Xbox Games Showcase 2025 revealed a surprising turn in Call of Duty’s usually strict development cadence: Black Ops 7 is officially on the way—just one year after Black Ops 6. The announcement marks the first time in franchise history that two Black Ops titles have been released consecutively, shaking up Activision’s long-standing studio rotation strategy.
A Rapid-Fire Follow-Up
Treyarch and Raven Software are once again at the helm, despite Activision’s traditional aversion to back-to-back releases from the same developer. Historically, this policy existed to avoid overworking studios and maintain quality—especially given the franchise’s annual release cycle.
Now, Activision is pivoting to frame the move as a creative opportunity. “This is the first-ever consecutive release within the series,” reads the official announcement. “As a team, our vision from the start was to create a back-to-back series experience for our players that embraced the uniqueness of the Black Ops sub-franchise,” said Call of Duty general manager Matt Cox.
From Cold War to Future War
Black Ops 7 jumps forward in time to the year 2035, pulling threads from 2012’s Black Ops 2. The campaign centers on David Mason, son of the original “Numbers” Mason, and revisits futuristic warfare themes. Activision confirmed that co-op campaign mode will make a return—something fans have requested for years.
This drastic shift in timeline—from a ‘90s setting in BO6 to a high-tech future in BO7—has reportedly given the team new marketing flexibility. “Delivering consecutive Black Ops games also allows our teams the tremendous opportunity to tap not only into our own creativity but also embrace the shift… within our marketing,” added Tyler Bahl, head of Activision Publishing.
A Risky Move?
Some fans and critics aren’t buying the optimistic framing. The rushed release cadence brings to mind 2023’s Modern Warfare 3, widely criticized for being a last-minute salvage job after internal delays. That game, built under crunch conditions following Black Ops 6’s postponement, was labeled by many as the weakest Call of Duty in two decades.
Now, with the same studios back in the hot seat just a year later, questions are swirling: Is this a bold new vision or another rushed stopgap?
