The open beta for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 kicked off today with a fresh take on its popular Zombies mode, making higher rounds more about clever movement and strategy than sheer firepower. Developer Treyarch has revealed the changes in a detailed blog post, aiming to refresh the survival horror experience just as rival Battlefield 6 gears up for its October 10 launch. The Black Ops 7 beta, running until October 7, lets players test these tweaks on the new Vandorn Farm map, a compact preview of the full game’s “Ashes of the Damned” world.
In past Zombies games, late rounds often overwhelmed players with swarms of speedy undead, constant mini-bosses, and endless chaos that some felt turned fun into frustration.
For Black Ops 7, Treyarch is flipping the script: zombies in higher rounds will hit harder but move slower, forcing teams to weave through hordes using the environment rather than brute force. Special enemies will pop up less often, giving breathing room for smart plays like luring foes into traps or circling back for revives.
“We’re trying a different approach for high rounds, where it actually is more about skillfully navigating around the zombies,” said Zombies director Kevin Drew in a Game Rant interview. “They’re not as fast, but they do more damage. So this is our first trial for that, to see how people like it.”
The beta’s Zombies Survival mode, debuting for the first time in a Call of Duty test phase, drops players on Vandorn Farm—a foggy, rural spot with barns, fields, and hidden spots for ambushes.
There’s no round limit, so solo players can save and quit to push for extreme highs like Round 999, helping Treyarch spot bugs in prolonged play.
Free power-ups called GobbleGums, including beta exclusives like Round Off (pauses round advances) and Power Vacuum (pulls in loot), add variety without carrying over to the full game. Perks, weapons, and equipment are all unlocked from the start, letting testers focus on flow.
This shake-up comes amid fierce competition from Battlefield 6, EA’s October 10 shooter boasting massive Steam pre-orders and a trailer that pokes fun at Call of Duty’s style. Battlefield’s emphasis on large-scale battles could draw players away, but Treyarch sees the beta as a chance to hook fans with Zombies’ addictive loop.
Early access runs now through October 7 for pre-order holders on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, with open access for everyone starting October 3. A training course added in today’s patch helps newcomers learn the ropes, while known bugs like access errors have quick fixes posted online.
One tester shared a screengrab of intense higher-round action, showing slower but deadlier zombies forcing tight dodges amid foggy fields. “It’s less spam, more skill—feels fresh,” they posted.
Black Ops 7, the next in the stealthy spy thriller series, drops November 14 on all major platforms. With multiplayer maps, a campaign, and Warzone integration also in the beta, Treyarch hopes these Zombies tweaks keep the undead horde alive against Battlefield’s battlefield. Jump in early to share your feedback—the mode’s future might depend on it.