Microsoft’s Activision is making significant waves in the gaming industry with its latest installment in the long-running Call of Duty franchise. Following the conclusion of the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 on Sunday, the highly anticipated “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” was officially unveiled. This announcement marks a historic moment as it is the first time that two Black Ops titles have been released consecutively within the franchise's lifecycle. The previous game, “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6,” was launched just last fall.
Set in the year 2035, more than four decades after the events of “Black Ops 6,” the game brings a new storyline that promises to deliver thrilling gameplay. “Black Ops 7” will feature a star-studded cast, including Milo Ventimiglia, Kiernan Shipka, and Michael Rooker, who will serve as voice and motion capture actors. Ventimiglia is set to portray David Mason, a character first introduced in “Black Ops 2.” Shipka joins the cast as Emma Kagan, while Rooker will reprise his role as Mike Harper from “Black Ops 2.”
Despite the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike affecting numerous video game publishers, including Activision, reports confirm that “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” is not impacted by this work stoppage. Activision's marketing chief, Tyler Bahl, emphasized that the game is moving forward as planned, ensuring fans can look forward to its release without delays.
Tyler Bahl shared insights into the casting choices for “Black Ops 7,” describing Ventimiglia's portrayal of David Mason as a perfect fit for the role of “an iconic character from the franchise.” He expressed excitement about the addition of Kiernan Shipka, who plays Emma Kagan, a new character and CEO of an organization called The Guild. “We think her performance will really blow people away,” Bahl stated. Additionally, Rooker's return to the franchise is expected to delight longtime fans.
As detailed in the game’s description, “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” aims to deliver the most mind-bending experience yet in the Black Ops series. This installment will introduce players to a world ravaged by conflict and psychological warfare, requiring David Mason and his team to combat an enemy that manipulates fear as a weapon. The game will feature a co-op campaign and round-based zombies, much like its predecessor.
“Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” is set to be released across multiple platforms, including Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC via Xbox PC, Battle.net, and Steam. Players can also access the game at launch through Xbox’s Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscriptions, offering an exciting opportunity for gamers to dive into the action.
In an effort to surprise gamers, Activision plans to take a different marketing approach for “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.” As Bahl described, the strategy will resemble the surprise release of a Beyoncé album, where no pre-promotion will be provided. The goal is to deliver the game to players in an unexpected manner, creating a buzz around its launch.
For those eager to get a glimpse of the upcoming installment, be sure to watch the teaser trailer for “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” to see what awaits in this thrilling new chapter of the franchise.
