Black Ops 7 disappoints, Activision makes a bold move to revive Call of Duty
Following the poor reception of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Activision has made a radical decision. In my opinion, this is excellent news for players tired of repetitive annual releases. The publisher is finally breaking a cycle that has plagued the franchise for years.
Learn more on the new content coming with the Season 1 Roadmap in Black Ops 7!
Activision’s Historic Admission of Failure
On December 9, Activision released a surprising statement regarding its golden goose, Call of Duty. The American publisher openly admitted that the franchise—specifically the recently released Black Ops 7—did not “fully” meet player expectations, notably after the recent launch of the first few content of Season 1.
They pledged to do everything possible to “satisfy and even exceed” these expectations in the future.
The teams reportedly won’t rest until BO7 is transformed into “one of the best Black Ops games ever created.” However, the most significant news wasn’t just the apology. It was a major shift in strategy.
Season 01 of #BlackOps7 and Call of Duty: #Warzone starts now. Jump in and experience our biggest seasonal content drop yet 😤
🗺️ 4 launch MP maps 🪂 Haven’s Hollow Resurgence, Verdansk POI updates 🧟 Astra Malorum Round-Based Zombies Map and Exit 115 Survival Map 🎨… pic.twitter.com/JTcIZn1Aea — Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) December 4, 2025
Call of Duty Ends “Copy-Paste” Sequels
Activision announced it will no longer release two Modern Warfare or Black Ops titles back-to-back. We saw this happen recently with Modern Warfare II and III (2022-2023) and now with Black Ops 6 and 7 (2024-2025).
The goal is to “guarantee an absolutely unique experience every year.”
They want to move away from “progressive improvement” and aim for “significant innovation.” The publisher concluded with a promising teaser:
“We have been building the next era of Call of Duty, and it will deliver precisely on what you want along with some surprises that push the Franchise and the genre forward.” — Activision
The Broken Call of Duty Development Cycle
This is welcome news. Historically, Call of Duty relied on a smooth rotation: Infinity Ward for Modern Warfare, Treyarch for Black Ops, and Sledgehammer Games offering support.
Raven Software usually acted as a crucial support studio.
This system allowed for a healthy three-year development cycle. However, since the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War in 2020, the schedule has been a total mess.
Treyarch and Raven: Chaos Behind the Scenes
In 2019, Treyarch had to step in to save Black Ops Cold War due to disagreements between Sledgehammer and Raven. This disrupted the entire machine.
Treyarch was stretched thin, managing Cold War and the Zombies mode for Vanguard (2021).
Consequently, they couldn’t deliver a new Black Ops in 2023. Activision filled the gap by turning a Modern Warfare II DLC into Modern Warfare III. That game is widely considered one of the weakest entries.
Meanwhile, Treyarch used the extra time to polish Black Ops 6, delivering a stellar campaign.
Why Black Ops 7 Missed the Mark
So what went wrong with Black Ops 7? It was developed simultaneously with Black Ops 6 by the same teams (Raven and Treyarch).
While they had different production timelines, they were approved and launched in parallel.
For Activision, chaining two Modern Warfare and two Black Ops titles seemed like the “best solution” to catch up on the schedule. Unfortunately, it backfired.
Black Ops 7 has been rejected by players, holding the lowest user score in franchise history on Metacritic. While not a complete commercial failure, sales are reportedly down.
In Conclusion: Is the Call of Duty Franchise Healing?
This pivot suggests Activision is finally listening. The “annual release” model only works if the games feel distinct. Forcing direct sequels year after year has clearly diminished the brand’s quality. With Infinity Ward likely taking the helm for the 2026 entry, there is hope that the franchise will return to form.
What do you think? Was Black Ops 7 really that bad, or is the hate exaggerated? Let us know in the comments!
A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !
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