Black Ops 7 campaign: issues, criticisms, and launch performance.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, released on November 14, 2025 by Treyarch and Raven Software, arrived as a direct sequel to Black Ops 2 and Black Ops 6. Although a solid experience was expected, the campaign mode received very negative feedback from day one. It currently holds a user score of 1.6/10 on Metacritic, placing it below previous entries such as Modern Warfare 3 (2023) and Modern Warfare 3: Defiance for Nintendo DS.

While the multiplayer and Zombies modes show mixed reactions, the campaign became the main reason for criticism.

What did the campaign propose?

The studio presented the campaign as a new take on the story mode. It was described as a cooperative shooter for up to four players, set in the near future, with psychological thriller elements and scenarios where toxin-induced nightmares play a central role.

Progression is connected to the rest of the game, allowing XP and unlocks to be shared with multiplayer and Zombies. Appearances of well-known characters from the series, such as David Mason and Raúl Menéndez, were also promoted.

The estimated length of the story mode is between four and five hours.

 

Main criticisms from the community and the press

Various outlets and players pointed out major issues in its design:

1. Requires constant connection

The campaign needs a permanent connection to the servers. It does not allow pausing, has no checkpoints, and restarts the entire mission if a disconnection occurs, if the player remains inactive, or if they return to the menu. This decision was justified as part of the global progression system.

2. Experience designed only for cooperative play

Missions are designed for four players. When playing solo, there are no AI-controlled companions and some dialogues feel out of context. Several tasks are perceived as repetitive and certain boss fights were described as unnatural.

3. Confusing story and content labeled as “AI slop”

The plot revolves around an organization called “The Guild”, fear-inducing toxins, and surreal sequences. For many, the story feels unclear.
On social networks, some users accused the game of using AI-generated art or writing, although there are no official confirmations.

4. Short duration and a feeling of rushed content

The entire story can be completed in around four or five hours. Some outlets compared the campaign to a rapidly assembled expansion-style content drop.

Impact on players and performance

• Steam peak players: around 88,000 concurrent users, far below the 300,000+ recorded by Black Ops 6.
• Drop in interest: approximately 73% lower compared to previous entries.
• Metacritic: 1.6/10 user score.
• Competition: Battlefield 6 captured much of the audience’s attention during the same launch period.

Why did the campaign fail?

Community and media analyses converge on several points:

• Tight production schedule and priority given to multiplayer, Zombies and Warzone.
• General franchise fatigue, with complaints about constant connectivity, microtransactions and similarities between BO6 and BO7.
• Near-exclusive focus on cooperative play, leaving behind players who prefer traditional narrative experiences.

What does this mean for the future of the franchise?

Black Ops 7 achieved strong sales driven by the franchise’s name, but the reception of its campaign caused concern among loyal players.
Multiplayer maintains good ratings and could keep the game active, though the overall perception of the launch remains marked by the story mode.

With a competitive market and the recent success of Battlefield 6, Activision will need to evaluate how to regain player trust in future entries.