According to XDA-Developers, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 represents a fundamental shift in how the franchise approaches campaign modes. Released on November 14, 2025, the game features what developer Treyarch is calling a “Co-Op Campaign” that directly continues the story from Black Ops 2 while serving as an Avengers: Endgame-style culmination for the entire Black Ops sub-series. The campaign follows David Mason’s Spectre One JSOC strike unit battling an evil megacorporation called The Guild, with Hollywood talent like Kiernan Shipka and Michael Rooker providing star power. Most importantly, the campaign is fully integrated with multiplayer progression, with experience earned carrying over to other modes, and it unlocks a new Endgame co-op mode upon completion.
The campaign identity crisis is over
Here’s the thing about Call of Duty campaigns lately – they’ve felt completely disconnected from what people actually play these games for. Battlefield’s recent campaign was apparently boring and underdeveloped, and CoD has been struggling with this for years. But Black Ops 7 basically says “screw it” to traditional single-player and fully embraces what Call of Duty has become: a multiplayer-first live service game.
And you know what? It actually works. The campaign now serves as both a tutorial for multiplayer and an alternative to Zombies. You’re always earning progression that matters, and the co-op focus means you’re playing with friends from the start. It’s a smart acknowledgment of reality, even if it stings for those of us who remember the glory days of single-player campaigns.
This isn’t your dad’s Call of Duty
Let’s be clear – if you’re looking for grounded military realism, you’re in the wrong place. We’re talking boss fights against acid-spitting plant creatures and a gigantic Michael Rooker. The source describes it as more fantastical than even Infinite Warfare, which was already pretty out there.
But here’s the interesting part: the over-the-top sci-fi approach actually makes the co-op focus work better. When you’re fighting through hallucination sequences and fantastical levels, having three friends along for the ride feels natural. It’s like a summer blockbuster movie where the spectacle matters more than deep character development.
The always-online reality
Now, this approach definitely has downsides. The campaign requires an internet connection even for solo play, which is frustrating for many. Levels reuse assets from multiplayer maps, and the storytelling happens mostly through intercoms and cutscenes rather than immersive gameplay moments.
But honestly? This feels like the direction all major shooter franchises are heading. The days of completely disconnected single-player campaigns in games like Call of Duty are probably over. Activision wants you on that progression treadmill, and Black Ops 7’s campaign is designed to keep you there.
Where CoD campaigns go from here
I think Black Ops 7 sets a new template for what Call of Duty campaigns will look like moving forward. The official Co-Op Campaign details show how thoroughly integrated this approach is, and it makes business sense for Activision.
Looking at how Black Ops campaigns have evolved over the years, this feels like the logical endpoint. The 76/100 OpenCritic score suggests critics are somewhat divided, but the approach itself seems here to stay.
Is it disappointing for single-player purists? Absolutely. But is it a smarter use of development resources that better serves what most players actually want from Call of Duty? Probably. The campaign no longer feels like an afterthought because it’s fully embraced its role as part of the broader multiplayer ecosystem.
