Black Ops 7: Progression, Carry Forward, Beta, and COD: NEXT!

We've been through a lot of cool details regarding Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. If you want to know more about Opening Night Live's presentation, Campaign and Endgame, Multiplayer, or Zombies, you can just click the links. If you want to know more about all the other great things, check them out below, along with our preview.

Global Systems and Progression

Connected Progression: The most player-rewarding experience ever in Black Ops, featuring connected player and weapon progression across Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies — rewarding players no matter what mode you choose to play.

Weapon Build Sharing: Share your created Weapon Builds directly with friends or import a Weapon Build found online into your Loadouts via its Weapon Build Code.

Weapon Prestige Returns: For the first time since Black Ops 4, players who reach Max Level with a Weapon will be able to enter Weapon Prestige. Each Weapon will feature two Weapon Prestiges, along with a build-changing Prestige Attachment, unique Weapon Camos, and additional rewards. This is the deepest Weapon Prestige system yet.

Camos, Camos, and more Camos: Black Ops 7 features more ways to unlock Weapon Camos than ever before, with 16 Mastery Camos to unlock across Multiplayer, Zombies, and Co-Op Campaign at launch, and Call of Duty: Warzone at the start of Season 1.

Cerebral-Link (C-Link) Online: A unified User Interface and HUD display across all of Black Ops 7’s Campaign and Multiplayer systems, bridging the gap with cohesion between visuals, audio, equipment screens and gear. Plus, our commitment to accessibility for all players continues.

A Technology Toolbox: The latest in current-generation graphical effects have allowed Treyarch’s tech teams to furnish players with some incredible new rendering features and effects.

Connected Progression, including Co-Op Campaign

As revealed earlier in the blog, for the first time ever in a Call of Duty game, Black Ops 7 will feature a connected Campaign. This means all the great XP and progression challenge systems you’re familiar with from Multiplayer, Zombies, and Call of Duty: Warzone — including Prestige, Weapon Progression, Camo Challenges, Calling Card Challenges, Daily Challenges, and more will be available to progress and unlock in the Co-Op Campaign.

To reiterate: Your Campaign experience is connected to the global progression system across the entire game, including a Weapon Camo journey unique to the mode. Every Elimination, every objective, every breakthrough in the Co-Op Campaign fuels your growth, contributing directly to Global XP, Weapon Progression, Challenge systems, and Battle Pass. These are the progression challenge systems you’re familiar with from Multiplayer, Zombies, and Call of Duty: Warzone.

And that’s just the beginning.

Weapon Build Codes and Sharing

Another brand-new innovation to Call of Duty is coming to your Gunsmith, in the form of Weapon Build Sharing. You can send a build of your favorite weapon loadout directly to a friend, so they don’t have to recreate it themselves. Treyarch is also adding a Weapon Build Code to the Gunsmith, so whenever you see a shared screenshot of another player’s Gunsmith Build you can enter that Build Code in your game to import a copy of their Weapon directly into your Loadout.

Classic Prestige Updates, Weapon Prestige Evolved

There will be a Classic Prestige journey in Black Ops 7, and Treyarch will share more about the improvements and updates to this system later in the year, along with a peek at the Operator Skins, Blueprints, and additional rewards available via the system. However, there’s a second stage of Prestige planned as the evolution in progression continues: Weapon Prestige.

Working alongside Classic Prestige, Weapon Prestige brings deep progression, mastery, and rewards to the Weapon Progression journey as follows:

You level up your chosen weapon as normal, unlocking attachments as you progress.
If you decide to enter Weapon Prestige, you unlock a unique Camo you can equip to any Weapon while relocking all but the Weapon’s available Optic Attachments as you begin a fresh leveling journey on that weapon over again.
Entering Weapon Prestige also unlocks a unique, build-changing Prestige Attachment that is different with every Weapon and can only be unlocked by entering Weapon Prestige.
Reaching Max Weapon Level again will give players the choice to continue the journey by entering Weapon Prestige 2, which unlocks another unique Camo and a Weapon-specific Weapon Charm.
Complete two Weapon Prestiges and you’ll automatically graduate into Weapon Prestige Master with 250 levels to climb through and a chase-worthy unique Camo at the end of the journey.

Weapon Prestige opens up the opportunity for deep engagement, mastery, and rewards with your favorite weapons as you return to them throughout your time with Black Ops 7.

And speaking of Camos:

Incoming Camo Journey, Weekly Challenges, and More

Treyarch’s weapons team is hard at work raising the bar on innovations to Weapon Camo visuals and design, and what the Black Ops 7 Mastery Camos will look like. Not only will there now be four Camo tracks across Black Ops 7’s modes — Co-Op Campaign, Multiplayer, Zombies, along with Call of Duty: Warzone at Season 1 — there are more ways than ever to earn Camos.

Looking ahead to the post-launch seasons of content, we’re excited to confirm that Treyarch is bringing Weekly Challenges to Black Ops 7, with unlockable Attachments, Weapons, and Scorestreaks to earn during the live seasons, as well as Challenges for all modes, and two completion Weapon Camos to chase during every season.

Expect a thorough overview of all aspects of Black Ops 7’s Global and Progression Systems later this year.

Cerebral Link Online: User Interface Experience

With a game set in 2035, Treyarch took inspiration from the latest advancements in AR technology to imagine a truly networked battle interface that provides Black Ops 7’s Operators with the information they need to stay lethal in the field. The result is the Cerebral-Link, or C-Link.

This distributed network of high-impact visuals links an Operator’s gear: Whether it’s a message, the mini-map, or an ammo widget, there’s a consistent look and feel, as Treyarch seeks a cohesive and immersive experience for all players set in a near-future world.

Continued Commitment to Accessibility Options

Accessibility for all players has been a priority for the series, and with Black Ops 7, expect current innovations to continue alongside even more accessibility-focused features on the way.

One of these is research into motion sickness mitigation. The team has prototyped several visual aids to assist those who find it difficult to play first-person action games for an extended period.

Expect more details about this and other new features in the coming months, as well as more information on the different HUD choices you can make.

The Black Ops 7 Technology Toolbox

A toolbox of impressive technological elements is set to enhance Black Ops 7 in new and innovative ways. The latest in current-generation graphical effects have allowed Treyarch’s tech teams to furnish players with some incredible new rendering features and dynamic game effects. Here’s just a few of them:

Next-level GPU particles and vector fields: GPU particles leverage the power of your graphics card to render thousands of tiny effects — like sparks, embers, or debris — guided by vector fields that shape their motion into realistic swirls, trails, or explosions. Pair that with volumetric fluid simulations, and you get reactive smoke, fire, or fog that shifts and curls around your Operator as you move through it. Vector fields control how the particles move.

Volumetric fluid simulations: This brings smoke, fire, and fog to life by rendering them as fully 3D, physics-driven volumes that react to light and motion in real time. Picture creeping through a low valley as dense fog curls around your Operator’s boots, parting as you move and closing in behind you. Volumetric fields simulate the fluid itself.

Dynamic surface deformation lets a surface react in real time to pressure, impact, or movement — think snow compacting underfoot as you move through the tundra on a frozen Multiplayer map.

Improved local volumetrics: Local volumetrics focus high-fidelity fog, smoke, or light effects in specific areas, bringing cinematic atmosphere without dragging down performance. Think a smoke grenade in a tight hallway, where the fog rolls out, catches the light, and clings to the walls as you move through.

Additional Comms: Carry Forward, Call of Duty:
NEXT, Beta Dates, and More!

Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7 Carry Forward Intel

What is Carry Forward?

Carry Forward is a system that allows select content like weapons, Operators, and cosmetic items from a previous Call of Duty title to transfer into the next, when supported. It is designed to preserve your loadouts and personalization across connected experiences.

Carry Forward Confirmed

Black Ops 7 will feature the ability to utilize a wide variety of content from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. This mostly begins a few weeks after launch at the start of Season 1. Prior to more in-depth comms on this subject, here’s what to expect:

Black Ops 6: XP Tokens and GobbleGums will carry forward at the launch of Black Ops 7.

Black Ops 6 Weapons, Operators, and Operator Skins will carry forward at the start of Season 1 with some exceptions:

Equipment and Scorestreak Skins for content unavailable in Black Ops 7 will not carry forward.
Equipment and Scorestreak Skins for content updated for Black Ops 7 (for example, a Scorestreak that performs similarly, but has a different look and feel in BO7 compared to BO6) will not carry forward.
Black Ops 6 Weapon Camos will not be transferable to Black Ops 7 weapons, but still usable on Black Ops 6 weapons.

Call of Duty®: Warzone integration will also begin at Season 1. All current content, including Operators, Weapons, and Weapon Blueprints from Modern Warfare® II, Modern Warfare III, and Black Ops 6 will carry forward with some caveats and exceptions:

Weapons will continue to be tuned for Call of Duty: Warzone.
Call of Duty: Warzone players should expect a Rank Reset at Season 1, with your progression synchronized to Black Ops 7’s Progression Systems.

Call of Duty: Next, Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl VI, and Open Beta Dates Confirmed!

Mark your calendars for the worldwide Multiplayer reveal at Call of Duty: NEXT on Tuesday, September 30th. We’ll have live Multiplayer and Zombies gameplay with your favorite creators from around the world. After Call of Duty: NEXT concludes, you’ll be able to play Black Ops 7 yourself when the Beta starts on all platforms on October 2nd!

Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl VI presented by USAA

Directly following Call of Duty: NEXT on the Official Call of Duty Twitch® Channel and Call of Duty YouTube® Channel, tune into the Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl VI, presented by USAA. The sixth annual C.O.D.E. Bowl presented by USAA will feature 10 esports teams from military branches of the U.S., U.K., and Canada, competing alongside the most competitive players in Call of Duty: Warzone. This year’s event has epic viewer rewards courtesy of USAA, and for the first-time ever, you can score Black Ops 7 Beta codes while you watch the event. And keep an eye out for who will take home the third annual Monster Energy MVP and second-ever Corsair Solo Yolo!

Follow the Call of Duty Endowment on Instagram and X for C.O.D.E. Bowl VI updates.

Black Ops 7 Beta Dates Confirmed

The Black Ops 7 Beta — divided into the Early Access and Open Beta periods — runs from October 2 to October 8.

The Early Access Beta launches at 10AM PT on Thursday, October 2 for those who preorder the game, and runs for a period of 72 hours.

The Open Beta launches at 10AM PT on Sunday, October 5 for all players on all platforms, and runs consecutively after the Early Access period, for another 72 hours. The Black Ops 7Beta is scheduled to conclude at 10AM PT on Wednesday, October 8.

Early Access Beta*

Available to players who have pre-ordered the game on any platform (console or PC), as well as eligible Game Pass subscribers*, the initial part of the Beta is planned to launch on Thursday October 2 at 10AM PT, and concludes 72 hours later when the main Open Beta begins on Sunday October 5 at 10AM PT. The Beta is available on all platforms at the same time.

Open Beta*

The second part of the Beta is open and free for all players on all platforms, and is planned to begin on Sunday October 5 at 10AM PT. The Black Ops 7 Beta is scheduled to conclude 72 hours later, on Wednesday October 8 at 10AM PT.

Internet access is required for participation.

Accessing the Beta and Beta Codes

Your path to access to the Beta Early Access period depends on the version of the game you preordered:

If you preordered any Digital Edition version, you do not need a “Beta Code”, as you’ll be automatically allowed entry into Beta Early Access (and subsequently, the Open Beta).

If you preordered a Physical Edition (consoles only), you should have received a “Beta Code” at the point of sale (at select retailer locations), enabling entry into the Beta Early Access.

If you don’t preorder Black Ops 7, you can still access the Open Beta period.

Preorder Black Ops 7 Now! Additional Intel to Come!

Be sure to stay danger close with the latest official Black Ops 7 information by checking the Call of Duty Blog as further communications are scheduled, including a massive intel drop on Round-Based Zombies in the weeks leading up to Call of Duty: NEXT, the Black Ops 7 Open Beta, and the countdown to launch.

Preorders are available now at participating retailers, in-game, on platform stores, or at CallofDuty.com.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Development Credits

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is published by Activision. Development is led by Treyarch, in partnership with Raven Software.

Additional development by — in alphabetical order — Activision Central Design, Activision Central Technology, Activision QA, Activision Shanghai, Beenox, Demonware, Digital Legends, High Moon Studios, Infinity Ward, and Sledgehammer Games.

Embrace the Madness.

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