LONDON: Activision Blizzard’s latest installment, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, is being touted by the studio as “the biggest, best, and unmatched” entry in franchise history ahead of its regional launch in Riyadh.
“Unpredictable, mind-bending; things that Black Ops does best,” said Stephanie Snowden, senior director of studio communications at Activision, during the game preview to media earlier this week.
“Experience matters. With global progression coming across the game, no matter where you’re playing or what you’re playing, we are making sure that Black Ops 7 is extremely rewarding. We want to value your time.”
Arab News received an exclusive invitation to preview and test the game before its launch in Riyadh on Friday, Nov. 14.
Part of the team behind Black Ops 7 at the presentation of the game to the media. (Supplied)
The latest addition to the blockbuster first-person shooter franchise — which has sold more than 500 million copies and attracts in excess of 100 million monthly players — is packed with new features, marking what industry insiders see as a major positive shift after recent years of stagnation.
Black Ops 6, released in 2024, received mixed reviews and was banned in Kuwait due to cultural sensitivities surrounding its Gulf War-era setting, reflecting ongoing challenges for global blockbusters set in politically charged eras.
Developed by a coalition of studios including Raven Software, Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games, Black Ops 7 was produced in record time — about two years, compared to the typical three or four — having been greenlit alongside Black Ops 6 to preserve franchise momentum.
Set in 2035, ten years after the events of Call of Duty: Black Ops II, the campaign features returning characters including Mike Harper (voiced by Michael Rooker) and Troy Marshall (played by Y’lan Noel). Players follow JSOC Commander David “Section” Mason (Milo Ventimiglia) and his special ops team “Specter One” as they confront the apparent return of Raul Menendez — a notorious Nicaraguan arms dealer turned populist leader who threatens global apocalypse.
“The team’s had a lot of fun exploring what (the game) looks like in terms of weapons, settings and aesthetics — giving players the tools and advanced weaponry to make that jump into a new era,” Snowden said.
The game also introduces several new features exclusive to Black Ops 7, which its producers promise will make the player’s experience more personalized and engaging than ever before.
The chapter introduced the Co-Op Campaign, a narrative-driven experience where players can play solo or with friends, the Overclock System, a new progression mechanic for multiplayer that allows players to unlock and customize upgrades for lethals, tacticals, field upgrades and scorestreaks, enhanced movement thanks to the expanded omnimovement system, offering more creative gameplay opportunities and new multiplayer modes, including Overload— the competitive 6v6 mode for the Call of Duty League — and Skirmish, a large-scale 20v20 objective-based mode with enhanced mobility features.
The story also features a new Endgame Mode, a 32-player co-op experience (in squads of four) with narrative elements, allowing players to explore Avalon, a fictional city in the Mediterranean, and complete assignments. The game’s iconic Zombies mode introduces major innovations including the largest round-based map ever in Black Ops Zombies history, Ashes of the Damned, and four total modes at launch: Standard, Directed, Cursed (for hardcore players), and Survival, which returns after 13 years since Black Ops 2.
“If you don’t know what Zombies is, that’s (basically) Call of Duty,” joked Ben Lewis, associate communication director at Treyarch, during the event. “It’s (a) very tough (mode), and there are some mysteries that we won’t divulge.”
Besides offering players a new “massive arsenal” of weapons and “personalized scorestreaks,” the developers have focused heavily on upgrading visuals using the latest GPU technology, making the graphics seen in Black Ops 6 feel outdated by comparison.
Beyond these flashy new features, the decision to host the regional launch in Riyadh highlights Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing importance as a gaming and esports hub. Activision described the event as a “major milestone” for the Kingdom’s gaming community and the wider Middle East, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the region’s thriving gaming ecosystem and engaging fans throughout the MEA region.
In the lead-up to the Riyadh launch at SEF Arena, BLVD City — a major event co-organized with the Saudi Esports Federation — Activision has raised anticipation to new heights. The key question remains; can Black Ops 7 live up to the hype?
As Rooker put it to Arab News: “I had a blast making the game. And I know so many people put absolutely major effort into making this the best game possible. That’s quality, and people who enjoy gaming, that’s what they want. And I think fans — whether from the Middle East or some other places — are going to love this game. Plain and simple. It’s gonna be amazing.”
