Call of Duty Confirms Free Black Ops 7 Trial as Strategy Shifts

Call of Duty Black Ops 7 will receive a free limited-time trial next week as Activision confirmed a major change to the franchise’s long-term release strategy. The announcement was issued by the Call of Duty development team on Dec. 9, 2025, alongside a broader update on future seasonal support.

Players will be able to access Multiplayer and Zombies modes during the free Black Ops 7 trial, which will also feature a Double XP event, though exact dates were not disclosed.

The update comes after months of community feedback regarding the direction and quality of recent releases. The development team acknowledged that parts of the player base felt expectations had not always been met and said that feedback is now shaping present and future decisions. 

Call of Duty Black Ops 7 is being positioned internally as a continuation of the design philosophy used in Black Ops 2, with the studio stating that players will ultimately decide the game’s success by playing it themselves.

Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Trial Reflects New Franchise Strategy

Activision reiterated that Black Ops 7 season 01 will be the largest initial live service season in franchise history, with future seasonal updates guided in part by player input. The studio said it intends for ongoing feedback to influence post-launch support over the coming months.

The most significant change outlined in the update is a shift in the Call of Duty Black Ops 7 release strategy, with Activision confirming it will no longer release Modern Warfare and Black Ops titles in immediate succession. The company said the move is intended to allow teams more development time and ensure future releases deliver distinct gameplay experiences rather than incremental variations.

Activision also referenced broader plans for what it described as the next era of Call of Duty's new strategy, but did not share timelines, platforms, or studio leadership details.

Call of Duty has long been defined by its annual release cycle, making this shift a notable change for the franchise. The impact of the new approach will become clearer as participation in the Call of Duty Black Ops 7 trial and post-launch engagement take shape.