Activision is rolling out the beta for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 right now, on October 2, 2025, giving eager players a first taste of what promises to be another high-stakes entry in the franchise. The open beta kicks off across platforms including PlayStation, Xbox, and PC via Battle.net and Steam, following a brief early access window for those who've pre-ordered. It's hard not to see this as Activision's familiar playbook—tease with limited access to build hype, then open the floodgates—but for fans, it's a welcome dive into 2035's chaotic battlefields.
Early access started earlier today for pre-order holders, with servers firing up at varying global times: 10 a.m. PT for West Coast folks, meaning East Coast players jumped in around 1 p.m. ET. The full open beta runs through October 6 for Multiplayer, extending a bit longer for the Zombies mode trial ending October 9. Expect six multiplayer maps at launch, including fresh takes on urban skirmishes and close-quarters chaos, plus core modes like Team Deathmatch and Domination. Zombies fans get a survival round on one map, testing new mechanics that blend old-school hordes with futuristic twists.
Getting in is straightforward, though not without the usual hurdles. Redeem codes from pre-orders or Game Pass ties on your platform of choice, and you're set—provided your rig meets the specs, which Activision quietly updated last week to fend off crashes. Rewards carry over to the full game, like operator skins and weapon blueprints, incentivizing that early grind. However, the beta's scope feels deliberately restrained; no full campaign peek yet, just enough to whet appetites amid Activision's aggressive November launch push.
Indeed, Black Ops 7 builds on last year's momentum, with Treyarch and Raven Software promising hybrid combat systems and overclocked perks that could shake up metas. Yet, as servers strain under initial rushes, one wonders if this annual cycle truly innovates or just recycles the rush. For now, though, it's boots-on-the-ground time—what might this beta reveal about the series' next evolution?