Activision teases Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 'Beyoncé-style' drop

Microsoft unveiled Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 during its Xbox Games Showcase in June 2025, marking an unusually late announcement for the franchise. The debut trailer offered minimal details - just a story teaser confirming the 2035 setting and protagonist David Mason.

Activision's Bold Marketing Strategy

This sparse reveal aligns with Activision's unconventional marketing approach for Black Ops 7. The publisher deliberately avoided the typical pre-launch information dump, aiming instead for a surprise "Beyoncé album drop" effect.

Activision's Chief Marketing Officer Tyler Bahl explained to Variety: "Normally we'd have teased everything by now. We're modeling this more like a surprise album release - letting players discover the game unexpectedly."

The company promises a proper reveal this summer, though it might maintain secrecy until launch. When asked about specific details, Bahl stated: "Our goal is to break conventions and deliver something truly unexpected."

What We Know So Far

The game continues the Mason family saga in 2035 - over 40 years after Black Ops 6 - as the world teeters on chaos following events from Black Ops 2. Key features include:

• Co-op campaign (absent in Black Ops 6) alongside solo play
• Near-future weaponry and new multiplayer maps
• Expanded Round-Based Zombies mode in the Dark Aether universe

"Armed with advanced tech, David Mason's team battles an enemy that weaponizes fear itself."

The star-studded cast includes:

• Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us) as David Mason (recrafted character)
• Kiernan Shipka as Emma Kagen (CEO of The Guild)
• Michael Rooker reprising his Black Ops 2 role as Mike Harper

Platforms and Development

Black Ops 7 will release on:

• Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5
• Previous-gen consoles (Xbox One, PS4)
• PC via Xbox PC, Battle.net, and Steam

Notably absent was any Switch 2 mention. The game will be available day one through Game Pass subscriptions. Treyarch and Raven Software are co-developing this latest installment.

This marks the first back-to-back Black Ops release, arriving just a year after Black Ops 6. While some fans speculate this might make Black Ops 7 feel like a filler title (similar to reactions to Modern Warfare 3 in 2023), Activision assures it delivers "the complete Call of Duty experience."

Industry insiders expect Infinity Ward to return with a new Modern Warfare title in 2026, continuing the franchise's cyclical development pattern.

For more announcements, check our full coverage of Xbox Games Showcase June 2025.