Treyarch Admits Going Too Far with Absurd Skins, Promises Big Changes for Black Ops 7
The Call of Duty saga is taking a sharp turn with Black Ops 7! Gone are the wacky skins and over-the-top collaborations—Treyarch is making a mea culpa, promising not only a return to the franchise’s roots but also a relentless war against cheaters. But will these promises be enough to calm a divided community already drawn to the competition from Battlefield 6?
With the release of Black Ops 7 just around the corner, Activision and Treyarch are speaking directly to players to reassure the community. In recent months, criticism has mounted against the series’ identity, considered too whimsical and disconnected from its origins. Faced with the record-breaking success of the Battlefield 6 beta that took place in August, and the massive flop of the Black Ops 7 gameplay trailer, the developers are unveiling an ambitious plan to restore the series’ former intensity.
Image credit: Activision
A Historic Admission of Weakness
In their statement, the developers of Call of Duty openly admit that the franchise has lost its coherence, overwhelmed by out-of-place skins. The parade of celebrities and bizarre characters is over: operators, skins, and weapons from Black Ops 6 will not transfer to Black Ops 7. It’s a drastic yet symbolic decision, signaling their commitment to a more grounded and immersive atmosphere. The only items being carried over will be Double XP tokens and the iconic GobbleGums, as a way to respect the time invested by players.
- Stronger authenticity with content designed to fit the Black Ops universe.
- No impact on Warzone: your BO6 skins and weapons will remain available in the battle royale.
- Progression preserved with all accumulated bonuses intact.
For the first time in a long while, the developers are openly acknowledging their mistakes and announcing a major change of direction for Black Ops 7.
The Crackdown on Cheaters Intensifies
Alongside this aesthetic return to basics, Activision has pledged to tackle the surge of cheating in Call of Duty. Thanks to deeper integration of the RICOCHET system, the game will require Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to be enabled on PC starting November 14. The goal: stopping cheaters at the root. New detection and penalty systems will be tested during the beta and fully implemented at launch.
A Full Reveal Roadmap
The Treyarch team promises transparent communication in the weeks ahead, with several major announcements planned:
- Multiplayer: new maps, weapons, and gameplay systems
- Movement system: redesigned to address long-standing criticism
- Zombies content: a brand-new vehicle and a fresh team immersed in the Dark Aether universe
- Unified progression: XP and weapon levels shared across all modes
- The return of Prestige, paired with a system of weekly challenges starting in Season 1
The big date is set for September 30 with Call of Duty: NEXT, which will fully unveil the multiplayer. Early access beta begins October 2 (for pre-order players), followed by the open beta from October 5 to 8 across all platforms.
The real question is whether this promise of a back-to-basics approach will withstand the commercial temptations of future seasons. The launch of Black Ops 7 — scheduled for November 14 — will be the true test of this new philosophy, especially against a Battlefield 6 already praised for its more authentic approach.
