Activision has finally admitted what most players have been saying for months. The recent Call of Duty releases have not lived up to expectations, and the reaction to Black Ops 7 made it impossible to ignore the problem. So, the company is now making major changes to how it will release future games in the series.
For years, Activision has relied heavily on the two most popular sub-franchises: Modern Warfare and Black Ops. At one point, the company even released them back-to-back. But the feedback on Black Ops 7 has pushed them to rethink the plan.
However, repeating the same cycle every year is no longer working. So, the studios behind Call of Duty want each year’s release to feel different instead of feeling like a minor upgrade.
This is good news for fans who have been asking for new experiences in the game. Gamers were expecting big things from Black Ops 7, but that didn’t happen. The game received mixed reviews, and even the player numbers showed signs of fatigue. There were also discussions about generative AI being used in the game, which made the situation worse. The game peaked close to 50000 concurrent players which is now close to 50000 at a peak time. You can check Black Ops 7 Steam chart to get an idea of it.
Activision acknowledged that the game “has not met expectations” and said it will now work harder to earn back the trust of long-time fans. The company is offering a free trial and a Double XP weekend for Black Ops 7’s multiplayer and Zombies mode. This move is meant to get more players to give the game another chance.
Also see: Call of Duty games in order
The company says future releases will focus on meaningful innovation instead of repeating the same ideas. They want each year’s title to feel fresh. The studio is already working on the “next era of Call of Duty” and is promising to offer players actually want. They also say the franchise still has a strong future because of the talent inside the studios.
The use of generative AI in Black Ops 7 did not go unnoticed. It even caught the attention of US Congressman Ro Khanna, who raised concerns and highlighted the need for tighter AI regulations.
Call of Duty has been one of the most successful gaming franchises ever, but even the biggest names need to evolve. The annual release cycle worked for a long time, but players today expect more than small upgrades and recycled ideas. The decision to stop back-to-back releases of the same sub-series is the right move. It will give developers more time to experiment, take risks, and actually surprise players.
