Duty: Warzone — the standalone free-to-play battle royale experience that's been a mainstay of the shooter franchise since 2020 — is being sunset from Xbox One and PS4 consoles with the arrival of Modern Warfare 4.

The Call of Duty team announced this near the end of its Modern Warfare 4 reveal blog, noting that Warzone will be gradually phased out on last-gen platforms until the new game's release and the start of Season 1, at which point Modern Warfare 4's content and progression will be integrated into Warzone and the battle royale will be fully taken off Xbox One and PS4.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 won't be playable on last-gen Xbox and PlayStation consoles, and its arrival will mark the end of Warzone's availability on them as well. (Image credit: Activision)

Something important to note is that while existing Warzone players will have access to the experience until Modern Warfare 4 comes out on October 23, the ability to download and install Warzone on Xbox One and PS4 is going away next week on June 4.

That means you only have a few days to pick Warzone up before it's delisted from storefronts if you're using one of these systems and want to be able to enjoy it for the last few months it's playable on last-gen consoles. If that's you, I recommend doing this right away so you don't forget.

Once Warzone is no longer playable on Xbox One and PS4, you won't be able to purchase the Call of Duty Points microtransaction currency on those platforms. Additionally, from June 25 onwards, Warzone's in-game store will be removed from last-gen versions of the game. You'll still be able to progress through free Battle Pass tiers, though.

Ultimately, this is disappointing news if you're still playing on one of these consoles, but they're now 13 years old now, and I have no doubt that their limited capabilities were holding back the scope of Call of Duty content. Therefore, I'm glad to see that the series is finally moving past them, though I do sympathize with folks that haven't been able to afford or find Xbox Series X|S or PS5 systems.

Frankly, it's never been easy to do, and has only gotten more difficult with the ongoing RAM crisis. Here's hoping that mess ends as soon as it can, even if current projections suggest we'll be dealing with it for another year or two.

Are you still using a last-gen console to play Call of Duty: Warzone? I'm curious to hear from you, so let me know in the comments and vote in our poll.

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Infinity Ward has officially unveiled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 — and I went hands-on with multiplayer

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Finally. We have confirmation that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is the official title for Infinity Ward's next release in the ongoing annual Call of Duty franchise. Infinity Ward has confirmed that Modern Warfare 4, which is expected to launch this fall, has been designed around a "ripped from the headlines" philosophy, with gritty and authentic characters that are intended to feel real and not superhero-like.

Here's a quick breakdown of everything revealed for MW4 so far.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 campaign details

The campaign for Modern Warfare 4 will take a look at the fallout of events spurred on by Captain Price and how that fallout effects a hybrid Korean and US Marine squad stationed in Seoul. (Image credit: Activision)

The last Call of Duty players saw of Captain Price, the popular character, had just shot US General Shepherd in his office during a post-credit scene for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023).

At the start of Modern Warfare 4, players will experience the ramifications of that action, as Price is now on the run and running short on allies. But Price and Task Force 141 are not the only squadron we'll see in Modern Warfare 4.

The story will also center on a second team of 18-25-year-old soldiers in a squadron that consists of both Korean soldiers and US Marines. These soldiers will have fully realized stories and names.

The Modern Warfare 4 campaign combines the story of (Image credit: Activision)

The second team allows Infinity Ward to recenter the Modern Warfare story on a team of grunts, as opposed to the spec ops soldiers that have been the central focus of the story in recent entries.

"For us, we wanted to refresh Modern Warfare, and to do that, we needed to go to a new setting," says Infinity Ward co-studio head Jack O'Hara. O'Hara says that choosing South Korea as the setting for MW4 was exciting for the team, as it offered the opportunity to introduce new architecture and cultural influences to the series.

Modern Warfare 4's campaign will feature 13 missions across three acts, taking players to memorable locations like New York City and Paris, as well as new destinations like Mumbai.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer details

Modern Warfare 4 will introduce changes to movement tech, including ledge shimmies and dynamic leans. (Image credit: Activision)

Gritty, boots-on-the-ground gameplay is the theme for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Infinity Ward's studio multiplayer creative directors Joe Cecot and Geoff Smith shared a mantra for Modern Warfare 4's multiplayer experience, describing it as "Slick and sophisticated" with "cinematic firefights" that perfectly balance realism and dynamic worlds for fluid, fun gameplay.

One such way that the studio has pulled off this mantra is by introducing a new shockwave mechanic and adding more interactive items throughout multiplayer levels. If a player shoots at a fire hydrant, for example, enemy players in the blast radius can be impacted by the explosion.

If the explosion is non-lethal to the enemy player, it will still cause them to be knocked back. This shockwave feature expands to grenades, as well.

New animations and movement mechanics will change the way players interact with obstacles on multiplayer maps. (Image credit: Activision)

Infinity Ward has also further expanded on Modern Warfare 4's animations and movement systems. Some movement tech originally introduced with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's omnimovement has transitioned into Modern Warfare. Features like supine prone have been tweaked to be even more dynamic.

Players will be able to transition smoothly from a slide to descending down a ladder in Modern Warfare 4, making for faster escapes from sketchy situations.

Mantling has also gotten yet another boost, with MW4 allowing players to transition instantly from a mantle into a slide. This mechanic works best when clambering over an object like a vehicle, and then instantly hitting a slide after disembarking.

Dynamic leaning and ledge shimmies round out the new movement tech coming to MW4. One thing that will be missing from Infinity Ward's take on advanced movement is the ability to wall jump. Introduced with Treyarch's Black Ops 7 launch in 2025, the ability to wall jump will be left behind in favor of a more grounded approach to combat.

Player loadouts and the Gunsmith get a makeover for Modern Warfare 4, introducing Gunny the weapon build generator and more robust create-a-class systems that are tied to the Operator of your choosing. (Image credit: Activision)

Create-a-class gets a much-needed makeover for the better in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Previous Call of Duty titles only allowed players to edit their base loadout using create-a-class, but now deeper customization gives the player the freedom to create classes tied to specific operator skins. Choose an operator in a ghillie suit for your sniper class, build out your weapon, pick 3 perks, and then choose your preferred killstreaks.

Want to run and gun, instead? Create your second class with your favorite Operator and go for an SMG loadout heavy on perks like Ghost, Ninja, and Cold-Blooded. Pair it with some high-value killstreaks that don't require you to leave your body alone on the battlefield, and watch your Elimination to Death Ratio skyrocket.

In an effort to find and secure its own identity for Modern Warfare, Infinity Ward has eschewed Treyarch's previous weapon prestige system. Instead, the development team has introduced Apex attachments, an unlockable reward for each weapon that only becomes available after hitting that weapon's max level.

Apex attachments can be added to your weapon without taking away any of the five standard-issue slots available for attachments, and have significant advantages that can change your experience on the battlefield. An underbarrel attachment that launches a trio of throwing knives, a heartbeat monitor built into your weapon's sight, and more can be equipped to your weapons — that is, if you can earn them.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will launch with 24 weapons, hundreds of attachment combinations, 11 lethals, 9 tacticals, 17 killstreaks, and 11 field upgrade options for your loadout. If you're feeling overwhelmed about how to choose your next weapon, the Gunny feature can be found in the Gunsmith. Gunny will generate a viable weapon build from the player's list of available attachments and weapons at the press of a button.

Infinity Ward aims to cement a gritty, realistic identity (Image credit: Activision)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will launch with 12 game modes for multiplayer, including fan favorites like Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Hardpoint. New modes like Inflation and Counterattack will also be available at launch. Gun Game and Drop Zone will return as party offerings, with more modes planned for after launch.

Launch maps include:

Silkworm
Reactor J92
Rooftop
Mumbai
Caschette
Nautical
Lotus
Sentry
Coal
Transit 23
Korean Nuclear Reactor (KNR)

All the maps for Modern Warfare 4 are brand new, so fans of Shipment and Shoothouse may initially feel left out. Fear not, Infinity Ward isn't leaving us small map junkies out of the rotation — the brand new dynamic map, Kill Block, will provide a Shoothouse-sized playground that changes dynamically throughout the match.

Inspired by sports stadiums with retractable flooring systems that allow them to rotate between football fields, basketball stadiums, and hockey rinks all in one, Kill Block is a live fire training facility with three slabs that shift throughout the rounds of the match. There are over 500 combinations for Kill Block, ensuring plenty of small map variety, and some map slabs may even be reminiscent of locations seen in Modern Warfare's past.

Killstreaks in Modern Warfare 4 have been adjusted to provide more lethal options at lower tiers. (Image credit: Activision)

Prestige will return in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, but with a significant change. Infinity Ward has offered two new tracks for Prestige. Classic Prestige allows players to give up their unlocks for XP boosts and additional rewards, while the second option for prestige allows players to keep their unlocks while continuing to progress through the level track — albeit without receiving prestige-only unlocks.

Hands-on impressions of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer

I had the chance to play through a few matches of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's multiplayer during a recent event. (Image credit: Activision)

Activision and Infinity Ward gave content creators and press a brief preview window during which we had the opportunity to play through a few matches of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's multiplayer modes.

After two years with the Call of Duty: Black Ops series, Modern Warfare 4's movement system is decidedly slower. Even with improved mechanics for sliding and mantling, the boots-on-the-ground experience Infinity Ward was aiming for is very present. There were still plenty of players attempting to wall jump, and there were some rogue instances of players trying to revive the long-lost art of bunny hopping around corners, but weapon balance and dynamic lean mechanics managed to bridge the gap.

Bunny hopping in multiplayer has long been a pet peeve of mine, and I'm not surprised to see that become the go-to strat for players who are looking for advanced movement in a more grounded environment, but I'm still going to hope that Infinity Ward adds in some deterrents for it somewhere down the line. Loss of aim accuracy, slower recovery from the jump to sprinting, or some other limitation on the player coming out of the hop can help a lot.

I do feel as though Infinity Ward's grounded movement has led to better map design, as well. Black Ops 7's maps feel almost comically large at times, especially as they're designed to allow for wall jumps and extreme slides. Modern Warfare 4's corridors feel more imposing, as you can run up on an enemy with a close-range weapon and truly find yourself without an out. It adds more tension to encounters and movement, and makes successful gunfights feel rewarding.

I was surprised and genuinely impressed by the design of Kill Block, the dynamic Shoothouse-sized map. It's easy to get lost in the details of a map's design when it does something as unusual as shift layouts every round. From the description alone, I was expecting a mode that was a little more gimmicky, but instead I found myself thoroughly enjoying the chaos and challenge of an ever-evolving battleground.

There's still so much we have yet to see from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and I have no doubt that the shock of going from BO7 to MW4 movement is going to throw the community into a bit of a tailspin. But for those of us craving a little bit of nostalgia and more thoughtful, tactical gameplay engagements, Modern Warfare 4 certainly looks promising.

For more on my time at Infinity Ward's studio, check out my interview with the Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer team.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 third mode: DMZ is back!

As part of today's reveal of Modern Warfare 4, Infinity Ward officially confirmed the DMZ is coming back this year.Activision

The original DMZ mode for Modern Warfare 2 (2022) launched in Beta as a PvPvE mode.Activision

The team has been tight-lipped on the extraction mode coming later this year with Modern Warfare 4.Activision

As part of today's reveal for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Infinity Ward has confirmed that the DMZ will return as MW4's third mode this fall. Infinity Ward has declared DMZ the 'definitive Call of Duty extraction experience", taking place within a living combat sandbox that is always shifting, with changing weather, dynamic military objectives, and hostile forces.

Every run is a risk as you loot, fight, negotiate, and betray in order to extract whatever you can carry. Infinity Ward was light on any additional details pertaining to the DMZ, so we'll likely have to wait for either a Call of Duty Direct sometime in the future or for this year's Call of Duty Next event to learn more.

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"I think we're in a good place": Infinity Ward's multiplayer team talks with us about the development of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Call of Duty has had a rollercoaster ride the last two years. Treyarch’s initial release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in 2024 felt like lightning in a bottle.

The game’s new omnimovement system and snappy time-to-kill were the high-octane action-heavy gameplay that many vocal fans in online Call of Duty communities had been begging for.

And yet, the excitement for Black Ops’ return quickly fizzled out after the launch of the first round of seasonal content.

Players were being thrown into lobbies that were heavily impacted by rampant cheating, and Treyarch ultimately had to delay the planned content drop for Season 2 for an all-hands-on-deck rework of the proprietary anti-cheat system, RICOCHET.

Just as the ship felt like it was beginning to right itself, Treyarch announced that it would be releasing Black Ops 7 as a direct sequel to Black Ops 6. The community was divided on the decision to forgo the head-studio rotation it was accustomed to.

Additionally, a rift formed between Zombies players who wanted Activision’s Carry Forward policy to allow them to take unlocked Zombies skins to the new game versus Multiplayer fans who — fed up with some of the more ridiculous operator bundles that were plaguing the storefront — were ready to make Carry Forward a sacrificial lamb if it let them get rid of Beavis and Butthead from the battlefield.

I feel like we have this really strong identity that we’re shooting for with this game. Someone who gets their hands on it is going to feel [that identity] right away.
Jack Hoppus, Technical Designer for Infinity Ward

The launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 did little to mend the hearts of the community, as some took issue with the game’s more experimental campaign. However, Treyarch’s efforts to cater to the whims of Multiplayer fans won over a portion of gamers. Still, the game ultimately struggled to find its footing when compared to its predecessors.

Black Ops 7’s launch woes led to its publisher, Microsoft-owned Activision, reconsidering release schedules and returning to the classic studio rotation of the past. Xbox’s new CEO, Asha Sharma, also announced the game would no longer launch day one on the Xbox Game Pass service in an effort to alleviate the negative feedback following the subscription’s freshly increased price — though patient players can still expect to see it included with the service 1 year after launch.

Despite the hurdles in front of Infinity Ward, there’s an obvious pride among the team members when they talk about the newly revealed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. “I think we’re in a good place,” says Jacky Reynolds, multiplayer design lead for Infinity Ward, “We worked a lot — really hard — to get the game pretty holistic by the end of last year. We’re massaging and tweaking and refining and trying to get it … as good as possible… before we launch it.”

Finding Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's identity in the wake of Black Ops 7

Captain Price and Valeria Garza return in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. (Image credit: Activision)

Infinity Ward has recently shared a significant amount of information about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, including the campaign’s new South Korean setting, the collection of multiplayer maps, and upcoming changes to player movement. Its player movement that has the greatest potential to be a hotbed of discussion for players.

Treyarch’s new Omnimovement system was introduced just two years ago, featuring thousands of new animations that have been integrated across both Black Ops 6, 7, and Warzone. BO7 doubled down on the faster movement with the wall jump motion, bridging the gap for players who wanted more vertical movement options and those who wanted to keep things boots on the ground.

Modern Warfare 4 has dropped the wall jump capability, firmly towing the boots-on-the-ground line. But Infinity Ward did not completely step back from Omnimovement, instead building on sliding mechanics that benefit from Treyarch’s supine positioning as well as further improving mantling, lean animations, and introducing ledge crawling. While I was speaking with the multiplayer team, I took a moment to ask how Infinity Ward decides which features from other franchises make their way into Modern Warfare.

Modern Warfare 4's identity as a more realistic, boots-on-the-ground style shooter has been solidified in the game's campaign and multiplayer. (Image credit: Activision)

“We’re all different games,” says Reynolds, “even though we’re under the same franchise. I think it is important that we present a different game. It’s fresh and different, so we make the game that we want to make. Modern Warfare has its own kind of vibe, and we just ran that through a big filter — does it feel like a grounded military experience?”

“That’s kind of the lens that we make our game around,” says technical designer Jack Hoppus. “How do we make something that’s really true to us, true to the Modern Warfare series? But also, how is a new player going to feel using this? Are our systems intuitive enough?"

"We’re striving for something really good with our movement system, as well. I think a player who’s just getting their hands on the game is going to be able to move around with ease, and if you play for a longer time, you’re going to really be able to master it. I feel like we have this really strong identity that we’re shooting for with this game. Someone who gets their hands on it is going to feel [that identity] right away.”

Building immersion with the little details

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 draws on Korean culture for inspiration. (Image credit: Activision)

The identity Hoppus speaks of is quick and easy to pick up on, as Modern Warfare 4 fully embraces its South Korean staging — even using Korean-inspired stylization for the numeral in the game’s logo. The inspiration flows over into the Multiplayer mode’s maps. “We try to share as many locations as we can with the singleplayer. Under the hood, it’s … logistics. We need to scan locations, come up with a set of textures, and a bunch of boring little things. We really want it to feel like a holistic world,” says Reynolds.

“I’ve always felt like the multiplayer map is like 2 blocks down from the mission that happened in singleplayer. If you hear system gunfire, it’s another team, and they’re doing another operation. We started with Silkworm, because we needed a map that would generate assets for South Korea, and then we also started with Lotus, which was a coastal town in South Korea."

"So both of those generated an urban center and the rural center, and then we were able to give a ‘to-do list’ for teams to go and find those things,” Reynolds continued, “Find little newspaper stands and these things that make it feel authentic. Find the paint they would [use] on their roads. There’s red strips on their roads. How do we bring all these things in to make it feel as legitimate as we can?”

It's these seemingly ‘boring’ details that build upon the immersion players experience in Modern Warfare 4. Modern Warfare titles, even in the Xbox 360 era, frequently included interactive map details. However, remastered maps like Favela lost those little bits of interactivity when Modern Warfare was rebooted a few years ago.

Modern Warfare 4 embraces world immersion with those little details once more, ushering in a new creative era for the studio that is both celebrating its past identity and embracing its potential future under new studio leadership.

The Call of Duty Engine and launching on the Nintendo Switch 2

(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)

That return to immersive worlds comes at a cost, though. Earlier this month, official Call of Duty social media accounts confirmed that Modern Warfare 4 would be the first game in the series to skip launching on past-gen systems like the Xbox One X and S and the PlayStation 4. The decision to forgo last-gen consoles gave the development team the freedom to push Modern Warfare 4’s limits — which made the reveal that MW4 is to be available on the Nintendo Switch 2 at launch all the more surprising.

It’s more realistic than ever before. When we see the side-by-side videos, you’re like, ‘How did we ever ship like this in the past?
Jack Hoppus, Technical Designer for Infinity Ward

“Early on, getting [MW4] to run quick and responsive was the biggest [challenge],” says Reynolds, “Just tweaking its architecture, which is kind of different than our base, and to get it to sing. It’s just been great to pick it up, and it’s scary how natural it feels.”

“Oh, that’s our game,” says Hoppus through laughter, “It just plays pretty well!”

“Switching platforms these days? It’s such a streamlined system that we can have different kits playing… especially with crossplay,” Reynolds added, “Unless we really push that boundary, we’re able to mix and match and just see the nuances between the settings and make adjustments.”

Infinity Ward’s engine for Call of Duty has long been lauded by fans who mistakenly still refer to it as IW8 and speculate about the existence of IW9. However, the engine pushing Call of Duty evolved some time ago to be a shared system used by all the studios working on the franchise as “the Call of Duty Engine.” “It’s a shared engine,” says Reynolds, “we can access other games, but we try to keep as holistic as we can.”

(Image credit: Activision)

“As we explore new tech, especially with our dynamic weather, the engine is evolving,” says Hoppus, “We put a lot of work in our engine and make sure what follows sweep this performance bar and visual bar that we want to hit for the content.”

“[The engine] has allowed us to realize ideas on the design side in a very streamlined way,” Hoppus continues, “There’s not a huge amount of friction when you come to …an idea. It’s attainable for sure.”

Not every idea gets the green light, even with the power of the Call of Duty engine. “My original idea of how to do Kill Block, we couldn’t do it, really,” says Reynolds. Kill Block is Modern Warfare 4’s new dynamic map, inspired by stadiums with retractable pitches that allow for quick transitions between grass-laid fields, hockey rinks, and basketball courts.

“They had to come up with an interesting way that it works, but my original idea … would take 18 man-years. But they figured it out. It looks like a little postage stamp, but the tech that runs that is pretty outrageous.”

Weapon changes for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

Modern Warfare 4’s improvements don’t stop at a new setting and map tech. Weapon mechanics like aiming and depth of field underwent serious reworkings for the upcoming Call of Duty, changing the way players interact in this new world.

“Our weapons team obsesses over this,” says Hoppus, “They see details that no one else in the world would be able to see. All of the improvements that we’re doing to weapons kind of fall under this shared goal of making you feel like you’re the one holding the gun. You feel the weight of the gun."

"It’s more realistic than ever before. When we see the side-by-side videos, you’re like, ‘How did we ever ship like this in the past?’ We come at it from a realism standpoint, a gameplay standpoint, and try to make something that really fits and feels fun for the player. Like with the enhanced FOV, it’s trying to take the best of both worlds. A high FOV makes targets really small, the big FOV makes them bigger, but you don’t see as much of the sides of the screen. So our engineers and our weapon designers really took it upon themselves to find the best balance.”

Goodbye wall jumps: In finding Modern Warfare 4's identity, Infinity Ward had to determine which new movement mechanics fit within the game, and which had to go. (Image credit: Activision)

Modern Warfare 4 sticks with the series’ gunsmith mechanic for weapon loadouts, though it is more simplified than past iterations. Players can choose up to five attachments for any given weapon, with the pros and cons of those attachments being displayed clearly so the player knows how it will affect the weapon once its live on the battlefield.

“The gunsmith has evolved so much that you can really [put together] any kind of build you want,” says Hoppus, “If you’re going to be good at something — like you want a really good hip firing gun or a really good quickscoping gun, I think it's easy to make that in the gunsmith now. We have over 500 attachments, right? So each one of them is going to do something different. Our [weapons team] loves working on iron sights — it’s their bread and butter! So we got some sick ones in our game now.”

Hoppus also leans into Modern Warfare 4’s new Gunny system for the freedom it affords players in trying out new attachment combinations. Gunny is a new gunsmith addition that dynamically generates weapon builds for players with the press of a button.

“For all of the attachments that you have unlocked, each supports play styles. So [Gunny] is a kind of handcrafted system from our weapons team to sort out these attachments and generate a configuration that works. It’s not going to block one of your attachments; it’s building this optimal weapon for you, and it’ll use every attachment you currently have unlocked. You can just keep cycling through it to find one,” he explains.

“Gunny works in the middle of a match, as well, so you don’t have to go back in the front end. And you can actually edit them after the fact. Something that’s really popular even among some of the hardcore players is getting an initial Gunny build, maybe try it out for a match or two, and then you’re like 'ooh, cool, I want this with no stock instead.' You can take that Gunny build and still edit it after the fact. You’re not locked into that specific configuration.”

An onslaught of new killstreaks keep things interesting in multiplayer. (Image credit: Activision)

“We make this robust gunsmithing system, but it can be overwhelming with how many choices [it has],” says Reynolds, “So that’s where the idea of [Gunny comes in]. Could we just say, ‘This is all of your stuff, this is actually a pretty good gun. Why don’t you go give it a try?’ It’s an onboarding [tool] to help people engage with the system and then hopefully, ideally, continue to engage with them.”

With so many potential combinations for Gunny to assemble weapon builds, it almost seems inevitable that the system would throw some duds. Reynolds verifies that the builds generated by Gunny have been prebuilt and aren’t entirely up to random luck, though he adds, “Sometimes they’ll set up some systems where you just get this really random, crazy one, and then we’ll try it and be like ‘Oh, it’s actually not that bad!’”

How do we bring all these things in to make it feel as legitimate as we can?
Jacky Reynolds, Multiplayer Design Lead at Infinity Ward

“We have the Mosen — long single bolt,” Reynolds sighs before continuing, “It’s been spitting out these snub-nose cut-off little pirate gun.” Hoppus chimes in, “But it’s great for quickscoping! People are going to be able to make their COD montages, for sure.” Hoppus and Reynolds close out the interview by sharing their current favorite loadouts for Modern Warfare 4.

“Right now, I’ve been using one of our new guns, a side-loaded SMG. I’ve been rocking with that, and I’m a quick fix guy. Ever since we debuted that perk, it’s been my favorite. I run ninja to try to, like, move stealthily around the map, and then I got some kill streaks. I run the bomb glider. I run the crossfire, and I’ll run the attack chopper so I don’t have to my gun down,” Hoppus shares.

“I’m a fan of the Odin,” says Reynolds, “That gun just looks crazy. You get the big monolithic suppressor on there, and it just looks like it’s OP.” “It’s a really strong, slower-firing AR,” adds Hoppus, “it feels really like it’s going ‘thunk thunk’. The audio team was killing it with [the Odin]! It really feels like a behemoth. It’s pretty rad.”

Modern Warfare 4 ushers in a new era for the Call of Duty franchise and Infinity Ward as a development studio. With new leadership at the helm, the team is taking the opportunity to explore new creative directions without losing sight of what makes Modern Warfare special to so many players. The team's excitement for this new era of Call of Duty is palpable and downright contagious.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is expected to launch Fall 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC via Steam and Xbox on PC, and the Nintendo Switch 2. The game will not be available on Xbox Game Pass until 2027, but it will support the Xbox Play Anywhere program at launch.

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Call of Duty is live with a cryptic broadcast — could a reveal for this year's game be incoming?

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:02:31 +0000

An unusual broadcast has taken over the official Call of Duty YouTube channels. The broadcast started at approximately 5 AM ET today with body cam footage from a squadron of soldiers exploring the streets of a Korean city. The squad visits a convenience store for snacks just before an attack on the city leaves everything in ruin.

The body cam footage showcases a variety of potential easter eggs, including a time-stamped date of October 28, 2026 — a potential release date for an upcoming Call of Duty title.

Following the attack, audio for the live stream has included sirens, gunfire, and the sounds of attack survivors.

The live stream is simply titled "카메라 004 | LIVE". The Korean text translates to "Camera 004". There is no countdown or other indicators that a reveal or additional information is pending.

However, Call of Duty has pinned a comment to the YouTube chat with a link to the game's official Discord server.

Rumors that this year's Call of Duty title would be set in Korea have made their way across social media. At one point, Activision even went so far as to issue cease-and-desist letters to prominent leakers.

Infinity Ward is confirmed to be developing Call of Duty 2026, with the studio's new co-leads taking to the official COD POD to answer a Q&A session.

In addition to the new COD POD and the current teaser stream, several well known Call of Duty content creators have teased recent travel plans — a sign that Infinity Ward may already be showing off the latest Call of Duty to creators in anticipation of an upcoming reveal.

This is a developing story...

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is skipping Xbox One and PS4, which is a bold strategy— even if it's about time

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Mon, 04 May 2026 21:26:50 +0000

Activision has only gone and pushed out a fairly significant piece of Call of Duty news in about the most casual fashion imaginable; last-gen consoles are out.

Responding to rumors that surfaced online through the official Call of Duty X account, the Microsoft-owned publisher has provided confirmation of a big change for the game we assume will be Modern Warfare 4.

The rumor and the retort specifically name-dropped the PS4, but you'd assume Xbox One will suffer the same fate, with owners of each not being able to play this year's Call of Duty.

Not sure where this one started, but it’s not true. The next Call of Duty is not being developed for PS4.May 4, 2026

That both last-gen consoles hung on so long is remarkable enough, but then you have to assume why. Given the cost of making a Call of Duty game, the player base had to be there to make it worthwhile. So on that front, there's probably a whole bunch of folks who simply won't be able to play this year's game.

But I'm happy to hear it. For one, it's just not a good enough experience on the Xbox One and PS4 anymore.

I tried Black Ops 7 on the Xbox One during its beta period, and the difference was night and day. Admittedly I've not gone back since, but given its state then, I can't imagine it was possible to improve it sufficiently. I said then that we need to leave the past behind, and it looks like we're doing just that.

Modern Warfare 4 (if indeed, that's what it's actually called) is already up against it. Xbox recently made the decision to remove future Call of Duty titles from Xbox Game Pass, which is one factor that may affect player counts. Now we know that last-gen console players are out, too.

Then of course, the looming goliath: GTA 6. Call of Duty traditionally launches in Q4 of the year these days, and there's nothing to suggest it'll be any different for 2026. GTA 6 is currently slated to launch on November 19. Call of Duty is big, but GTA is something else.

So it's going to be an interesting year to follow on all fronts. On one hand, not being hamstrung by last-gen consoles should give some breathing room to make a better overall product. But with two self-inflicted decisions that could cut player counts and one nobody can do anything about... I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Is this the right call, or is it a huge mistake? Hit the poll above and let me know why you voted that way in the comments below!

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 03 Reloaded has a release date and a HEAP of content, as well as a dose of RoboCop

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:19:46 +0000

We're at that time again, almost. The mid-season refresh for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone is upon us, and it's wheeling in another ridiculous pile of content for us to play.

Releasing on April 30, Season 03 Reloaded will deliver new events, new weapons, and new maps, with something for everyone to enjoy, be it in Endgame, Multiplayer, Zombies, or Warzone.

Better yet, Endgame's free to play time has been extended, so if you've been taking advantage of that, you can carry on for a while longer. Here are the highlights of what we can expect.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Endgame content in Season 03 Reloaded

Endgame is staying free to play for now. (Image credit: Activision)

Endgame is one of the surprise hits of Black Ops 7, and probably the mode I've enjoyed playing the most. So I'm very pleased to see the content continue to flow.

Here's an overview of what to expect with Season 03 Reloaded:

Operation Broken Mirror: Operations deepen with the introduction of Act II: Operation Broken Mirror, introducing new challenges, rewards, and the Virus Injection Glitch.
Complete the Operation with Vermaak, Zaveri, or Jurado to earn a new Weapon Camo, and with all three to access a new Animated Weapon Camo. Other rewards include Charms, Loading Screens, XP Tokens, Emblems, Decals, and Weapon Blueprints.
New Major Ability: Set enemies aflame with the new Thermal Spike Major Ability, punishing foes caught in the path of fire.
New Activity: Face a new boss, the Mega Abomination, that spawns in Nightmare Zones once the Guild Strike has been eliminated. It guarantees an Exotic Weapon drop upon completion.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Multiplayer content in Season 03 Reloaded

Season 03 Reloaded delivers Onsen, a not-so-relaxing Spa break. (Image credit: Activision)

As the core experience for many Black Ops 7 players, Multiplayer is naturally getting plenty of new things to play.

Here are the highlights:

Maps: New 6v6 and 2v2 map, Onsen, the return of Hacienda, and the remastered map, Summit.
Freerun mode: Freerun: Put your movement skills to the ultimate test as The Guild recruits volunteers for a new training program. Compete against fellow Operators through 10 different zones of dexterity and marksmanship to see who can get the best time and earn rewards for completing objectives.
Additional new modes: Heat Wave Havoc and Freeze Tag.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies content in Season 03 Reloaded

The big news for Black Ops 7 Zombies players is the release of another big map, with Totenreich making its debut in Season 03 Reloaded.

As with the previous map releases, there will be a new easter egg, Cursed Mode available upon its completion, a new type of enemy, and a new Wonder Weapon, the Jotunn Star.

Additionally, there is the new Flammenfalle Trap, four new major and minor augements, and a new Field Upgrade, the Wild Fire.

Call of Duty: Warzone content in Season 03 Reloaded

A good old fashioned game of Cops and Robbers is coming to Warzone. (Image credit: Activision)

The free-to-play Warzone is also getting its own batch of fresh content to play with Season 03 Reloaded.

Black Ops Royale New LTM: Engage in a high-speed chase of Police vs. Thieves in Hot Pursuit, a new limited-time mode testing your driving skills throughout Avalon.
Prop Hunt Royale: The party mode arrives as 24v24 on Rebirth Island, featuring over a dozen prop types to help players blend in with the environment.
Spikes: Available from Buy Stations, Spikes will give players improved combat capabilities, including Armor Salvaging, Prone Firing, and Handicraft.
Cluster Grenades: Added to Battle Royale and Resurgence modes.

(Image credit: Activision)

On top of all of this, there will be a new Special class weapon, the Siren, and a new Melee class weapon, the Katana.

A mid-season refresh wouldn't be complete without an event, either, and this time around it's a collaboration with the RoboCop franchise.

"Part man. Part machine. All Operator. RoboCop doles out justice with the RoboCop Event Pass arriving in Season 03’s Mid-Season. Unlock limited-time rewards by earning XP in any mode. Serve the public trust with the new Siren Special Weapon plus additional Operator Skins, Weapon Blueprints, and more items inspired by the RoboCop film franchise."

As with other collaboration events, there will be a free rewards track and a premium rewards track, so, you know, if you love RoboCop, there will be plenty to get your hands on.

This is but a brief highlight of everything on offer in Season 03 Reloaded, so for the complete rundown, be sure to check out the full Call of Duty blog post.

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Microsoft doesn't know what to do with Call of Duty and is trying everything except making the game good again

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:22:00 +0000

Let me start by saying I play a lot of Call of Duty. I've been here since the beginning, and since the release of Black Ops 6 (according to the Xbox app), I've spent over 54 days of my life on it.

I also like Black Ops 7, even if I'm taking a little burnout-induced break right now. But following the news that future Call of Duty games won't be added to Xbox Game Pass, I feel like a lingering opinion of mine is being solidified.

Microsoft doesn't know what to do with Call of Duty. I'm not sure that taking it out of Game Pass in a year when we're still expecting to see GTA 6 is the smart play, either.

Xbox Game Pass helped Black Ops 6 to the biggest launch in Call of Duty history

Black Ops 6 was the most successful launch ever for Call of Duty, in part, thanks to Xbox Game Pass. (Image credit: Activision)

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was the first new game in the franchise to launch day one in Xbox Game Pass following Microsoft's acquisition.

It was an immediate success. Well, that doesn't really describe it properly. Black Ops 6 was the most successful launch in Call of Duty history. Number one for total players, hours played, and total matches.

Game Pass, of course, wasn't the only reason for all of this. After a couple of frustrating years of Modern Warfare releases, going back to Black Ops definitely helped get players more interested again.

Black Ops 7 didn't fare so well but hardly terrible in the grand scheme of things. It also launched day one, before the round of Game Pass changes that both increased the price and restricted Call of Duty to the most expensive tiers.

Microsoft obviously wants to make a ton of money from Call of Duty, and putting up the price to play on Game Pass was obviously a step to try and recoup that not made from people paying full price for the game. It was reported that the company 'lost' $300 million in revenue.

Yes, it's a business. But Microsoft seems to be hell-bent on continuing to extract the most revenue without actually doing anything about the game. Surely attracting more players should be the priority?

Call of Duty should be a DRAW to Xbox Game Pass

Black Ops 7 will be the last new Call of Duty to launch in Game Pass. (Image credit: Xbox / Activision)

There's still much negativity overall around Call of Duty. Warzone is still pretty painful (Black Ops Royale aside), the constant battle with cheaters never truly goes away, players are fatigued, and above all, I don't think it's a franchise set up for player enjoyment as the primary goal.

Call of Duty feels like it's built to extract every last dollar from its players. The Game Pass experiment has failed in that regard, and so we're back to paying full price.

But for players, we've now lost the easy way to even try the new Call of Duty. Let's face it, with all the negativity out there online, there's got to be a sizeable chunk of players who won't want to part with $80 in the hope that it's fun to play. Call of Duty should be a flagship for Game Pass, something to draw people in.

The Game Pass price cut is a win, sure, but it's also a cut to the quality of the service. People who don't play Call of Duty win, hands down; those of us who do, well, we win a little less.

Now, we'll only get Call of Duty when nobody cares about it. When a new game drops, nobody's going to invest in the old one, are they? And that includes the developers, because new content stops when a new game drops.

Is Modern Warfare 4 going to be good enough to drop out of Game Pass and take on GTA 6?

Going up against GTA 6 without Game Pass is a bold strategy. (Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Here's another thing that looks concerning to me: the timing. This year has a Godzilla-sized monster looming large: GTA 6.

Without Game Pass, Microsoft is now willing to take on Rockstar's goliath head-on in pursuit of both your money and your attention with (the rumored) Modern Warfare 4.

Yeah. Doesn't sound great when you say it. They're different types of game, but GTA 6 isn't just any old game. Rockstar's track record for dropping epics speaks for itself.

By contrast, is Modern Warfare 4 even going to be a good Call of Duty? The trouble is that the franchise looks like remaining on the same path under Microsoft ownership. It's treated like a free-to-play game (yes, Warzone is free-to-play.)

There's been too much of this and not enough thought on making the game great again. (Image credit: Activision)

Different players will have different opinions on how they think it should be improved, and I've written in the past about how I think Call of Duty needs to stop being a yearly release.

While I've enjoyed Black Ops 7 myself, I'm a realist, and I appreciate the frustrations of the community. The live service model requires your constant attention, but in many cases, those games aren't $80 plus the additional purchases.

Playing Call of Duty is expensive, and unless something happens in the future, I don't think Game Pass is going to be why revenue continues to drop. Microsoft really does need to figure out what it wants to do with one of gaming's biggest hitters.

Older Call of Duty titles will still be on Game Pass, but long after their prime. (Image credit: Activision)

Ultimately the Game Pass price cut isn't really a price cut, because Microsoft has made the service worse in the process. There's a bigger discussion to be had about it, like do players really want Fortnite Crew, or other add-ons, in place of big-name day-one releases?

But specifically to Call of Duty, what exactly does the future look like? I don't think Microsoft knows, and I'm not sure the leadership is taking enough of an active role in its development to actually figure it out.

What we need is some clear direction. Messaging from the top that's going to get players excited again and engagement with the people that will truly help get it back to its glory days.

My biggest worry is that it's going to keep going down the road of "how do we make more money" rather than "how do we make it a better game." Microsoft needs to figure it out and make that call.

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Microsoft says Xbox Game Pass is getting more old Call of Duty games in 2026 after price drop, loss of day-one releases — which ones do you want to see?

lowryb3865@gmail.com (Brendan Lowry) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:52:57 +0000

This week, Microsoft introduced a massive change to its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate service that lowered its price from $29.99/month to $22.99/month effective immediately, making the premium tier of Xbox Game Pass $7 more affordable than it was after the firm infamously hiked its price up 50% last year. The move has been widely praised by Xbox and PC gamers all over — though it didn't come without cost.

The price drop was accompanied by the news that new Call of Duty games will no longer be available on Game Pass at launch, and will instead come to the program a year after they release. The idea here is to make Game Pass more affordable while simultaneously trying to stop it from cannibalizing Call of Duty sales as it has with recent releases, which most fans seem perfectly okay with.

Something many have criticized, however, is the fact that only a handful of the colossal franchise's games are on Game Pass, with many classics and even entries as recent as 2021's Call of Duty: Vanguard currently unavailable on the service. That's a massive bummer, especially since many old Call of Duty titles are still surprisingly expensive to buy permanently.

Thankfully, though, that's reportedly set to change later this year, as a source at Microsoft and Activision has confirmed to our friends at PC Gamer that Xbox plans to bring more Call of Duty games to Game Pass at some point in 2026.

The newer Call of Duty: Modern Warfare games are all on Xbox Game Pass, but it would be awesome to see the classic ones on the service as well. (Image credit: Call of Duty)

It's unclear which games will come to Xbox Game Pass or how many of them are on the way right now, though there's a large list of potential candidates; at present, 15 Call of Duty entries are absent from the service, including the following:

Call of Duty (2003)
Call of Duty 2 (2005)
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (2005)
Call of Duty 3 (2006)
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
Call of Duty: World at War (2008)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012)
Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014)
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (2015)
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016)
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018)
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)
Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021)

Of these, it would be great to at the very least see some of the most popular games in Call of Duty history — Modern Warfare, World at War, Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops, Black Ops 2, and Ghosts — make their way onto Game Pass. In an ideal world, though, we'd see the entire franchise in the program's catalog.

Notably, this news comes after the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare reboot came to Game Pass last week, joining its sequels Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3. The Modern Warfare reboot is also surging right now thanks to a Steam sale; that shows how cheaper access to older games can give them a serious boost, and why putting classic Call of Duty titles on Game Pass is a good idea.

Which older Call of Duty games would you like to see made available on Xbox Game Pass? What's your favorite title in the series? Voice your opinion in the comments, and vote in our poll about the decision to remove Call of Duty from day-one Game Pass access, too.

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Xbox and Paramount have its Call of Duty movie release date, but it's pretty far off — here's exactly when the film is coming out

lowryb3865@gmail.com (Brendan Lowry) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:56:56 +0000

Xbox and Activision's Call of Duty franchise has grown immensely over the years and is presently one of the largest video game properties in the industry, with the FPS games raking in countless millions throughout its history. One could argue there's never been a better game series to adapt into action films — and last year, it was confirmed that Activision is teaming up with Paramount to make one.

It was reported that Activision turned down an offer from Steven Spielberg to direct to retain full creative control over the film soon after, and then in late October, Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan and director Peter Berg were brought onto the project, with the pair co-writing and producing.

Beyond that, we know and have heard nothing else about the Call of Duty movie — until now, that is. On Thursday this week, Xbox and Activision officially announced the film's release date on social media, revealing that the Call of Duty movie is scheduled to come out on June 30, 2028.

That's unfortunate news for those who were hoping we'd see the hit military shooter franchise debut on the big screen earlier, though the far-off release date isn't a huge surprise given that the film's production only just got off the ground at the tail end of 2025.

Lock it in. The @CallofDutyMovie drops into theaters on June 30, 2028. pic.twitter.com/LitTadMjOKApril 16, 2026

Notably, the Call of Duty movie is hardly the first video game adaptation project that Microsoft and Xbox have worked on. Amazon's Fallout TV show has been a colossal success both critically and financially, and the Minecraft movie performed incredibly well, too.

Beyond those two standouts, we know Netflix is working on a Gears of War film with Jon Spaihts (Dune, Prometheus) writing the script and David Leitch (Deadpool 2, Bullet Train) directing. There was also the Halo TV show from Paramount, though that project was widely panned and canceled after two seasons.

The fact that Paramount is also working with Xbox and Activision on the Call of Duty film has some worried that it will end up being as disappointing as the Halo TV series. Personally, I'm choosing to be optimistic, as they're two completely different projects with different writers and producers.

As for what the movie will actually be about, we know nothing at the moment, though it's a safe bet that it will be a military-themed action film with plenty of "tacticool" guns, a moody plot, and a whole lot of explosions. It could adapt one of any Call of Duty stories set in the past, present, or future, or introduce a brand new one. Ultimately, only time will tell.

Are you excited to see what Activision and Paramount cook up for the Call of Duty movie, or are you not very interested in the project? I'd love to hear your thoughts, as video game adaptations have become a hot topic in recent years; please share them in the comments, and vote in our poll as well!

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Call of Duty studio head at Xbox dev is retiring after over 36 years — he shipped 42 games, 18 CoD titles, and this criminally underrated shooter I love

lowryb3865@gmail.com (Brendan Lowry) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:09:27 +0000

The extremely popular shooter game franchise Call of Duty stands tall as one of the most popular FPS series' in the gaming industry, with new entries constantly in development across several different studios. One of its most prolific developers is Raven Software — and after upwards of four decades, the dev's studio head and co-founder is stepping down.

That's none other than Brian Raffel, who founded Raven alongside his brother Steve in 1990 and led the studio as it shipped (or helped to ship) 42 games from then until now. Raffel has served at the helm of the developer for 36 years, and has now chosen to enter "a well-earned retirement." The studio announced the news on Thursday morning.

"In 1990, inspired by a shared love of storytelling, Brian and his brother Steve set out to build something of their own. What began as a small creative pursuit known as Black Crypt grew into something far, far greater. Over the years, his leadership guided our studio through a wild and shifting industry, shaping it into what it is today," wrote Raven.

The studio went on to recognize the many different properties that Raffel helped to foster and create, as well as "how he has invested in the people and places around him." His work and his leadership has established a lasting legacy for both himself and all of Raven, it said.

"Brian, thank you for the stories, for the path you carved, and for the lives you've changed along the way. The impact you have had is timeless, and we wish you all the best in this next chapter," the developer added.

After more than 36 years at the helm of Raven Software, Brian Raffel has decided to step into a well-earned retirement.In 1990, inspired by a shared love of storytelling, Brian and his brother Steve set out to build something of their own. What began as a small creative pursuit… pic.twitter.com/jLOhRwVosGApril 2, 2026

Throughout the years before Raven Software began developing Call of Duty titles, Raffel led the creation of 12 original IPs, including cult classics like the DOOM-inspired fantasy shooters Heretic and Hexen that were built on the engine used for id Software's legendary FPS, the ultraviolent 2000 shooter Soldier of Fortune, and the Star Wars Jedi Knight series.

Another game in that list is 2010's Singularity, which happens to be one of my favorite shooter games of yesteryear and one I consider criminally underrated. The single player FPS prominently features engaging time travel mechanics that send the player back and forth between post-WW2 Russia and the modern day, as well as plenty of intense gunplay and horror elements. It's a bit overly linear by today's standards, but still a fantastic game nevertheless.

During Raffel's tenure, Raven has also worked on and developed 18 different Call of Duty games, including Call of Duty: Ghosts, various different Black Ops and Modern Warfare titles, the ever-popular free-to-play battle royale game Call of Duty: Warzone, and the recently released Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

Since Microsoft acquired Activision in late 2023, Raven Software has been a part of its first-party Xbox Game Studios publishing wing, and works on Call of Duty alongside other studios like Sledgehammer Games and Infinity Ward under the Xbox brand. Many of the titles it's worked on (including Black Ops 7) are also available on Xbox Game Pass.

Ultimately, Raffel has left a massive impact on the gaming industry and one of its largest franchises, and for fans of the shooter games he's helped build and support, it's sad to see him go. As Raven said in its statement, though, his retirement is well earned, and I hope whatever he does next leaves him happy and fulfilled.

🗨️ Which Raven game is your favorite?

Under Brian Raffel's leadership, Raven Software has developed and released countless memorable games throughout the last several decades, ranging from cult classics like Heretic and Hexen to some of the most popular Call of Duty entries in the entire franchise.

With Raffel now departing the studio he founded with his brother, I can't help but wonder: what's your favorite game from Raven Software? Let me know in the comments, and vote in our poll:

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 brings back fan-favorite multiplayer maps and modes in Season 3

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:09:02 +0000

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's Season 3 update goes live on all platforms on April 2 at 9AM PT/12PM ET.

Multiplayer fans can enjoy the first round of nine new and returning maps along with an array of fresh modes, a new scorestreak, a fresh battle pass, and some new weapons, too.

Black Ops 7's extensive roadmap for Season 3, at a glance. (Image credit: Activision)

Black Ops 7 Multiplayer Season 3 maps

Treyarch continues to lean into the nostalgia of the Black Ops franchise with Season 3, inviting players back to some fan-favorite maps and modes in addition to some new additions for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

Nine new maps total are expected to launch over the span of Season 3, five of which will be available when Black Ops 7's Season 3 goes live on April 2. Those five maps include the following:

Beacon (brand new, 6v6)

Beacon comes to BO7 multiplayer in Season 3. (Image credit: Activision)

Spring may be in the air for many of us, but if you can't get enough of winter, Beacon will be the perfect map for you.

Set in a remote Guild facility with a housing unit, storage shed, and monitoring station, Beacon is a mid-sized map with a variety of sightlines, but you'll want to keep an eye out for the sniper glint that's certain to be on the central bridge.

Abyss (brand new, 6v6/2v2)

Abyss fills the void of players looking for a small sized map experience. (Image credit: Activision)

Players have been begging for Black Ops 6's small map Stakeout to come to Black Ops 7, and it doesn't look like that's going to happen with Season 3, but we can look forward to Abyss, a small map set in the confined quarters of a submarine.

Rope ascenders provide the opportunity for players to flank the submarine's narrow corridors. Abyss will be available at launch in 6v6 and 2v2 playlists alike.

Plaza (remaster, 6v6)

Plaza returns to Black Ops. (Image credit: Activision)

In with the old and the new. Plaza is a remaster of a classic map from Black Ops 2 that should offer plenty of unique wall-jumping opportunities.

The outer mall leads players in to the concourse with a skybox lit up by fireworks. Interior locations include the Colossus Resort and the Luan Nightclub, and the Red Bar.

Gridlock (remaster, 6v6)

Gridlock returns to Black Ops. (Image credit: Activision)

This Black Ops 4 map is making its grand return in Black Ops 7 with a freeway that has been rocked by an explosive blast and left in shambles overlooking a Japanese city.

Move through rubble and vehicle debris to flank your enemies hiding in various shops, work around the Garden and Terrance or hide in the Restaurant for the perfect vantage point.

Mission: Trident (new, 20v20)

A new big map is coming for the fans of Skirmish for that 20v20 multiplayer experience. (Image credit: Activision)

Skirmish bridges the gap for players who want to stick to multiplayer gameplay but want the freedom of a larger map. Season 3 introduces a new 20v20 Skirmish map called Mission: Trident.

Players will find the Old Arsenal Avalon point of interest with patrol boats navigating the waterways, where harbor warehouses and medieval fortifications offer cover for getting the job done.

Midseason maps

Activision

Four maps will make it into the playlist rotation in Season 3 Reloaded, including the brand new small-sized Onsen, the remastered fan-favorites Summit and Hacienda, and the new special map Ascent that has been created specifically for an upcoming Freerun mode.

Black Ops 7 Multiplayer Season 3 modes

Activision

New, returning, and limited game modes are always a staple of seasonal content for Call of Duty, and BO7 Season 3 is no exception. Here's what players can look forward to in the coming update:

Demolition (returning, launch)
Aim High (returning, midseason)
Snipers only (returning, midseason)
Freerun (new, midseason)
Heatwave (new, midseason)
- A limited time mode that challenges players to raise their heat level by supporting the team with non-lethal cooperative actions in a moshpit playlist.
Freeze Tag (new, midseason)
- Limited time mode that causes operators to become frozen when dealt lethal damage, giving their teammates a chance to save their incapacitated allies by defending their frozen forms and unthawing them so they can rejoin the fight.

Black Ops 7 Multiplayer Season 3 new equipment and weapons

New scorestreak: Ion Core (S3R)

Set off a powerful device that damages enemies in a large area, even through walls. (Image credit: Activision)

Say hello to the Ion Core, coming to Black Ops 7 in Season 3 Reloaded. The area denial device pulses radiation that damages players for several seconds across a mid-sized radius — walls be damned.

The Ion Core will have two overclock abilities: Plutonium core, which gives it a longer duration for an additional radiation pulse, or Chemical Catalyst, which shortens the downtime between radiation pulses.

Activision

New weapon: MK35 ISR (launch)

Coming to Multiplayer at launch, players can unlock a brand-new assault rifle via the battle pass. This full-auto assault rifle offers low recoil and excellent accuracy by moderate damage and handling. The MK35 ISR's prestige attachment is the 19" MFS Nightfall Suppressed Barrel, which removes the firing signature from the mini-map and improves damage range and hipfire spread with an integrated suppressor barrel.

New weapon: VST (launch)

A new SMG will torment players across the battlefield, unlockable via the battle pass. Full auto and lightweight for excellent mobility and good handling, the VST is ideal for run-and-gunners who don't want to stay in an area too long after eliminating a foe. The prestige attachment converts the SMG to 5.56x30mm magazines for improved damage range and more controllable recoil at the sacrifice of fire rate, mobility, and handling.

Midseason weapons

The classic 1911 pistol, Katanas, and special event weapon, the Siren, will join the Black Ops 7 armory during Season 3 Reloaded.

Call of Duty continues to raise player expectations with massive content drops each season. Multiplayer, Zombies, and Warzone will all receive new content. Meanwhile, Treyarch has announced that the campaign Endgame is going free-to-play with Season 3.

Are you excited for the multiplayer content coming to Season 3 of Black Ops 7 or will you skip it?

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 campaign's Endgame mode is going free to play for a limited time with the April launch of Season 3 — plus new content and changes to Combat Rating are on the way

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's Endgame mode is being shifted to Warzone and going free-to-play for a limited time starting April 2 with the launch of Call of Duty's Season 3 content.

Call of Duty: Warzone's newest big map, Avalon, originally got its start as the setting for the campaign's 4-player PvE Endgame mode. Despite being available at launch, Endgame was originally locked away behind a requirement to finish Black Ops 7's 4-player coop campaign and was only accessible via the campaign chapter select menu.

Unfortunately, campaigns in Call of Duty are often the least played and completed aspect of the game. The Xbox app shows that only 0.84% of players who have launched Call of Duty have unlocked the achievement for completing the Black Ops 7 campaign with at least one coop partner at the time of writing.

Treyarch eventually decided to remove that barrier to entry for Endgame, allowing any Call of Duty player to jump into Avalon and the PvE experience without having first to complete the campaign. However, players still needed to own Black Ops 7 or have an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription to play Endgame.

With Season 2 Reloaded, the Endgame map — Avalon — joined the Call of Duty: Warzone map rotation in the newest Black Ops Royale mode. Player response to the map was overwhelmingly positive. Treyarch has now announced that Endgame access will be added to the free-to-play Call of Duty: Warzone menu for a limited time, allowing more players to experience the mode for the first time.

Season 3 changes to combat rating and loadouts coming April 2

Along with the launch of Endgame as a limited-time free-to-play mode, Season 3 brings fresh new content to Avalon for players to experience. Endgame's PvE experience gives players the opportunity to build up an operator of their choosing while pushing through combat spaces, fighting both The Guild and nightmare scenarios across Avalon with a squad of up to four players.

Each session has up to 32 players divided across eight squads who can team up to work together to take down enemies and unlock exotic weapons, nightmare skills, and more. Completing activities in Endgame earns the player a Combat Rating, which — up until Season 3 — has been reset to zero if the player fails to extract from Avalon before the timer runs out.

With Season 3, Treyarch is capping lost Combat Rating to 15 per squad wipe, giving players a chance to hang on to their progression even if a run goes bad. However, Exotic skills, Nightmare skills, and the player's loadout are all still lost if a squad wipes while in Avalon. Players will also have the choice to manually reset their operator's combat rating if they so choose.

Endgame features massive boss battles, including the Z-Rex and Colossus of Avalon, that requires players to work together to defeat. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Loadouts are also changing in Endgame, and will be individually assigned to operators with the launch of Season 3. This gives players the chance to build out new operators with different skills and playstyles, as each separate Endgame operator will have their own loadout, including weapons, field acquisitions, and equipment. Players who exfil with a scorestreak or self-revive will see that equipment stays with the operator who extracted it.

New Endgame content coming in Season 3

It's not a new season without new content, and Season 3 brings with it Operation Poison Pill, which will introduce new player Operations — a series of strict objectives designed to be cleared across multiple matches in Endgame. Completing Operation Poison Pill directives will allow players to discover the location of the Link Forger Glitch Fracture, a Nightmare difficulty arena filled with waves of enemies that will keep even Endgame veterans on their toes.

Completing Operation Poison Pill will unlock the "Override" Operator skins for Grimm, Mason, or Anderson (provided you complete the operation with one of those designated operators.) Earning 1 Override skin also unlocks the "Blighted" weapon camo, and earning all 3 skins is the only way to unlock the "Virulent" animated weapon camo.

Additional Operation Poison Pill rewards include:

"Poison Pill” Weapon Charm and 1,000 XP
Restore Token and 1,000 XP
1 Hour Double Player XP Token and 1,000 XP
“Node Husk” Emblem and 2,500 XP
1 Hour Double Battle Pass XP Token and 2,500 XP
“Toxic Entry” Large Decal and 2,500 XP
1 Hour Double Weapon XP Token and 5,000 XP
“Thorned Muzzle” Loading Screen and 5,000 XP
“Looking Good!” Emote and 5,000 XP
“Venomous Override” AAROW 109 Launcher Weapon Blueprint, “Fractal Death” Animated Calling Card, and 7,500 XP

To unlock those rewards, players can try their hand with the new Warband skill track designed for players who like to control the battlefield with the help of summoned allies. The skill track features 5 abilities — Plague, Wirehand, Smuggler, Bloodrunner, and Healthhounds — and the Steelhand special skill.

A new minor ability, Aether Blade, will allow players to throw an Aether-infused knife that hunts down targets.

💬What do you think about Endgame?

Have you tried Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's Endgame mode? If not, will you take advantage of the free-to-play time period?

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If Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) looks awful on your NVIDIA 50-series GPU, here's how to fix it

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:40:48 +0000

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) has seen an unprecedented resurgence based mostly on the Steam Spring Sale price of $5.99. It's seen the platform's previous high player counts left in the dust, peaking at over 60,000 this past weekend.

Times have changed since the game launched, though, and hardware has come on a few generations since. When Modern Warfare (2019) first hit the market, NVIDIA was on the RTX 20 series, its first-gen ray tracing-capable GPUs.

We're now on the RTX 50 series, and many jumping back into Modern Warfare (2019) on more modern hardware are seeing graphics issues. I'm one of them. No matter what combination of settings I tried with my RTX 5090, it was all blocky and distracting and looked horrible. Turns out if you're in the same boat, your NVIDIA driver is probably to blame.

The newest NVIDIA driver should fix any issues you're having with Modern Warfare (2019) looking like it's made from Lego. (Image credit: Windows Central)

A solid hat tip to this old Reddit thread I found while investigating the problem, which has been resurrected in recent days along with the game.

In short, if you're running an older NVIDIA driver on your RTX 50 series, it's likely this could be what's causing the blockiness in Modern Warfare (2019). I updated to the latest release, 575.79, and by magic, everything is fine again.

So, if you're on an older driver and Modern Warfare (2019) looks like hell, go ahead and update, and it should fix the problem. It's best to make sure you do a clean installation, too, which you can do either from the NVIDIA app or by using the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU). This will completely remove the old driver first before installing the new one.

Modern Warfare (2019) is, like basically every Call of Duty game, divisive. Many players hold it in high regard, others less so. I originally fell into the latter, and I'm not afraid to say I've enjoyed playing it more this time around than back in 2019/2020.

My experience was spoiled by the graphics issues, but nothing in-game seemed to help fix it fully. So if you're in the same position I was, go ahead and get the newest NVIDIA driver, and you'll be back having a blast in no time.

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Solo queuers rejoice! Call of Duty: Warzone update brings back solos and Verdansk (again)

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 19:10:53 +0000

Call of Duty: Warzone's Season 2 Reloaded update ushered in Black Ops Royale, a brand-new battle royale experience inspired by the original Blackout mode originally released during the Black Ops 4 era. Player feedback on Black Ops Royale has been mostly positive, but one segment of the community was dissatisfied with the launch: solo queues.

As of today, solo queues have returned to Call of Duty: Warzone and are available for the first time in the Black Ops Royale mode. Additionally, the update also brought Verdansk back online for players who prefer the standard battle royale experience over the Blackout-inspired mode. Battle Royale Casual Quads — a mode that introduces bots into the player mix on Verdansk — has also returned.

📢 Call of Duty: #WarzoneBattle Royale Quads and Battle Royale Casual Quads are live. https://t.co/R4RaVCWFFkMarch 21, 2026

Call of Duty development teams at Treyarch and Raven Software made the call to launch the Black Ops Royale mode with 4-player teams, requiring everybody to drop into the new mode at launch with a quad squad. Those unable to group together enough friends had the option to either drop into their matches at a disadvantage due to a smaller squad size or allow squad fill to pair them up with random players to finish out the team.

The Call of Duty team had also made the decision to remove other modes from Call of Duty: Warzone during the initial launch period, including the Standard Battle Royale experience on Verdansk, casual battle royale modes, and Resurgence on Rebirth Island and Haven's Hollow.

The development team remained steadfast that the decision to limit available modes and squad sizes for Black Ops Royale was necessary for valuable gameplay and player behavior information to be collected. The data from the initial launch will be used alongside player feedback to further adjust and shape the Black Ops Royale experience moving forward.

Raven Software has also warned solo players that because Black Ops Royale was designed with quads in mind, there may be some fine tuning need for the mode to make it more compatible with solo gameplay.

Solos is coming to Black Ops Royale tomorrow!As a reminder, this mode was originally designed and balanced to launch as a Quads experience. While we recognize the strong interest in a Solos option, please be aware that gameplay is not yet fully tuned for a single player… https://t.co/0qzEd0pyv4March 18, 2026

Along with the introduction of Solo queues for Black Ops Royale, the Standard Battle Royale mode set on Verdansk has returned to Warzone after being disabled during Black Ops Royale's launch window.

Warzone is traditionally limited to just one active "big map" at a time to avoid fracturing the player base and keep healthy player counts for faster matchmaking. Players can now drop in on Verdansk in Standard Battle Royale or Avalon on Black Ops Royale.

Call of Duty: Warzone players can expect solo and quad queues for most Warzone modes this week. (Image credit: Activision)

Players also have a large variety of gameplay modes and maps to choose from with this latest update. The Resurgence playlist will rotate on a timer between Rebirth Island and Haven's Hollow with queues for solos, duos, and quads.

Resurgence Casual Quads is also live on a timer between Rebirth and Haven's Hollow. A limited-time Extreme Resurgence mode is also active with 100 players on a small map for quick 11-minute matches, but it is quads-only on Haven's Hollow.

Battle Royale playlists are limited to Casual Quads or standard Quads on Verdansk. 3-person squads who don't want to pick up a random only have Ranked Resurgence as an option for this week.

Raven Software has also published a blog post with patch notes for bug fixes across Call of Duty: Warzone. Among those fixes are:

Increased audio radius for redeploy towers in Black Ops Royale.
Point turret health reduced from 60-45.
Stim shot movement bonus reduced from 8-6%, duration increased from 3 seconds to 4.
Concussion grenade stun duration increased from 1.15 seconds to 1.2 seconds.
Reactive armor EMP effect removed in Resurgence due to the removal of the Cold-Blooded perk.
Death Machine adjusted to deal 2-5% vehicle health damage per bullet, depending on vehicle class.
Smoke Screen adjusted in Resurgence so that it now deploys in a line parallel to player direction, initial impact now occurs at targeted location, and then continues forward for 5 impacts. Deployment delay reduced from 5.25 to 2.5 seconds.
Trauma kit overhealth is now visible to teammates in Black Ops Royale.
Armor Damage rarity color has been adjusted in BOR.
An indicator is now displayed for players who fire at an enemy vehicle occupied by a player using Engineer.
Event rewards are now properly displayed in the menu.
Operator challenges now track properly.
Map geometry has been fixed to stop player exploits.
Deadeye Drone now displays enemy markers on the HUD.
Black Ops Royale matches now count toward the Ranked Play unlock requirement.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) obliterated its all-time high player count on Steam — and kept on going

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:51:24 +0000

Update March 21: A day after the original post and new peak player count, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) continued to climb. It set a new peak player count of 53,410 players on Steam, at one point, having more active players than Bungie's brand-new title, Marathon. Crazy stuff. Original post follows.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare first launched in October 2019, which was more than six years ago. It's held in high regard by a lot of the player base, and, of course, it's a game many played a lot of through the global pandemic of 2020.

What wasn't on my 2026 bingo card was seeing a huge surge in players, at least on Steam. The game didn't go onto Steam for a few years after launch, so it never really caught on, but in the last 24 hours, it has surged to an all-time high player count.

The reason? It's currently just $6 as part of the Steam Spring Sale. That's less than half of what it's going for in the current Battle.net sale. I mean, for $6, it's pretty much a no-brainer, and with Modern Warfare 4 heavily rumored to be Call of Duty 2026, why not go back to where it all began?

Modern Warfare wasn't just a reboot of one of Call of Duty's flagship franchises; it was a significant shift in just about every aspect of the game. If you put it next to 2018's Black Ops 4, you could easily be fooled into thinking there was more than just a year between them.

It was based on a completely new engine, which not only changed the look and feel of the game, but the movement and gunplay were also seriously upgraded. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't like it initially. But that was mostly because I spent a year getting half-decent at Black Ops 4, and then it changed completely.

Modern Warfare is also where Warzone began. Blackout may have been the first Call of Duty battle royale experience, but not long after began the free-to-play mode we all know and sometimes appreciate today.

I've already snagged myself a copy. I originally had it on Battle.net, but I managed to lock myself out of that account entirely, so it's gone. I also never actually played the campaign (nor the campaigns from the following two Modern Warfare titles), so I guess it'll be good to get up to speed before it returns later this year.

Or, you know, if you're bored of Black Ops 7, it's a cheap way to play something different. For me, between this and Game Pass, I can at least play all the recent Modern Warfare campaigns now before the next one drops.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare may have launched in 2019, but it holds a special place in fans' hearts. It brought a completely new engine and a new way to play and set the groundwork for Call of Duty games to this very day, including bringing Warzone along with it. At this price, it's simply not worth missing. View Deal

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How to complete the New Orders Operator Order and unlock the Bogey Camo in Call of Duty: Warzone Black Ops Royale

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:56:52 +0000

Call of Duty: Warzone Black Ops Royale has landed and the new Avalon experience brings with it a number of fresh challenges with mode-exclusive rewards.

There are nine Operator Orders to complete, all challenges with cryptic descriptions that are merely there to point you towards the right locations on the map.

One of the more straightforward Operator Orders is New Orders, which rewards one of the three total weapon Camos available from Black Ops Royale. It doesn't require you to fight (if you're lucky) and you don't have to finish a full match. Here's what you need to do.

How to complete the New Orders Operator Order in Black Ops Royale

There are two locations where you can get this Operator Order done, either at Golf Club or Chop Shop. I did Chop Shop, as documented in the video above, and I'd recommend this because it's a smaller POI and easier to get done quickly.

Drop into Chop Shop and head for the roof of the largest building. Run along and drop onto the yellow gantry at the end, and you'll find the phone.

Interact with the phone to start the New Orders Operator Order, and the next step will trigger.

Drop into Chop Shop and head for the roof of the largest building. Windows Central

Head off the roof to the yellow gantry and find the phone to trigger the start of the Operator Order. Windows Central

Within Chop Shop find 10 paint cans. Windows Central

When you've collected all 10 the Bogey camo will be yours!Windows Central

As with the Lost Tags Operator Order, you have to collect 10 paint cans from within the POI, and the search area will be highlighted on your minimap with a red circle.

Just run around and check all the buildings, on top of world items such as tables, on the floor, inside, and outside; there are plenty of locations they can spawn. Chop Shop isn't very big, so if you have a squad or you're at least without any enemies nearby, you'll be able to find them all in just a couple of minutes.

Once you collect all 10, the Bogey Camo unlocked message will pop up on the screen, and it's yours (and your squadmates') to keep forever. You do need to collect all 10 in a single match, though. If you fail, you'll have to start over from the first step.

And as an added bonus, you'll get 5,000 XP as well as the Camo upon completion. I think the Spotted Camo from the Lost Tags Operator Order looks better than this one, but it's still not a bad looker on its own.

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How to complete the Memories Operator Order and unlock the Landfall Operator skin in Call of Duty: Warzone Black Ops Royale

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:22:43 +0000

Call of Duty: Warzone Black Ops Royale is finally here, bringing with it a host of new challenges and rewards to unlock.

Some of these are the Operator Orders, nine challenges with cryptic descriptions that give you a little hint but largely leave you to figure them out for yourself.

One of the Operator Orders is called Memories and unlocks the Landfall Operator skin for Black Ops 7's central character, Mason. Unlike, say, the Lost Tags Operator Order, which involves collecting some items, this one takes a little more effort. Here's how to get it done.

How to complete the Memories Operator Order in Black Ops Royale

The initial clue for Memories simply points you in the direction of the Stadium and that you need to find a shirt. Stadium is pretty big, but there's one location you should usually be able to find the shirt if you can get there quick enough.

Drop in, and you need to land inside, specifically on the North Stand, above the bottom couple of rows of seats. Go into the concourse area and locate a blue container on wheels. The shirt will be on top of it, so pick it up to trigger the next step.

This will take you over to Heliport, which is a long way from Stadium. You're told to look for a photo, but the harder part is getting there. Sometimes a helicopter will spawn on the pitch, so this is your best bet. If there isn't one, get there as fast as you can by any means necessary.

The first step is to head to the stadium and aim for the North Stand (right-hand side in this image.)Windows Central

On the concourse halfway up the stand, locate this blue object with the Memories item on top.Windows Central

When heading to Heliport aim for the main entrance to this building. Windows Central

Behind the desk you need to interact with this photo on the wall. Windows Central

Finish the match in the top five and the reward is yours. Windows Central

Once you get to the Heliport, head inside the main building, and in front of you will be the "D'Avalon Heliport" desk. Directly behind it on the wall is a photo in a frame of four fighter jets.

Interact with it to read the note (no spoilers, but it's from a familiar Black Ops character), and this will trigger the final step.

Now you have to finish in the top five to complete the Operator Order and unlock the reward. How you do this is entirely up to you. Personally, I took the snake approach, staying as close to the edge of the circle as possible and avoiding trouble until safely inside the top five.

Once the match ends, you'll see a message on screen saying "+750 Operator Order Complete" and in the after-action lobby, you'll see your new Landfall Operator skin and a cool 10,000 XP for your troubles.

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How to complete the Lost Tags Operator Order and unlock the Spotted Camo in Call of Duty: Warzone Black Ops Royale

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:28:42 +0000

Call of Duty: Warzone Black Ops Royale is finally here, and with it are some new rewards to unlock for completing challenges.

Of these are the Operator Orders, a series of challenges with somewhat cryptic descriptions that are merely there to point you vaguely in the right direction.

One of the 'easier' ones to complete is the Lost Tags Operator Order, which unlocks the new Spotted weapon Camo. I say 'easier' because it's one of the challenges that doesn't require fighting other players. All you know is that it's in the Old Arsenal area of the map. Here's how to get it done.

How to complete the Lost Tags Operator Order in Black Ops Royale

The Operator Order simply tells you to find lost dog tags in the Old Arsenal area; from there, you're on your own. To get it done, follow the steps below and highlighted in the video clip above.

To find the dog tags and begin the Operator Order, first drop into the Old Arsenal POI. Specifically, you want the tall red construction in the middle.

Head inside it and go to the top floor and locate the desk. On it you'll find the dog tags, so interact to pick them up and you'll unlock the ability to complete the rest of the challenge.

Drop into Old Arsenal and head for the tall red construction in the middle of the POI. Windows Central

Head to the desk and pick up the dog tags. Windows Central

Once you have the tags you have to look around Old Arsenal for 10 of these paint cans. Windows Central

The rest of the challenge is to pick up paint cans from within the Old Arsenal area. They have to be from here; paint cans from any other Operator Order elsewhere on the map won't count towards it. You also need to collect all 10 in a single match; otherwise you'll need to start over again.

I wish I had a specific guide to where to find them all, but it does appear to vary. You simply need to explore. Get inside buildings and look on top of items outside such as barrels; you just have to scour the entire area.

Once you've collected 10 paint cans, the Operator Order is complete, and you'll have yourself the smart-looking Spotted Camo!

This is just one of nine Operator Orders you can complete in the new mode, with another Camo to unlock, Operator skins and more. See you in Avalon!

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Call of Duty: Warzone is testing Casual mode bots in Black Ops Royale, and oh boy, everyone's pissed — "The Warzone scene is cooked"

lowryb3865@gmail.com (Brendan Lowry) — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:10:54 +0000

Xbox and Activision's massively popular free-to-play battle royale shooter Call of Duty: Warzone is about to get one of its most highly anticipated additions with Black Ops Royale, a no-loadout mode heavily inspired by the Blackout mode from Black Ops 4. It's the biggest piece of content in Season 2: Reloaded, and it's only hours away from its global release.

What should be a time of feverish excitement and anticipation, however, has quickly become mired in controversy after the Call of Duty team announced that next week, it plans to test having bots play alongside players in Black Ops Royale lobbies in Europe and the Middle East.

This is similar to the Casual mode currently available for the standard Call of Duty: Warzone battle royale experience, which makes the majority of a match's occupants AI-controlled bots and only features a small amount of actual players.

"Over the past year, we’ve learned a lot from introducing bots through Casual experiences across Battle Royale and Resurgence. Those modes helped us better understand how to deliver the best gameplay experience in Call of Duty: Warzone across the player population," wrote the developers. "With the launch of Black Ops Royale in Season 02 Reloaded, we’re continuing to build on those learnings with a regional matchmaking test in the new mode."

The devs say "We will, as always, gauge success based on player data and player feedback" as and after the tests run, and also noted that the current Casual playlist for Warzone won't be available while bots are being tested in Black Ops Royale.

📢 Call of Duty: #Warzone Over the past year, we’ve learned a lot from introducing bots through Casual experiences across Battle Royale and Resurgence.Those modes helped us better understand how to deliver the best gameplay experience in Call of Duty: Warzone across the…March 12, 2026

Since the option to play the Casual versions of Warzone attracts those who may not be very skilled at PvP or simply want a less stressful gameplay experience, the Call of Duty team likely wants to offer something similar with the new Black Ops Royale mode. However, the fact that bots are being tested in regular matches instead of in a separate playlist has angered many in the community.

At the time of writing, the post in which the developers announced their testing plans has been "ratioed" with a higher number of comments than likes, and the vast majority of them are harshly criticizing the upcoming test.

"PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD TAKE BOTS OUT THANK YOU," wrote TimTheTatman, one of the biggest streamers on Twitch. "The Warzone scene is cooked if/when this gets pushed to the entire game in all regions," said another content creator worried that this will be a slippery slope.

"Being forced to play against bots in a (previously) pure PvP environment takes so much away from the experience. Opting in to play with bots (casuals mode) is fine but forcing it is a big L," he continued.

Lots of competitive-minded players have rallied behind all of Warzone's big content creators complaining about the bot testing, and some even argue that the presence of any Casual-like offerings at all dilutes the experience and problematically splits up the player base. Others, though, assert that a Casual experience with bots is good for the game, and ensures everyone has a version of the game they'll enjoy.

Ultimately, I think making a Casual version of Black Ops Royale and keeping bots out of regular matches as the devs did with normal Warzone would be the best idea, so hopefully that's what Activision does after these tests run. Still, not testing bots in a separate playlist is a bold choice, and has stirred up quite a storm ahead of Black Ops Royale's launch.

🗨️ Do bots have a place in Black Ops Royale?

With many different Call of Duty fans weighing in, I'm curious to hear from you. Do bots have a place in Warzone's new Black Ops Royale mode, either in a separate Casual playlist or as part of the core experience?

Share your thoughts in the comments below, and make sure to vote in our poll:

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How to complete the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 "Altitude Tactics" event as fast as possible — unlock the new weapon in flash

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:39:37 +0000

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is now in its second mid-season content rotation with the launch of Season 02 Reloaded.

While a new Zombies map, Paradox Junction, and the new Black Ops Royale mode are the headline stealers, there's plenty of other goodies to enjoy.

The first event of Season 02 Reloaded, Altitude Tactics, is here, and the mastery reward for completing it is the new Voyak KT-3 assault rifle. As it's an XP event, the good news is you can make it really fast and relatively painless to complete and get the rewards.

How to finish the Black Ops 7 Altitude Tactics event as fast as possible

(Image credit: Windows Central)

As Altitude Tactics is an XP event, to complete it and gain all the rewards, all you need to do is gain XP, with 250,000 required in total. All rewards are available to all players; there's no premium track you can buy.

To get the Voyak KT-3 you need to get enough XP to first get all six of the regular rewards. These include a new Universal Camo, Calling Card, Weapon Charm, and more.

There's no right and wrong way to get XP fast, but there are some things you can do to speed it up.

The first thing I recommend is to avoid Multiplayer. Even with 2XP enabled, XP gains in Multiplayer are going to be slower for most of us. My personal preference is to use Endgame, as it's a really easy way to rack up a lot of XP in a short space of time when 2XP events are on as they are now.

The image above shows how much XP I gained from a single match in Endgame, almost enough to unlock the first three rewards. Just drop in, do activities, get as many eliminations as you can, and get out. Rinse and repeat.

Endgame is a really solid way of getting lots of XP quickly and stress-free. (Image credit: Windows Central)

The other mode I always turn to when trying to get events like this done fast is Warzone Casual. Since it's mostly bots, it's not that hard to get lots of XP from a single match. With the added bonus that you get an XP boost if you also own Black Ops 7.

The other tip is to do as many things as you can that reward XP while you're playing your matches. If you've still got Camos to unlock, do some of those, likewise Calling Card or Dark Ops challenges. It's also good to work on the daily and weekly challenges at the same time, since those are essentially free XP on top.

Stack as many XP-gaining things as you can in the mode you're most comfortable in, and take advantage of the 2XP weekend (or tokens if it's expired when you're reading this), and you'll have the event finished in absolutely no time at all.

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Here's exactly when you can play the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies map, Paradox Junction

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 22:00:29 +0000

Season 02 Reloaded is upon us for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, but it's a little bit of an unusual rollout when it comes to the content.

Besides the hotly anticipated Black Ops Royale mode coming to Warzone, Black Ops 7 Zombies is getting its third big map, too, Paradox Junction, following on from Ashes of the Damned and Astra Malorum.

Ordinarily we'd expect update content to go live on a Thursday, but that's not the case this time around. Here's exactly when you can play Paradox Junction.

When does Paradox Junction go live in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies?

So, when can you play?

Paradox Junction goes live with the bulk of the Season 02 Reloaded content on Wednesday, March 11, at 9am Pacific.

For those on the East Coast, that's 12pm, and thanks to the U.S. having put its clocks forward, it'll be live an hour earlier for those of us in Europe. The UK will go live at 4pm with it being 5pm in mainland Europe.

As it's a new map, as is traditional, there will be no Directed Mode for a little while. Players can also unlock a series of rewards for completing the main easter egg:

A new Blundergat Wonder Weapon Skin, Calling Card, and 10,000 XP.
Complete Paradox Junction Mastery Challenge for another Calling Card and 5,000 XP.
Obtain the necessary Intel — Audio Logs, Documents, and Artifacts — to earn a third Calling Card and another 10,000 XP.
Players who complete the Main Quest before Directed Mode arrives for this map will also earn a unique Calling Card variant.

As on the existing maps, Cursed Mode will be unlocked upon completion of the main easter egg, and there are new relics to uncover.

Paradox Junction will also have a leaderboard event during Season 02 Reloaded, with another raft of time-limited rewards to get your hands on.

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Black Ops Royale ditches player loadouts for upgradable weapons in new Call of Duty: Warzone mode — here's how they work

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 21:06:56 +0000

Put down that Kar98. Toss aside your M4A1. Call of Duty: Warzone's next big update introduces the Blackout-inspired mode, Black Ops Royale, and it's bringing some big changes to weapon loadouts.

Call of Duty: Warzone's meta loadouts are a thing of the past. Rather than rapidly completing contracts to earn cash to buy your favorite gear, Black Ops Royale will require players to earn their victories with nothing more than what they can scavenge from Avalon.

As with standard Warzone, Black Ops Royale will feature supply boxes — regular and Guild-branded — that will spit out weapons, armor plates, tacticals, killstreaks, and consumable perks.

Weapon rarity will return, but the newly introduced Build Archetype will change the way you can upgrade and build out your weapons while on the ground in Avalon.

Weapon rarity in Black Ops Royale

Weapon rarity affects the attachments available on your guns. Attachment kits help to increase rarity for better weapon stats. (Image credit: Activision)

Weapon rarity doesn't change much from standard Call of Duty: Warzone gameplay to Black Ops Royale, but one notable difference is that all weapons will have five predetermined attachments.

While all five attachments are visible in the upgrade path for every weapon, only the number of attachments currently active for that rarity is highlighted. The remaining attachments remain grayed out until the weapon is upgraded to that rarity. This provides players a chance to get visual intel on potential upgrades for a weapon at a quick glance.

Weapon rarity and attachment count are:

Common (Gray): One attachment
Uncommon (Green): Two attachments
Rare (Blue): Three attachments
Epic (Purple): Four attachments
Legendary (Orange): Five attachments (maximum for normally secured weapons)

The available attachments can be viewed by inspecting the weapon, checking the Tac Map > Upgrade Path menu, or when you upgrade the weapon. Attachments that are highlighted are visually fixed to the weapon and active upon pickup, while grayed-out attachments are automatically added to the weapon as its rarity is increased.

Attachment kits can be found and used to upgrade a weapon's rarity, with the end goal of unlocking all predetermined attachments for your weapon. There's no swapping out for meta loadouts or planning your own gun builds. Black Ops Royale is all about the scavenger experience. Attachment kits are easy to spot thanks to their signature purple glow.

Players will need to find attachment kits in loot to upgrade weapon rarity. (Image credit: Activision)

Weapon archetypes and building for playstyles in Black Ops Royale

The weapons you loot in Black Ops Royale are play tested and built to cater to distinct playstyles, creating Weapon Archetypes. Archetype themes are named according to the playstyles they cater to, with the Call of Duty team having shared builds named "CQB", "Raider", "Covert", "Viper", "Heavy Metal", "Stalker" ahead of launch.

The team also shared an example of the "Covert" archetype, describing it as the AK-27 with a silencer and extended magazine size.

Weapon archetypes aren't locked into specific locations, and any archetype can be looted from any supply box in Avalon. However, the available looted weapons are exclusively from the Black Ops 7 armory. Weapons from Modern Warfare and Black Ops 6 will not be a part of the loot pool for Black Ops Royale.

Weapon archetypes are built out to cater to specific playstyles. (Image credit: Activision)

The following weapon archetype themes are to be expected in Black Ops Royale; however, weapon archetype availability and stats may be adjusted throughout the season:

Assault rifle types include CQB, Recon, and Covert. (Image credit: Activision)

Assault rifle archetype: CQB
- Front line and aggressive loadout that bridges the gap between an AR and SMG. Available on the M15 MOD 0, DS20 Mirage, Peacekeeper Mk1, and EGRT-17.
- Potential upgrades include increased ADS speed, sprint-to-fire speed, sprint speed, aim-walking speed, horizontal recoil control, 45-round mag, red dot optic.
Assault rifle archetype: Recon
- Veteran long-range player, built for holding positions and challenging at range. Available on the M15 MOD 0, AK-27, MXR-17, Maddox RFB, EGRT-17.
- Potential upgrades include increased vertical recoil control, horizontal recoil control, bullet velocity, all damage ranges, flinch resistance, 3x scope, 60-round mag.
Assault rifle archetype: Covert
- Under the radar gameplay, maintaining accuracy and stealth. Available on the AK-27, MXR-17, DS20 Mirage, Peacekeeper Mk1, Maddox RFB.
- Potential upgrades include a suppressor, increased mid-damage range, aiming movement speed, vertical recoil control, non-sprint speed, ADS speed, 45-round mag, 2x scope, and a laser.

SMG archetypes include Burner, Stalker, and Mantis. (Image credit: Activision)

SMG archetype: Burner
- Built for close-quarters combat with fast movement and improved reaction times. Available on the Ryden 45K, Razor 9mm, Kogot-7, REV-46.
- Potential upgrades include ADS speed, sprint-to-fire speed, rate of fire, sprint movement speed, hipfire spread, iron sights, and a 40-round mag.
SMG archetype: Stalker
- For the flankers who want to stay under the radar. Available on the Ryden 45K, Razor 9mm, Dravec 45, Carbon 57, Sturmwolf, Kogot-7, REV-46.
- Potential upgrades include suppressed fire, aiming movement speed, horizontal recoil control, non-sprint speed, damage range, hybrid scope (1x vs 2x) or MM optic, 40-round mag.
SMG archetype: Mantis
- Bridging the gap between SMG and Assault Rifles by improving effectiveness at SMG's max ranges. Available on the Dravec 45, Carbon 57, and Sturmwolf.
- Increased stats include damage range, bullet velocity, vertical recoil control, horizontal recoil control, flinch resistance, 2x scope, 50-round mag.

Shotgun archetypes include Raider, Bug Out, and Striker. (Image credit: Activision)

Shotgun archetype: Raider
- Designed for aggressive rushers running the M10 Breacher or Echo 12.
- Increased stats include sprint speed, sprint to fire speed, aimed walking speed, hipfire spread, ADS speed, and fire rate.
Shotgun archetype: Bug Out
- Built for steady aim and combat readiness on the M10 Breacher.
- Increased stats include damage range, ADS pellet spread, vertical recoil, aiming movement speed, magazine size.
Shotgun archetype: Striker
- Good damage up close, but better and more effective damage at mid-range. Available on the M10 Breacher.
- Improved aiming movement speed, ADS pellet spread, damage range, and ADS speed.

LMG archetypes include Lockdown, Patrol, and Heavy Metal. (Image credit: Activision)

LMG Archetype: Lockdown
- Intended for those who want to hold down a position, at the cost of mobility. Available on the Sokol 545.
- Attachment improvements include suppressed fire, aiming movement speed, ADS speed, horizontal recoil, movement speed, rate of fire.
LMG archetype: Patrol
- For the more mobile LMG-fans, available on the MK.72 and XM325.
- Increased stats include sprint speed, sprint-to-fire speed, aimed movement speed, vertical recoil control, hipfire spread, red dot optic.
LMG archetype: Heavy Metal
- Long-range engagements with heavy firepower on the MK.76, Sokol 545, and XM325.
- Increased stats via attachments include vertical and horizontal recoil, damage range, flinch resistance, ADS speed, and bullet velocity.

Marksman rifle archetypes include Scout and Widow while Sniper rifle archetypes include Viper and Redacted. (Image credit: Activision)

Marksman rifle archetype: Scout
- Mobile, with quick target identification and engagement. This one's for the would-be quickscopers using the M34 Novaline.
- Increased stats via attachment kits include damage range, magazine size, aiming idle sway, and flinch resistance.
Marskman rifle archetype: Widow
- For the stealthy, this M34 Novaline archetype is for those who want to stay under the radar without sacrificing mobility.
- Increased stats include suppressed fire, aiming movement speed, ADS speed, vertical recoil control, and fire rate.
Sniper rifle archetype: Viper
- If you want a heavy-hitting rifle that can take out foes in one shot, this VS Recon archetype is what you're looking for in Avalon.
- Attachment increases include bullet velocity, flinch resistance, aiming idle sway, vertical recoil control, and rechamber speed.
Sniper rifle archetype: Redacted
- It's not Black Ops without a little redaction. This Hawker HX archetype favors shooting and movement with stealth.
- Increased stats include suppressed fire, bullet velocity, damage range, rechamber speed, ADS, and flinch resistance.

Pistol archetypes include CQB, Akimbo, and Sentinel. (Image credit: Activision)

Pistol archetype: CQB
- Similar to the assault rifle archetype of the same name, CQB is built for close-range engagements with a quickdraw Jäger 45.
- Increased stats include ADS speed, sprint to fire speed, sprint speed, fire rate, and magazine size.
Pistol archetype: Akimbo
- Two is better than one, so dual-wield CODA 9 pistols for rapid engagements.
- Upgrades include dual wield, hipfire spread, sprint-to-fire speed, sprint speed, damage range, and magazine size.
Pistol archetype: Sentinel
- Pistol fans can enjoy stealthy gameplay too with the Velox 5.7.
- Kit upgrades include suppressed fire, damage range, vertical recoil, aiming movement speed, magazine size, 1x optic.

Launchers, specials, and melee weaponry can also be looted in Black Ops Royale. However, these weapons will not feature archetype themes.

Exotic weapons offer an exception to the rules of archetypes

Exotic weapons are exceedingly rare and sometimes only one can be found per match. (Image credit: Activision)

It's not Call of Duty: Warzone without a little chaos thrown in for good measure. Exotic weapons offer a deviation from normal weapon rarity and archetype rules. These weapons might feature unique abilities that can turn the tide of battle, but you're going to have to struggle a little more to get your hands on them.

Exotic weapons can have up to eight attachments and feature the Ultra (gold) rarity level. There's no need for weapon kits; they're already maxed out immediately. There could be as few as one per match, so good luck getting your hands on one.

An example of an exotic weapon players can find in Black Ops Royale is the "Backdrive", a Dravec 45 SMG variant featuring eight attachments and some additional abilities just to make things spicy.

"Backdrive" Dravec 45 exotic SMG
- 45% Improved Damage Range
- 40% Faster Reload Speed
- 30% Faster Jog, Sprint & ADS Move Speed
- 80 Round Mag
- 50% Faster ADS Speed
- 70% Faster Sprint to Fire Speed
- Reflex Optic
- 10% Faster Fire Rate
- 40% Reduced Recoil

Equipment and scorestreaks, new and returning

Customized loadouts are out for Black Ops Royale, but there is still plenty of equipment and score streaks that can be found in supply boxes as loot. The following gear is confirmed for Black Ops Royale:

Tactical gear can be found as supply box loot. (Image credit: Activision)

Tacticals
- EMP Grenade (Uncommon)
- Flashbang (Common)
- Grappling Hook (Uncommon)
- Psych Grenade (Common)
- Sensor Dart (Rare)
- Smoke Grenade (Common)
- Stim Shot (Common)
- Stun Grenade (Common)

Black Ops Royale's available lethals include needle drones, cymbal monkeys, and frag grenades. (Image credit: Activision)

Lethals
- Cluster Grenade (Uncommon)
- Combat Axe (Uncommon)
- Cymbal Monkey (Rare, only from Cradle Breaches)
- Frag Grenade (Common)
- Needle Drone (Rare)
- Point Turret (Rare)
- Sticky Grenade (Common)

Available field upgrades include the armor box, echo unit, and trophy system. (Image credit: Activision)

Field Upgrades
- Armor Box (Common)
- Bubble Shield (Rare)
- Deployable Cover (Common)
- Echo Unit (Common)
- Munitions Box (Uncommon)
- Trauma Kit (Uncommon)
- Trophy System (Common)

Scorestreaks round out the available gear, with eight streaks making the cut for Black Ops Royale. (Image credit: Activision)

Scorestreaks
- D.A.W.G.
- Deadeye Drone
- Death Machine
- Hand Cannon
- HKDs
- Psych Bomb
- RC-XD
- War Machine

In addition to confirmed equipment, the Call of Duty team has also confirmed the return of inventory equipment items like the armor satchel and tiered armor vests, redeploy tokens, and a new safecracker drive, which grants access to Guild Safes across Avalon.

Despite Black Ops Royale sitting alongside standard Warzone Battle Royale modes in Call of Duty: Warzone, it is expected to make significant changes to how players experience the game.

The changes to loadouts will force players to adapt in real time, even when the stakes are high, and utilize weapons and equipment as they are available rather than rushing for the safety of their personal custom loadouts.

The change should also shake up the reliance on weapon metas, instead encouraging players to pick up and use weapons that best suit their playstyles. Will you run and gun or wait for an ambush?

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Activision details the Season 2 Reloaded update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 — a fresh round of Multiplayer, Endgame, Zombies, and Warzone content is on the way

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 21:37:14 +0000

Earlier this week, Treyarch and Raven Software unveiled the next major change coming to Call of Duty: Warzone with the launch of Season 2 Reloaded, scheduled for March 12. The massive reveal of the new battle royale mode, Black Ops Royale — inspired by the Black Ops 4-era mode known as Blackout — could certainly have stood on its own as the next update for the massively popular series, but the development team wasn't ready to stop there.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 2 Reloaded is set to kick off on March 11, and the mid-season update is ready to throw some new content into the mix to keep things fresh while everybody works on finishing off those Season 2 battle passes. Here's what you can look forward to for each Black Ops 7 mode when Season 2 Reloaded goes live:

Endgame gets new Nightmare Skills and Glitch Fracture

Season 2.5 for Black Ops 7 introduces Glitch Fractures which send players to epic showdowns in an off-map arena. (Image credit: Activision)

Black Ops 7's Endgame mode is a massive PvE experience set on the Avalon world map, offering a variety of activities for players to level up, camo grind, and explore the world of Black Ops. Endgame has provided an outlet for continuing the Black Ops 7 storyline and gives players the chance to battle it out against the game's big bad, The Guild, with the occasional dip into some Zombies play via Nightmare Zones

Endgame is reminiscent of the DMZ mode and Modern Warzone Zombies experiences from previous Call of Duty titles, but with some distinctly unique Black Ops twists. Following the game's original launch, the Call of Duty development team has used Endgame as a playground for Black Ops' more outrageous ideas, and that continues with Season 2 Reloaded.

That creative take on the world of Avalon continues as Season 2 Reloaded will introduce a new Glitch Fracture to Endgame wherein players are teleported off-map to a brand new arena where they face waves of enemies and — eventually — the Glitch Boss itself.

Those who defeat a strike boss to reveal a Glitch Fracture to battle the Glitch Boss and come out victorious will be rewarded with a new, upgradable Nightmare Skill. The Nightmare Skills and their upgrades are as follows:

Nova Strike: Powerful melee strike that generates an electrical field to damage enemies.
- First upgrade: The struck enemy is also shocked by the electrical field.
- Final upgrade: The electrical area persists and shocks enemies who pass through it. This persistent effect will only last briefly and will have a cooldown period between uses.
Phoenix Burst: When health is low, trigger an explosion and fully restore health (with a cooldown between use.)
- First upgrade: Gain full ammo and temporary infinite ammo from the magazine after the explosion.
- Final upgrade: Gain temporary immunity after the explosion.
Hellwing: Wingsuiting over enemies has a napalm effect, dropping an incendiary trail.
- First upgrade: Increases how long the incendiary trail remains on the ground.
- Final upgrade: Flashbangs normal and special enemies within the incendiary area.
Chaos Rounds: Weapon attacks have a chance to trigger secondary effects including Photon, Incendiary, Frost, or Shock.
- First upgrade: More variety for effect pool, includes Graviton, Mortar, Shrapnel, and Neuro-Disruption effects.
- Final upgrade: Enemies hit with Chaos Rounds have a chance to trigger a second, random chaos round on a nearby enemy.
Frost Vortex: Bullets have a chance to create a snowstorm that pulls enemies in.
- First upgrade: Applies Frost to normal enemies in the snowstorm.
- Final upgrade: Applies Frost to Special and Elite enemies in the snowstorm.

Taking out the Glitch Boss to unlock and upgrade your Nightmare Skills is going to require some heavy firepower. Previously, Exotic Weapons were hard to come by, only dropping on extremely rare occasions or as rewards for major boss fights.

Season 2 Reloaded will introduce the Exotic Fabricator, a reward for defeating a strike boss within a Nightmare Zone, that will allow players to upgrade any loadout or field acquired weapon into a full exotic.

There are three upgrades available, with the first upgrading weapon rarity while the second provides an additional utility bonus and the third introduces a random exotic effect. Players who have a fully upgraded weapon or a named Exotic weapon can still benefit from the exotic fabricator which will reroll either the bonus or exotic effect. This is a one-time-use reward, however.

Five new maps to drop for Multiplayer

Torque, Cliff Town, Mission: Peak, Grind, and Firing Range make up the map drop for Season 2.5 in Black Ops 7. (Image credit: Activision)

Treyarch continues stacking the cards in favor of Black Ops 7, dropping an unprecedented number of maps for the second midseason refresh. Five maps will join the playlist rotation, including the small-sized Torque, medium sized Cliff Town, Skirmish map Mission: Peak, and the returning Grind and Firing Range.

Torque is the only brand-new map from the lineup, and it draws on some nostalgia as it is based on The Battle of Los Angeles mission from Black Ops 2 (which is also referenced in Black Ops 7's campaign.) Torque is heavy on wall jump opportunities, littered with explosive vehicles and is destined to become a fan-favorite of everybody with a grenade launcher in their loadout. (Me. I'm the problem, it's me.)

(Image credit: Activision)

Cliff Town also draws on nostalgia as it is a reimagining of the cliff-side town originally seen in Black Ops 2's popular "Yemen" map. Grind is also a Black Ops 2-era map that was previously reintroduced with Black Ops 6 during the TMNT crossover. While crossovers have taken a backseat for Black Ops 7, the popular skate park will be returning for 6v6 playlists.

Firing Range is a fan-favorite map from Black Ops of yesteryear that has cropped back up in recent modern entries, including last year's Black Ops 6 multiplayer.

Joining the impressive list of multiplayer maps, Black Ops 7's 20v20 Skirmish mode will also receive one new map, titled Mission: Peak. Players will battle it out for high value sectors that are scattered through medieval streets, where massive rooftop towers provide valuable lookout posts for would-be snipers.

New multiplayer modes for Black Ops 7 Season 2.5

An array of new playlists will be on tap for Season 2 Reloaded, including new and returning modes:

Gauntlet: 6v6 playlist where teams go against one another in a round of five different game modes played one after the other, including Domination, Kill COnfirmed, Hardpoint, Team Deathmatch, and Roulette. Each mode lasts for two minutes before switching off to the next, with players earning points after each mode ends based on team performance.
Infected: The popular party game returns to pit players against an infected horde — or become one of them! The stakes are higher than ever as the infected team has additional undead enemies to aid them in their quest to take out the survivors. Infected can also earn one of two mutant injection scorestreaks to become a Mangler or a Disciple and wreak some extra havoc.

Paradox Junction, new enemies, and a new Wonder Weapon for Zombies

Say hello to the Radhound, a new addition to the Zombie horde in Black Ops 7 that will feel very un-rad if it gets ahold of you. (Image credit: Activision)

The Warden is continuing his antics in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's zombies mode, dropping the team off for what Treyarch calls a "purgatorial pitstop" at Paradox Junction. The new Zombies mode map is a twist on the beloved multiplayer map, Nuketown.

Paradox Junction also comes with a new enemy, irradiated dogs that are explosive and relentless. These radhounds are foul minions of The Warden that explode upon death and really make a mess out of your day.

But hey, at least there's new wonder weapons — the Bundergat and Sundergat — to help you mow down the undead. The Sundergat is the upgraded form of the Blundergat, and it's powerful enough to blast the "souls" right out of the enemies you aim it at.

Paradox Junction will feature a new main quest, complete with rewards and challenges, as well as its own Cursed mode challenge.

Blackout-inspired mode Black Ops Royale comes to Warzone

Call of Duty's development teams at Raven Software and Treyarch previously unveiled plans to release Black Ops Royale, a new mode for Call of Duty: Warzone inspired by the Black Ops 4-era mode called Blackout, on March 12.

The mode is set to take place on the big map of Avalon, which — up until this point — has only been playable on the PvE mode, Endgame. Black Ops Royale will make significant changes to Warzone's perk system, weapon loadouts, and more.

💬Will you check out the new content for BO7 Season 2 Reloaded?

Season 2 Reloaded is one of the largest mid-season updates we've seen for a modern Call of Duty title, and it sets a precedent for what players will come to expect from future updates. Which modes and maps are you planning to check out when the update drops on March 11? Let us know in the comments.

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Black Ops Royale is Call of Duty: Warzone's big update — Activision delivers a massive intel drop inspired by Black Ops 4, and it's coming sooner than you might think

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Since the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 in November, players have been able to soar by wingsuit over the map of Avalon in the campaign's Endgame, where they fought back against the Guild in a strictly PvE mode. With the next big update coming to Call of Duty: Warzone on March 12 at 9 AM PT/12 PM ET, that changes as players can grab their wingsuits and swoop into Avalon for a PvP Blackout-inspired battle royale experience that will be named Black Ops Royale.

Activision released a very dense deep dive of the new mode on the official Call of Duty blog, breaking down the changes players can expect when Black Ops Royale joins the Warzone roster as a playable mode.

Black Ops Royale is inspired by the original Blackout battle royale experience that originally launched for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. Unlike current Call of Duty: Warzone gameplay, Blackout did not allow players to purchase their preferred loadouts; there were no buy stations on the map, and players used a wingsuit to drop in as opposed to the parachutes we have seen since Warzone took over in 2020.

Those features will return along with additional changes to perks, the introduction of weapon archetypes, and the integration of Black Ops' C-Link HUD. For the first time since Black Ops 7's launch, the advanced tech available in modes like Endgame and Skirmish is also coming to Warzone — including the grapple hook, sensor dart, and trauma kit. These tools were previously left out of Black Ops 7's integration into standard Warzone with Season 1.

What is Black Ops Royale?

Avalon will join map rotation for Call of Duty: Warzone with Verdansk, Rebirth Island, and Haven's Hollow. (Image credit: Activision)

In addition to battling 100 other players to be the surviving squad, players will encounter multiple activities on Avalon that are optional for players to interact with. Players can hunt bounties, crack strongboxes, capture relays, and fight through Guild defenses for high-risk, high-reward squad play. Completing these tasks unlocks UAV sweeps, squadmate redeploys, and useful equipment to help with your survival.

Cradle Breaches will also be introduced to Black Ops Royale. Similar to the spread of the noxious red gas in Avalon on Endgame, some areas of the map in Black Ops Royale will also be shrouded in the Cradle's fumes, spawning hallucinated zombie hordes. As with activities, engaging with these breaches can put your squad at risk, but it also pays off with top-tier rewards should you be able to take down the Mangler boss.

The Cradle Breaches will cause players to hallucinate zombie hordes for a chance to battle the Mangler boss for big rewards. (Image credit: Activision)

Black Ops Royale is set to come to Call of Duty: Warzone alongside the launch of Season 2 Reloaded, which will also add new maps and modes to Multiplayer, new events like the Counter Skies Event starting March 17, new weapons and operator skins, and more.

Mid-season Reloaded updates do not introduce new battle passes, though there are premium pass tracks for event rewards if you're already done grinding through Season 2's battle pass. Season 2 Reloaded and Black Ops Royale will cap off the end of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's second season in April, when Season 3 will usher in the second half of Black Ops 7's post-launch lifespan.

🗨️ Will you dive into Black Ops Royale?

Call of Duty fans have been begging for a return to Blackout, but Warzone players have a death grip on Verdansk.

Are the changes going to be too much for Warzone, or will Black Ops Royale and Avalon flourish?

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Here's exactly when you can play Call of Duty: Warzone Black Ops Royale

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Having been teased since the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, we now finally know more about the new Blackout-inspired battle royale mode we've been waiting on.

Black Ops Royale brings the spirit of the original Call of Duty battle royale experience into Warzone with Season 02 Reloaded.

As it's in Warzone (and unlike the original Blackout) you don't need to own Black Ops 7 in order to play. It's free for all to enjoy, though it does things a little differently, and it's only for Black Ops 7 weapons and equipment.

Exactly when you can play Black Ops Royale in Call of Duty: Warzone

While Black Ops Royale will launch with Season 02 Reloaded, it won't be live at the same time as the rest of the content drops.

Black Ops Royale goes live on Thursday, March 12, at 9pm PT, which is midnight Friday, March 13, on the East Coast, and a more sleep-defying 4am GMT and 5am in mainland Europe.

Black Ops Royale brings the spirit of Blackout to the modern Warzone audience and completely changes up the gameplay. Gone are the loadouts and buy stations; instead, you have to scavenge all of your gear in order to survive and, ultimately, win.

It's set on the new Avalon map that, until now, has only been part of the campaign and the Endgame modes.

This is an original Blackout-inspired Battle Royale with no Loadouts, no Gulag, and no Buy Stations. Wingsuit in, scavenge to survive, upgrade weapons through rarity, master Cradle Breaches, and outlast 24 rival squads on Avalon’s massive warzone.
Activision

The Wingsuit will be a vital tool for traversing the large Avalon map quickly. The original Call of Duty battle royale Perks system is back, albeit with a twist. None of the five slots are fixed, they can be swapped and consumed as needed to give yourself the ultimate edge.

This is one of the biggest changes to Warzone in recent memory, and whether it truly does recapture the glorious old days, time will tell. At least we don't have to wait too much longer.

I'm just wondering if there will be any easter eggs to unlock...

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Do you need to own Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 to play the new Blackout-inspired Black Ops Royale?

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Do you need to own Black Ops 7 to be able to play Black Ops Royale?

Unlike Blackout, which was tied to owning Black Ops 4, Call of Duty's latest incarnation, Black Ops Royale, is free to play. It's part of Warzone, not Black Ops 7, though its weapons, equipment, and map are all tied to this year's game only. Pre-Black Ops 7 weapons will not be compatible with this mode.

Scavenge to survive, and fight through high-stakes chaos to gain theupper hand in Black Ops Royale. Drop into Avalon, gear up, upgrade weapons,and rely on your instincts in an all-new and unique Call of Duty: Warzoneexperience rooted in Call of Duty’s first Battle Royale.
Activision

The long-awaited reveal of the Blackout-inspired mode for Call of Duty has finally happened, and it's coming on March 12 (or March 13, depending on which part of the world you're in.)

Its name could trick folks into thinking they need Black Ops 7 in order to play; after all, the original Blackout was part of Black Ops 4. To play battle royale, you had to buy the whole game.

That's not the case now, as Black Ops Royale will be part of the Warzone package. It's being tagged on as another mode, similar to how Battle Royale and Resurgence currently are.

The difference being it's on Avalon, it has a different ruleset (no loadouts or buy stations, for example), and it uses the Black Ops 7 weapon and equipment catalog. So anything you use on the other modes from previous Call of Duty games won't be part of the loot pool here.

But as Warzone is integrated with Black Ops 7 anyway, you'll be able to enjoy the same leveling progress across both. If you want to get a heads-up on the map layout, though, and you do own Black Ops 7, jump into Endgame and explore!

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Call of Duty sharply denies rumor that Xbox is making a standalone Zombies game — "The rumor factory working overtime. This ain't it."

lowryb3865@gmail.com (Brendan Lowry) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:09:55 +0000

Despite the best efforts of Xbox and Activision to keep details about future updates and projects under wraps, previously unknown Call of Duty information leaks from time to time. One well-known insider and dataminer, TheGhostOfHope, recently claimed the idea of a standalone Call of Duty Zombies game has been considered by Microsoft.

Reportedly, it would presumably be developed by Treyarch and released alongside the next mainline Call of Duty game — believed by many to be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 from Infinity Ward — next year with the next Xbox that's rumored to come in 2027. However, Call of Duty has come out to publicly and sharply deny the existence of said standalone Zombies game.

"The rumor factory working overtime. This ain't it," said the Call of Duty team on the franchise's main account on X (Twitter). Notably, this denial comes just a single day after the rumors of a Zombies-only release began to spread, which is quite a speedy response from the developers.

Soon after the denial was posted, TheGhostOfHope shared a response, criticizing how quickly Call of Duty shut down the rumors and ultimately standing by their original report, asserting that "everybody will forget about them lying in a few years when this stuff comes true."

"Whoever at COD PR came up with denying almost any rumor put out by anybody besides datamined stuff is a genius," they wrote. "Makes leakers look like fools & everybody will forget about them lying in a few years when this stuff comes true LOL. They know what they’re doing I’ll give them that."

The rumor factory working overtime. This ain't it.February 23, 2026

It's worth noting that TheGhostOfHope is considered a credible source of accurate information by many, though some of what they've leaked and reported in the past hasn't ended up coming to fruition. Regardless, it's their word against Call of Duty's and only time will tell which is correct.

A standalone Zombies game would be quite a departure from the norm for Call of Duty, as the PvE co-op horde mode has always been offered as part of the FPS series' complete content suite in past entries.

Personally, while I think Zombies is a lot of fun and has a large fanbase, I do think an entire game of just Zombies would need far more substantial content than what the mode currently has. Without tons of maps, a ton of different weapons, a very diverse array of zombie types, and perhaps some alternative modes, I'm not sure it would sell well.

Then again, the replies to Call of Duty's denial post are full of people telling its developers that they're "out of touch" and that they'd love a standalone Zombies game, so maybe I'm wrong. And maybe TheGhostOfHope is right, and we really will get one alongside the next Xbox console.

Whether we're getting a Zombies-only title alongside a traditional Call of Duty game or just one release, you'll be able to play what's next from the juggernaut shooter franchise with Xbox Game Pass, and PC Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate specifically.

Would you like a standalone Zombies game?

Call of Duty says a standalone Zombies game isn't on the way, but do you believe there's secretly one in development? Would you like to play one, even if one isn't actually coming out? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Call of Duty: Warzone just got MORE easter eggs — here's how to get the Redstorm parachute and Shattered Echo blueprint

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:34:30 +0000

Activision is on a roll with Call of Duty: Warzone since the launch of Season 02, and following the first batch of Secret Challenges, there are now more to complete.

The most recent weekly reset on February 19 added Drop Zones, characterized by red fractures in the sky. Linked to these Drop Zones are the rewards, and it'd be easy to assume they won't be around forever.

The good news is that these secret challenges aren't difficult to complete, and they can be done in Warzone Casual, too. But there is an element of luck involved, so it might take a little time to get everything done.

How to complete the Call of Duty: Warzone Drop Zone secret challenges

Follow the red streaks to find the drop zones. (Image credit: Windows Central)

There are currently three known challenges and associated rewards relating to the Drop Zones, and they can be completed cumulatively across any of the Warzone maps.

The red fractures in the sky have a chance of appearing starting from the second zone, but they don't spawn in every game.

For sheer quantity, Verdansk seems to be the best play, with my own personal best managing to hit 12 items in a single match. But I'm still short of the final reward, so it gives you a little idea of what to expect!

The red fractures will drop crates up to orange rarity, as well as vehicles. You'll know they're the right items because if you're quick enough, you'll still see the red haze around them. If not, just look for things that seem out of place, like a crate in the middle of a road or at an angle.

Redstorm parachute Secret Challenge

We finally have a way to unlock the new parachute. (Image credit: Windows Central)

This Secret Challenge isn't difficult, but it does need at least five matches to be played, and that's if you're lucky with the fractures spawning.

Visit a drop zone in five different matches, and you'll get the Redstorm parachute. It doesn't say anything about interacting with the items dropped in the zones, but the chances are you're going to be doing that, anyway.

Shattered Vision weapon sticker

The Shattered Vision Secret Challenge all needs to be done in the same match. (Image credit: Windows Central)

The Shattered Vision weapon sticker is the reward for interacting with three dropped items in a single match.

Head to one of the Drop Zones and simply open three crates or get inside any vehicles that have dropped, and you'll complete the challenge.

Shattered Echo weapon blueprint

The Shattered Echo blueprint is the most time-consuming of the new rewards to get. (Image credit: Windows Central)

This is the most time-consuming to complete, but still no more difficult than the others.

You simply need to interact with 30 items that come from the Drop Zones across any number of matches, and you'll be rewarded with the very slick-looking Shattered Echo blueprint for the Razor SMG.

There's no way of tracking how many items you've interacted with in-game, so you'll have to count manually to track your progress.

Sure, we can do these Secret Challenges the easy way by using Warzone Casual, but if there's one thing that will get me to play more Warzone, it's stuff to unlock.

I've lost count of how many easter eggs we're up to now since the launch of Season 02, but I wouldn't bet against there being some more still to come. And I'm here for it.

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Everything you can play this week in Call of Duty: Iron Gauntlet, Throwback Moshpit, and a new weekly Camo reward

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:28:59 +0000

The content flow for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has been more like a torrent, with each week bringing something new for players to grind across all its modes and Warzone.

It's not always easy to know exactly what's going on and how long you have to complete challenges and events, play limited time modes (LTM), and decide which modes to focus on.

So, to help, this is your handy weekly bite-sized guide to what's happening in Call of Duty right now. Feel free to bookmark it, as it'll be continuously updated with all the latest content.

Weekly Challenges

This week's weekly challenge reward is a conversion kit for the Razor 9mm. (Image credit: Windows Central)

As every week there are a new set of weekly challenges across all four game modes. The usual applies; complete any six and get the reward.

This week the reward is an attachment for the Razor 9mm SMG, the Wildfire Conversion Kit.

It improves firing rate and bullet velocity while also applying an 85-round magazine, at the cost of reduced movement speed while aiming and applying spread when ADS.

As every week, six challenges across all four modes are all you need, and even if you don't want the attachment, it's another tick towards the season-exclusive reward Camos.

The first of those has also been unlocked this week as we're five weeks into the season. Complete the challenges, and assuming you've done weeks 1 - 4, you'll unlock the animated Sword of Swords Camo. It actually looks really nice, definitely one of the better free Camos we've got so far.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 content this week

Throwback Moshpit in Multiplayer

A playlist of classic maps has been added this week. (Image credit: Windows Central)

In Multiplayer there is a new playlist called Throwback Moshpit, and it's exactly as it sounds.

It uses open matchmaking and consists entirely of the remastered old Black Ops maps, such as Fringe, Standoff, and Meltdown.

Since there's actually a healthy selection of classic maps brought back for Black Ops 7, it's not a bad rotation.

Hunt or be Hunted Multiplayer Exclusive event

Another leaderboard event is inbound, and it's a Multiplayer exclusive. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Hey look, another leaderboard event! And this one is going to be sweaty. That's because it's a Multiplayer exclusive, and it's based around getting as many eliminations as you can.

As with previous events, there will be varying rewards based on your placement in a 30-player ladder, as well as cumulative ones for your total number of eliminations. It'll only be on over the weekend, starting Friday March 6 at 10am Pacific, and will end on Monday March 9.

Additionally, Ranked Play continues, with the same requirement of winning three placement matches to join the ladder.

Call of Duty: Warzone content this week

Iron Gauntlet beta

Loaded Resurgence Casual is sticking around a bit longer in Warzone. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Iron Gauntlet is having a beta run until Monday, March 9, though it will no longer be in place of Ranked Play.

The initial reaction has been mixed, so Raven is turning Ranked Play back on to give players a choice.

Iron Gauntlet is a 150-player mode, duos only, with increased health, increased TTK, increased prices at Buy Stations, and reduced health regeneration.

It also adds the Wall Jump mechanic and the Grappling Hook from Black Ops 7 that will also be present in the new Black Ops Royale mode launching next week.

It's a quieter week than some in Call of Duty, but Season 02 Reloaded drops at the next weekly refresh, and that will be packing a lot of content.

We're just a week out from a new Zombies big map, Black Ops Royale, and the start of the roadmap for the second half of the season.

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The viral Call of Duty "$40 weapon skin" is nothing but inane ragebait farming for engagement

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:06:51 +0000

Ah, here we go again. A viral social media post is getting attention because it's dumping on Call of Duty.

I'll call out Black Ops 7 where it needs calling out, and have done, but this type of thing is just silly. It's ragebait, it's engagement farming, and if it weren't for X's community notes feature, hundreds of thousands of people, maybe more, might believe it as truth.

The post in question — and I hate giving it more attention –—claimed nothing more than to show off a "$40 weapon skin" for Call of Duty. Except it wasn't. It was part of a bundle that cost $20, and it's also from 2024's Black Ops 6 (you can see it in the video above.) And yet, people follow these types of slop accounts for "news and leaks."

$40 weapon skin btw 💀 pic.twitter.com/LYotzBOaL4February 18, 2026

Anyone who's played Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7 knows immediately which game this is from. Yes, it's absurd, but it came out last year, and most of us ridiculed it then, too.

But it was never $40.

This type of junk is one of the biggest problems with gaming as a whole right now. I often say social media was a mistake, and as each day passes, I'm more convinced.

These 'creators' — if you can even call them that — know that nothing gets better engagement than ragebait, and so they play off it. Even with the community note and the comments from people debunking it, it's clear many are happy to just get suckered in.

Activision is big enough that it probably won't be affected, but what if it were a smaller developer? This type of nonsense, no, fake news, could be seriously detrimental.

Black Ops 7 has done a lot better with its cosmetics

A selection of current premium items from the Black Ops 7 store show off a more restrained approach than last year's game. Windows Central

Does Call of Duty have a problem with idiotic skins? Sure. Black Ops 6 was a particularly dark time for that, and the sooner we can forget about American Dad, the better.

Black Ops 7 is hardly grounded in realism, but the premium cosmetics this year have been a significant improvement on the whole. But you also don't have to buy any of them. There are enough blueprints given away in the Battle Pass, and more weapon Camos than ever before to earn completely free.

Social media is determined to do everything it can to rip the game apart; we can't change that. In general, it's a place that thrives on negativity, because that's what gets engagement and, in turn, makes more money for the guilty parties.

Black Ops 7 (campaign aside, because yeah, it's, well, it's a thing) isn't a bad game. There are plenty of reasons not to play that are valid, and that's fine. Just don't get dragged into this type of idiocy. Don't blindly believe everything you see on social media.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 advert has been blocked — cited as "irresponsible and offensive" by viewers

Adam Hales — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:05:11 +0000

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 released back in November 2026, and whether you enjoyed it or not, it has consistently performed well on PlayStation and Xbox, according to Circana, which tracks playtime across platforms

The game has faced controversy both before and after launch, especially around its use of generative AI for in-game assets. However, that is not the focus here.

Instead, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority has stepped in, claiming an advert for the game, which depicted airport security staff getting “frisky” with a member of the public, was “invasive.”

Nikki Glasser in "The Replacer" advert (Image credit: Activision)

Despite the game’s adult age rating, the ASA ruled that one of the “Replacer” adverts, titled Airport Security, depicted inappropriate themes. The campaign features comedian Nikki Glaser alongside Peter Stormare, who reprises his role as The Replacer across these promotions.

Nine viewers complained to the regulator, arguing that the advert trivialized sexual violence. While the authority acknowledged that no explicit imagery was shown, it took issue with the implication that a passenger required a deeper airport security search.

In the trailer, a man was told to remove his clothing while Glasser’s character put on a glove, suggesting an invasive internal search. The regulator concluded the scene portrayed a non-consensual and invasive procedure.

In its ruling, the ASA stated the humor was “generated by the humiliation and implied threat of painful, non-consensual penetration of the man.”

Although the man remained clothed throughout, the authority determined the overall tone trivialized sexual violence. It ruled the advert was “irresponsible and offensive.”

As a result, the advert “must not appear again in its current form.”

Activision’s response and broadcast context

Black Ops 7, like previous Call of Duty games, carries an 18 age rating in the UK. (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Activision Blizzard UK Ltd defended the advert, arguing that it depicted a deliberately exaggerated scene and made the scenario a parody. It said the airport setting had no resemblance to real airport security procedures.

The company maintained that the humor referred to discomfort. It also argued that the advert did not sexualize the act of performing a search.

Before airing, the advertisement was reviewed and approved by Clearcast, which provides pre-clearance for television advertising. It was given an “ex-kids” timing restriction, meaning it was not broadcast during or near children’s programming.

The spot ran in November 2025 on YouTube and video platforms, as well as including television channels ITV and Channel 5.

According to the BBC, this is not the first time a Call of Duty advert has faced action. In 2012, an advert for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 received a daytime ban for depicting characters firing at a truck.

Two additional complaints were also raised about Black Ops 7, relating to alleged drug use. However, the ASA did not uphold that complaint.

You can still view the advert on YouTube if you so wish.

Over to you

Do you agree with the ASA’s decision to block the advert, or do you think it was clearly intended as parody for an adult audience? Let us know in the comments and make sure to take part in our poll below:

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Black Ops 7 is finally giving Call of Duty fans exactly what they’ve wanted for years

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 19:11:35 +0000

One thing we can say for sure about Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is that there hasn't been a shortage of post-launch content. While some of its competitors are experiencing delays and community pushback, Call of Duty players are literally swimming in stuff to do.

As much as I liked Black Ops 6 overall, I got fairly bored by about March, because every week started feeling like the one before it. I just noticed, in fact, that by mid-February, I've already leveled up beyond the point I got to in last year's game overall.

That's because the content is good. The latest content, the Escalation Directive Camo event, especially, I think, is the best post-launch content Call of Duty has seen in some time. Better still, it's completely free with absolutely no upsell.

To get the final Mastery Camo reward, you have to unlock all the individual Mastery Camos in each game mode. (Image credit: Windows Central)

To clarify, I'm excluding things like new game modes and maps from what I'm defining as post-launch content. That stuff is expected, but in a live-service game like Black Ops 7, I don't think it's enough on its own to keep players engaged.

Instead I'm looking at the weekly grind. The stuff that keeps players coming back. Escalation Directive on its own is an event that everyone should play. No premium track means everyone has the same chance to get the same rewards, and since a lot of the game is built around unlocking Camos, it's absolutely perfect.

Events that reward playing the whole game and adding actual challenges are great, more of them, please.

It also encourages players to jump into every mode. Previous events can usually be done across all modes, but there's usually a way to cheese it in a single one. Lest we forget the recent Fallout leaderboard event that turned into a brain rot simulator running around opening crates in Warzone Casual.

The only way to complete Escalation Directive and unlock the Incandescence Mastery Camo is to complete nine challenges in Endgame, Multiplayer, Warzone, and Zombies. Getting folks out of their comfort zone and trying everything the game has to offer.

There are nine Camos in total, with five of them animated. (Image credit: Windows Central)

I don't see anything bad in this at all. Not only are the rewards pretty good, but it's an event that rewards some form of skill. The challenges aren't super difficult, but you have to play the game a certain way to unlock each of them.

I really do think Black Ops 7 and Warzone have been on a roll in recent weeks with the content. I just hope it continues. The Zombies event that launched with Season 02 may have been plagued by bugs, but the premise was spot on. Rewarding players for their ability in-game, not simply their ability to run around collecting items.

That's on top of the win streak Camos in Warzone, which will forever be some of the rarest in the game due to the difficulty in acquiring them. All of this is the type of content I want to see in Call of Duty.

Give us more content that rewards players for playing the game and having to use their ability. Sure, Escalation Directive can be completed by anyone, just as the regular Mastery Camos can, but there's still an actual challenge behind it.

The Multiplayer Mastery Camo from the event is pretty striking. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Escalation Directive is, essentially, a shrunken-down version of the regular Mastery Camo grind, covering all modes, with unique rewards for each, and an 'Ultra Mastery' for doing them all. It's substantial, without being too 'grindy.'

Folks have loved to dump on Black Ops 7 since it came out, but I maintain that Activision really isn't doing bad with it. If you try it and don't like it, that's fine. But I look at some other live service games, and the sheer volume of content we're getting puts many of them in the shade.

Whatever type of mode you prefer and whatever skill level you're at, there is always something to do. Not everything is for everyone, and that's fine. But I'm here for it, and I'm just saying, if you folks want to do another Camo event like this before the next game comes out, I'll take it.

I'm sure I'm not alone on that one.

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Activision confirms spring shutdown date for Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile servers

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 19:23:37 +0000

Activision has confirmed in a support blog that servers for Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile will officially shut down on April 17, 2026.

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile was removed from app stores in May of 2025, but the servers have previously remained online for those who already the game installed to continue playing. The shutdown is the final step to the Warzone Mobile's sunset, and the game will no longer be available to play.

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile officially launched on March 21, 2024, and was the first Call of Duty platform to revive the battle royale's popular Verdansk and Rebirth Island maps following the removal of the initial console and PC edition of Call of Duty: Warzone.

Warzone Mobile was intended to bring an authentic battle royale experience to mobile platforms, while offering cross-progression with Sledgehammer Games' Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) and cross-platform support between console, PC, and mobile.

Activision had organized a multi-studio mobile development organization in order to get Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile off the ground — including teams from Activision Shanghai Studio, Beenox, Digital Legends, and Solid State Studios.

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile was expected to bridge the gap between mobile and console/PC ports of the free-to-play battle royale, but failed to meet Activison's expectations. (Image credit: Activision)

Activision confirmed that the decision to sunset Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is due to its failure to resonate with Call of Duty's mobile-first player base to the same degree that its PC and console counterpart was able to.

Because Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile supported cross-platform progression, players who signed into the soon-defunct battle royale with an Activision account will still be able to access that account on other Activision products, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Call of Duty: Mobile.

However, Call of Duty Points (or COD Points, as they are more commonly known) purchased for Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile will not transfer to other platforms. Activision has advised that players who have COD Points lingering on their Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile account should redeem those points for operators and weapons before servers go offline.

COD fans can still enjoy the series on Call of Duty: Mobile, which recently launched its Season 2 update: Lunar Charge. (Image credit: Activision)

It's not a total wash for Call of Duty fans who are on mobile and still want a free-to-play experience. Call of Duty: Mobile will remain online, and continues to receive regular updates and new content. The free-to-play mobile COD title features Battle Royale, Multiplayer, Zombies, and DMZ: Recon modes with support for Battle Passes, events, and Ranked Play.

A new season of Call of Duty: Mobile just launched alongside the recent Season 2 update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, bringing a slew of Lunar New Year content to celebrate the Year of the Horse.

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Call of Duty is gifting everyone the recent Black Ops 7 event rewards after leaderboard bugs — even if you didn't play it

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 21:41:34 +0000

Season 02 in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 landed with a new in-game event right out of the gate. This time around it was a Zombies-focused event, with leaderboards based on the new Mars Survival map.

But it was plagued by a bug with the leaderboard not tracking properly for many. Since the rewards were linked to your place on said leaderboard, it's pretty frustrating for those affected.

To make amends, Treyarch has announced that the event is effectively null and void, and everyone will be getting the event's rewards. At least, the rewards that aren't Gobblegums.

Mars Leaderboard Event Update: We're making it right.To ensure no one misses out due to inconsistent tracking, we’re granting the following Event Rewards to all Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 players who log on before Season 02 Reloaded:• "Mars" Animated Camo• "Planet Flamingo"… pic.twitter.com/xcJtTWZmwqFebruary 13, 2026

This includes the Mars animated Weapon Camo, which I'm happy about. Because I didn't start the event until the final day and couldn't get to a high enough round to earn it. Score one for being lazy, I guess.

To claim the rewards, though, you need to log in to Black Ops 7 before the start of Season 02 Reloaded. Which gives you at least a couple of weeks, I'd say. The release date hasn't yet been confirmed, but it's usually mid-season. Doing quick math based on the time left on the current battle pass puts it sometime in early to mid-March.

It's actually a shame that this leaderboard event suffered technical woes, because I think it's probably the best one we've had yet. I've been critical of the way leaderboard events have gone so far, with the Fallout-related one being nothing more than brain rot, rewarding only those who had the time to use the best cheese.

Mars is a different type of Survival map from the others, with no doors to spend Essence on opening. (Image credit: Windows Central)

But this one (and I admit, I misread the instructions) rewarded high rounds in Zombies, something that isn't as straightforward as it sounds. Especially not on the new Mars Survival map with its overabundance of Uber Klaus Elites ruining the good time.

But it was a leaderboard event that rewarded some kind of skill at the game. I don't play Zombies nearly enough, and I struggled, but at the end, I felt like I'd actually earned my spot. I worked for it, I tried a few things, and ultimately got as far as my (lack of) skill could take me.

So, credit to Treyarch for making it right by the players who missed out because of the bug, and for giving those of us who didn't make the cut the goodies anyway. If leaderboard events are here to stay, more like this one, please. But without the bugs.

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Two classic weapon blueprints are hiding on Call of Duty: Warzone's Winter Rebirth Island and here's where to find them

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 20:49:46 +0000

As we've already seen with the new Call of Duty: Warzone easter egg on the reworked Rebirth Island, there's a lot more happening than just a bit of snow.

Besides said easter egg and its Nova 7 blueprint reward, there are also a couple of others hiding out in plain sight on the map that anyone can grab.

The caveat is that you don't get to keep these. Once your match completes, they're gone, and you won't find them in your inventory. Nevertheless, in every match on Rebirth Island, you can grab The Paintstorm and the Illusive Phantom right off the rip. Here's where to get them.

Where to find the Illusive Phantom on Winter Rebirth Island in Call of Duty: Warzone

The Illusive Phantom is a world drop on the top of the Lighthouse. First come first served. Windows Central

And here it is in all its glory. Windows Central

The Illusive Phantom is a Kar 98 Marksman Rifle from the Modern Warfare 3 days, and it still packs a punch even compared to the latest Black Ops 7 weapons.

The blueprint has a shimmering appearance, adorned with skulls, and has a decent long-range scope.

To get it, you need to drop onto the top of the lighthouse just south of the Prison POI, and you'll find it waiting. It's first come, first served, though, so if someone else gets there first, you'll need to eliminate them if you want to get your hands on it.

Where to find The Paintstorm on Winter Rebirth Island in Call of Duty: Warzone

You'll find The Paintstorm on this bench just inside the Turbine POI. Windows Central

Splat goes the tracer effect. Windows Central

The Paintstorm is a C9 blueprint from Black Ops 6, with a vivid paintjob and a tracer effect that makes it look like you're shooting — you guessed it —paint.

As with the Illusive Phantom, it's first come, first served. To ensure you're the first to get your hands on it, drop into the map and go straight to the new Turbine POI.

You need to go in the uppermost door, the one closest to the Buy Station, and you'll find it on a bench on the right just inside. Just pick it up, and it's yours for the match.

That's all there is to it. It'd be more worth chasing them down if you got to keep them forever, but both are still pretty strong starting weapons to get.

These are the only two that seem to have been found so far, or as far as I know. But if you come across something else, drop into the comments below and share with us!

Call of Duty: Warzone added a new easter egg to snowy Rebirth Island — here's how to get the secret weapon blueprint while you can

richard.devine@futurenet.com (Richard Devine) — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:23:50 +0000

Update Feb 10: I asked Activision if the easter egg is a permanent addition to the map throughout Black Ops 7 or whether it will depart when the Winter does. An Activision spokesperson told me: "We're happy players have discovered the easter egg on Rebirth Island. Players who want to get their hands on the blueprint shouldn't wait to hunt it down for themselves." Vague, but reading between the lines, that makes me think that it'll be time limited. So best not to wait too long!

Alongside the Season 02 update, Call of Duty: Warzone has seen a fairly extensive update to the Rebirth Island Resurgence map.

It's actually better than we were expecting, and besides the makeover, there's a new easter egg with a secret blueprint reward.

It can be done solo or in a group, and if in a group, once completed, every member should get the rewards. Besides the blueprint, there's also an emblem to be unlocked a little earlier in the process. Here's what you need to do.

It's a decent-looking blueprint for your troubles. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Here's a quick breakdown of the steps you need to follow to complete the Secret Challenge, unlock the Nova 7 Blueprint for the Dravec, and get the Past Secrets Emblem.

How to complete the Rebirth Island Secret Challenge

The location of the first bunker needed for the easter egg. Windows Central

Throw the Molotov at this button. Windows Central

The Computer SSD is in the back of the bunker on this rack. Windows Central

The second bunker is at the bottom of the new Turbine POI. Windows Central

Same again, Molotov this button covered in ice. Windows Central

Note down the sequence shown on this computer. Windows Central

Drop in at the new bunker to the right of Stronghold and south of Living Quarters in the lower portion of the map.
Grab the Molotov which is available to loot nearby.
Throw the Molotov at the iced over button next to the door.
Go inside the bunker and grab the Computer SSD from a box at the back.
Next, go to the new Turbine POI, and locate a second door at the very bottom.
You need to do the same to the button. If you need another Molotov there's an Ammo Cache at the top of the POI.
Once melted, open the bunker and go inside. Whoever has the SSD has to interact with the computer and note the binary sequence shown.

The keypad by the Gulag door. Windows Central

Toggle the lights to match the binary sequence you acquired. On is one, off is zero. Windows Central

When the door unlocks you get the Past Secrets emblem. Windows Central

This switch activates the final step. Windows Central

The notes by the screens tell you whether they need to be engaged or disengaged. Windows Central

Now go to the tunnel that leads under Prison and go to the very back. This is the door to the secret Gulag.
Interact with the keypad to activate the sequence.
The five lights need to match the binary sequence from the earlier step. For zero, do nothing, and the light will stop blinking. For one, toggle to make the light turn green.
When the correct sequence is inputted, the doors will unlock and you'll unlock the Past Secrets Emblem.
Inside the Gulag are seven panels with notes next to them that say whether the panel needs to be engaged or disengaged.
Next to the storage unit containing the blueprint and some Specialist packs, activate the switch to begin the sequence.
In order from one to seven, engage the screens that need to be engaged, and leave the ones that don't.

The final step is the hardest, because you don't have long from activating the sequence to go and complete all of the screens. This part is definitely easier in a group.

The best advice is to scope it out first (or use the video above for guidance) and note down which screens need to be engaged and where they are. That way you can more quickly get them done in the limited time you have.

Rebirth Island has had a serious makeover with snow and some new locations. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Don't worry if you miss it the first time; after a few seconds the system will reset, and you can try again, starting with the switch to engage the sequence.

When you complete it correctly and in time, the storage unit doors will open, and you'll have yourself the brand-new Nova 7 Blueprint for the Dravec SMG. It also drops four specialist packs, enough for everyone on your team.

Both bunkers and the Gulag are also jam-packed with loot, with orange chests in the former and red chests on hand when you make it to the final step. Particularly useful if you didn't manage to get your loadout in the process of completing the Secret Challenge.

Best of all, you can do this in Resurgence Casual, too, to make it a little easier on you and your team. But that's all there is to it. The steps aren't incredibly hard, but you'll need to be as fast as possible because the zone is always moving in. Now I have to start all over again!

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone devs on making one of the biggest live-service games in the world — "Some teams see launch as the finish line. For us, it’s the starting gun"

lowryb3865@gmail.com (Brendan Lowry) — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 20:51:42 +0000

Though online multiplayer games that get updated with new content and important adjustments have been around for over 20 years, it wasn't until we got titles like Destiny and Fortnite that we arguably saw the true birth of the "live service" genre, and its subsequent rise to dominance. Games like these aren't finished products that get occasional patches; they're constantly evolving projects, frequently updated with a steady stream of improvements and additions.

Today, live-service games are some of the biggest in the industry, and it seems like just about everyone is trying to make one. That's led to a very oversaturated market, and a lot of flops like Anthem or the infamous Concord. With so many options available for players, developers have to fiercely compete for their time with rapid content updates and lightning-fast fixes for gameplay and technical issues.

One of the largest, most-successful franchises in the space — and in all of gaming in general — is Call of Duty, Activision's juggernaut FPS series that's now under Microsoft's Xbox banner. Call of Duty routinely brings in huge revenue and drives tons of player engagement on consoles, and as I write this, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and the free-to-play battle royale experience Call of Duty: Warzone is kicking off a gigantic Season 2 update, complete with a stacked roadmap and tons of Battle Pass content.

Ahead of its arrival, I had the opportunity to sit down with developer Treyarch's senior director of production Yale Miller and design director Matt Scronce to discuss the development of Black Ops 7 and Warzone, and how the Call of Duty team adapts to the challenges of keeping players satisfied with regular live-service updates.

A balance of early planning and flexibility is key

A screenshot of Torment, one of three completely new Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 maps that arrives with Season 2, with two more coming in a mid-season update. (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

"For us, it all starts with planning. The volume of content we deliver takes far longer than the window between launch and when players actually see it. A lot of this work begins six to eight months earlier, sometimes more," Miller told me. "Live seasons aren’t an afterthought. You can’t finish the game and then start thinking about post-launch. Players don’t want to wait three or four weeks for something new, and many of them focus on just one mode. Whether it’s Multiplayer, Zombies, or something else, you have to keep delivering."

"Our goal is to have at least Seasons 1 and 2 largely built and playable early [before launch], even if they’re not final. That way we can make meaningful changes," he continued. "It’s about getting content 80 to 90 percent of the way there, then using that last stretch for polish and iteration."

But while the team strives to put together the bulk of upcoming seasons far in advance, it also has to stay "flexible," and be ready to make adjustments based on player feedback given in the current season. That might mean reevaluating plans for different types of post-launch content, for example.

"We see feedback quickly. We do early balance passes, tuning weapons and attachments within the first few weeks. That new meta then feeds directly back into how we approach the post-launch weapons we already had planned," Scronce explained. "It’s layered ... I’d say flexible more than reactive. We build flexibility into the process."

"We’re constantly looking at feedback, whether that’s social media, community reports, or what our PR teams surface. And honestly, a lot of us are just playing the game. You’ll have someone stop by your desk and say, 'Hey, these Akita Akimbos are overpowered in Face Off,'" he added. "That kind of feedback matters. This is a living game, and we treat it that way."

Nothing is ever really done. Even when content ships, that’s just step one. Some teams see launch as the finish line. For us, it’s the starting gun.

Player critique and criticism is very important for the developers' creative process, as it gives them critical guidance on the types of changes or additions it needs to implement. By constantly gathering it, the team can make sure its content updates — and future titles — aren't just coming at a steady cadence, but are delivering what fans want as well.

"Nothing is ever really done. Even when content ships, that’s just step one. Some teams see launch as the finish line. For us, it’s the starting gun," Miller chimed in. "That’s when players jump in, feedback starts rolling in, and everything accelerates. You’re running the race while adjusting your stride. What are players loving? What’s not landing? What can we improve?"

"Some things landed immediately, some were more mixed, and that helps guide what we double down on next season. We also carry those learnings forward, not just season to season, but into how we think about future games."

How does Endgame shake things up?

Endgame is an entirely new PvE Call of Duty experience that's given campaign developers a live-service multiplayer mode to contribute to. (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Another topic of our chat was Endgame — Black Ops 7's brand new open-world co-op PvE experience that supports lobbies of up to 32 players and tasks them with completing missions and boss fights to earn loot before extracting. Endgame is a huge new addition that Treyarch and co-developer Raven Software have made a core pillar of the game alongside campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies mode, so I was curious to learn if it's shaken up the development process.

"When we committed to Endgame, we knew it would be a long-term live experience. We knew we couldn’t just put it out and that’s that," Scronce said. "We had experience from modes like Outbreak and MWZ [previous PvE offerings], so we understood what we were signing up for."

"It does require dedicated teams and resources ... A lot of the folks who worked on the co-op campaign transitioned onto Endgame, so there’s continuity there. That familiarity and excitement carries forward," he continued.

When we committed to Endgame, we knew it would be a long-term live experience. We knew we couldn’t just put it out and that’s that. We had experience from modes like Outbreak and MWZ, so we understood what we were signing up for.

"One of the cool things about Endgame is the variety. Some content is more open-ended and systemic, like exploring Avalon. Other pieces, like Glitches or quest-style content, are more structured and almost campaign-like," Miller added.

"We match work to teams based on strengths. Some groups are great at systemic gameplay. Others excel at more scripted experiences. That flexibility lets people stretch creatively while playing to what they’re best at," he noted. "For developers who traditionally worked on campaign, it’s exciting to work on something that keeps evolving. It’s not a finished movie. It’s a story that keeps going."

I asked how we might see Endgame evolve over time, and if the devs plan to use it as a vehicle for further storytelling and exploration of Black Ops' lore post-campaign. Ultimately, though, it's been designed as a mode that facilitates players telling their own story through memorable gameplay experiences.

"With Endgame, the focus is gameplay first. There are narrative anchors, callbacks, and moments of nostalgia ... But a lot of the story is about player experience. Building your Operator, tackling difficult content with a crew, progressing through new systems," explained Miller.

"There may be smaller story payoffs along the way, but the heart of it is players creating their own stories together."

Devs "stagger time off" to keep up the pace

Weapons and skins from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 can be used in the free-to-play Call of Duty: Warzone experience. (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Overall, the team is very proud of how it's managed to stay on top of the never-ending demands of live-service development, and of the depth of content it's been able to deliver to many different types of players.

"One thing I’ll add is how many different player types we’re designing for. Even within Multiplayer, you have players who only play Face Off Moshpit and hit Prestige Master there. Others live in core 6v6, or the new 20v20 Skirmish mode," said Scronce.

"Then you’ve got Ranked Play coming, which brings a completely different mindset. Zombies players, Endgame players, Warzone players. It’s a huge web of experiences. Coordinating all of that across teams is something we’re really proud of, and honestly, we probably don’t stop to acknowledge it enough," he admitted.

We stagger time off so people can rest without the studio ever fully stopping. Everyone gets breaks, but the studio keeps moving.

But with all the talk of how the Call of Duty team is constantly hard at work creating new content and improving existing offerings, I couldn't help but conclude our interview asking how it maintains that pace without "crunch" and burnout.

"People sometimes ask if we get a break after launch. We view launch as course one. There are half-seasons, updates, events. The work really ramps up," Miller said.

"We stagger time off so people can rest without the studio ever fully stopping. Everyone gets breaks, but the studio keeps moving," he added. "We got a little bit of an extended break over Christmas, but you still need people to push playlist updates, there are launch rooms as we release new playlists, events, all of those types of things."

"If you invest in a Call of Duty game, you should feel like you’re getting a full year of meaningful new content. And we plan to keep delivering on that."

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is available across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PS5, and PS4 for $69.99 ($45.49 on Steam thanks to a deal), while Call of Duty: Warzone is free-to-play on these platforms. On Xbox, PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, it's also available to play through PC Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

What are your thoughts on Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone, and the live-service cadence their developers are maintaining? Do you like live-service games in general? Let me know in the comments.

Ready your COD Points — Call of Duty reveals Black Ops 7 Season 2 Battle Pass content

eternalrhage@gmail.com (Cole Martin) — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:24:22 +0000

With the start of a new season of content for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, a new battle pass is also going to be available for players to grind and unlock new gear, including operator skins and free weapons.

Black Ops 7 Season 2, which launches on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC on February 5 at 12PM ET/9AM PT, will continue the story of David Mason that was put into action with Season 1, but a new villain is set to be introduced. Guild scientist Victor Atwood will serve as the official antagonist for this season and will also serve as the featured operator for Season 2.

Like past battle passes, the Season 2 pass for Black Ops 7 will offer free and premium unlock tracks, with the premium goods costing 1,100 COD Points. A "BlackCell" pass will also be available, which offers additional weapon blueprints and tier skips but will cost 2,400 COD Points. Players can opt to earn XP to unlock the items in the battle pass by playing any mode of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 or Call of Duty: Warzone.

BO7's Season 2 operator skins stay in line with the grounded aesthetic that was promised by the developers at the end of Black Ops 6's life cycle. There are no cartoonish, cel-shaded skins, and — apart from a collaboration with Amazon's Fallout television series — there have not been any unusual out-of-universe collaborations.

Players can expect new skins for David Mason, Emma Kagan, and Eric Samuels, among others. Victoria Atwood will be the instant unlock for the standard Season 2 battle pass, while the new all-black clad Phantom (with an alternative Eclipse skin draped in a black cloak) will be the instant unlock for Season 2 BlackCell.

(Image credit: Activision)

What we know about the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Battle Pass

The following items are instant unlocks when purchasing the Season 2 battle pass for Black Ops 7:

10% Battle Pass XP Boost
"Sage" Operator Skin for Victoria Atwood
"Malcontent" Legendary Blueprint for the Razor 9mm SMG
"Arm Up" animated calling card
"Warped Skull" emblem.

The Call of Duty blog confirms there are over 100 items available to unlock in the standard Season 2 battle pass, including three new free weapons available to all players to unlock. These weapons include:

(Image credit: Activision)

REV-46 SMG, which can be unlocked after completing page 3 of the battle pass.
EGRT-17 Assault Rifle, which can be unlocked after completing page 6 of the battle pass.
H311-SAW Melee: a reward that can be unlocked on page 10 of the battle pass.

Run-and-gunners will appreciate the new REV-46 SMG which features an extremely fast fire rate and solid recoil control, but lower damage output per shot.

It's the EGRT-17 that's likely to cause the most mayhem in Black Ops 7's multiplayer hardcore modes, with its bullets that ricochet off of solid surfaces. You'll have to prestige the EGRT-17 at least once to receive the ricochet ammo attachment, however, so that should minimize how many people are running around with this particular weapon.

For those looking to unlock camos for the H311-SAW, a returning melee weapon with a literal saw blade on the end, Treyarch recommends using the Close Shave perk as part of your melee loadout to replace the weapon butt melee with your preferred melee weapon to rack up those kills.

Alongside new weapons, players can expect new blueprints for existing weapons like the "Epiphanic" Jäger Pistol and the "Epochal" blueprint for the fan-favorite Peacekeeper MK1 assault rifle.

(Image credit: Activision)

Other unlockable rewards for the Season 2 battle pass include:

COD Points
Weapon Charms
Weapon Large Decals
Weapon Stickers
GobbleGums
Emblems (some animated)
Calling Cards (some animated)
Loading Screen
Gun Screen (BlackCell only)
Season 02 HUD Theme (BlackCell only)
Clan Tag (BlackCell only)
Consumable 2XP & 2WXP Tokens

Players can also earn rewards for completing the Season 2 battle pass, including:

200 COD Points
The “Axial” Ultra Operator Skin for Atwood plus a BlackCell variant for those who purchase BlackCell
The “Mind Breaker” Finishing Move
The “Cornering” Animated Calling Card
The “Malice” Animated Emblem
A "Perkaholic" GobbleGum

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's Season 2 battle pass will be available for purchase when the update goes live on February 5 at 9AM PT/12PM ET.

Stock up on enough Call of Duty points so you can dive into Season 2 with the BlackCell reward track and get ready to unlock new gear across Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Call of Duty: Warzone.View Deal

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