Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Beta: Zombies Training Course and Key Bug Fixes Revealed

The highly anticipated early access phase for the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 beta has officially begun. Developer Treyarch has promptly released new patch notes, detailing recent modifications and exciting additions to the beta content. Among the most notable updates is the introduction of a dedicated Zombies training course, specifically designed to help new players acclimate to the mode. Furthermore, Treyarch has openly communicated about several known bugs that they are diligently working to resolve during this crucial beta period.

Marking a significant first, Call of Duty`s acclaimed Zombies mode is now accessible within a beta. Players will be able to experience the Vandorn Farm Survival map. This iteration is not the full round-based Zombies experience that will feature in Black Ops 7, but rather a condensed Survival map where participants can leverage all available perks and equipment in their quest to achieve exceptionally high rounds.

It is important for players to note that the Zombies content will not be available for the entire duration of the beta. Instead, it will be featured across four specific days: two days during early access and two days during the open beta, spanning from October 3 to October 7.

Treyarch confirms the availability of a specialized training course for new players, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to learn the intricacies of the Zombies mode before engaging in intense matches. To push server limits and gather data on player performance at extreme levels, the mode will have no round cap. Additionally, solo players will benefit from a “Save and Quit” feature, empowering them to pursue and log achievements for very high-round matches.

The comprehensive patch notes also shed light on various known bugs and inconsistencies observed within the game, which the developers are actively addressing and collecting data on ahead of the official launch.

Regarding multiplayer progression, Treyarch has indicated that the rate at which Overclocks are unlocked in the beta will be inconsistent and may vary significantly compared to the planned experience at launch. The player data collected during this beta phase will be instrumental in fine-tuning these progression rates for the final release. Another identified issue concerns the Gravemaker scorestreak, where some players might inadvertently retain it beyond its intended timer until their next death. Treyarch plans to correct this known issue via a live update during the beta. A party system bug is also under active investigation: in a party consisting of only two individuals, the player who is not the host is currently unable to leave the party. A fix for this critical bug is also anticipated during the beta phase.

Treyarch is committed to continuously tracking live issues and known bugs throughout the beta. Players seeking the latest information can refer to the official Black Ops 7 Trello Board. The early access beta is scheduled from Thursday, October 2, to Sunday, October 5, from 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET. Players who prefer to wait can join the open beta the following week without requiring an access code.

Activision has previously shared extensive details regarding the content available in the beta, including a full roster of weapons, perks, and equipment. Following the Call of Duty: Next event earlier this week, initial impressions of Black Ops 7`s multiplayer, Zombies, and Warzone content from hands-on sessions are now available.

Welcome to the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Beta!

Early Access for the beta is underway from today until October 5th at 10 AM PT. The Open Beta will then run from October 5th at 10 AM PT to October 8th at 10 AM PT.

The Treyarch team looks forward to receiving player feedback throughout the Beta. Sharing your experiences is paramount to making Black Ops 7 the best it can be, and the studio is already incorporating feedback received from events like Call of Duty: NEXT. The Beta is also crucial for gathering key in-game data needed to refine and optimize the experience for the November 14 launch and subsequent updates. The development team is excited to engage with all players in Black Ops 7 during the Beta!

Following the conclusion of the Beta, further updates and changes, directly influenced by player feedback and critical in-game data, will be shared as the launch date approaches.

Multiplayer

The team is thrilled for players around the world to finally get hands-on with Black Ops 7 Multiplayer. They have meticulously crafted a distinctive experience set in the year 2035, featuring an entirely new arsenal of weaponry, Perks, tactical gear, and innovative gadgets to deploy against competitors. The development team’s passion for this title is expected to resonate with players in every match throughout the Beta!

Early Access commences with a diverse offering of three 6v6 maps, four game modes, and an essential Training Course designed to bring everyone up to speed on Black Ops 7’s unique movement mechanics. As the Beta progresses, a wealth of new content, including additional maps, modes, weapons, gear, and Scorestreaks, will be introduced for players to explore.

Day 1 Multiplayer Content:

• Maps
  • Cortex
  • Exposure
  • The Forge
• Modes
  • Team Deathmatch (including Hardcore Team Deathmatch)
  • Domination (including Hardcore Domination)
  • Hardpoint
  • Kill Confirmed
  • Training Course

Zombies

Treyarch is immensely excited to include Zombies in a Call of Duty Beta for the very first time with the Survival mode in Black Ops 7. They have acknowledged community discussions regarding the availability schedule and wish to provide clarification before delving into the content details.

Zombies Schedule

Zombies Survival will be playable for a total of four full days, beginning during Early Access on Friday, October 3, at 10 AM PT and concluding on Tuesday, October 7, at 10 AM PT. This schedule provides two days during Early Access and an additional two days during the Open Beta, ensuring all players have an opportunity to preview the mode.

The rationale behind not launching Survival earlier is to guarantee the most stable experience possible for players, given that this is Zombies` debut in a Call of Duty Beta. The initial 24 hours of the beta will prioritize overall game stability before integrating this new core game mode. Players can, however, get a head start by unlocking Level 1-20 content today, which can then be utilized in Survival once it goes live tomorrow.

Zombies Gameplay

As players and their squads strive for extended survival, they will gain access to a host of new weapons, gear, and equipment. This includes the opportunity to test out the new Wisp Tea Perk-a-Cola, the Fire Works Ammo Mod, and the Toxic Growth Field Upgrade. Mastering Wall Jumps will also be a key skill for effectively evading the relentless undead. Treyarch confirms that even more content for Zombies will be introduced throughout the Beta as the level cap is progressively raised.

No Spoilers!

To preserve the ultimate day-one experience of discovering the game`s full narrative and secrets together as a community, the Beta will not feature Easter Eggs or Side Quests. Additionally, the dedicated Zombies crew will only be introduced at launch, allowing players to fully enjoy their unique personalities and interactions on the “Ashes of the Damned” map as they are meant to be experienced. While the Necrofluid Gauntlet Wonder Weapon is exclusive to the full launch map, players might still get fortunate enough to pull a Ray Gun or Ray Gun Mark II from the Mystery Box on Vandorn Farm!

GobbleGums

Complimentary GobbleGums will be available for use during the Beta, including some exciting new additions to Black Ops 7 such as Round Off, Power Vacuum, and Gift Card! Players are encouraged to jump in and experiment with them during their matches. It’s important to note that these Beta GobbleGums will not transfer to Black Ops 6 or Black Ops 7 inventories.

Augments

The extensive character research conducted in Black Ops 6 will be seamlessly integrated into the full Black Ops 7 Zombies experience upon its launch. With the team currently finalizing and implementing designs across all 192 Augments, these will be fully ready at launch, not during the Beta. This includes any existing Augment progress from Black Ops 6, alongside 66 brand-new game-changing Augments, all available on November 14.

No Round Cap

There will be no round cap imposed during the Beta, and a “Save & Quit” feature will be accessible for Solo players. This allows players to attempt and achieve exceptionally high rounds during the Beta period. This functionality is crucial for helping Treyarch test for additional stability issues that might emerge at higher levels of play, enabling them to iron out any kinks before launch. The developers are eager to see if any players can manage to reach Round 999!

Zombies Training Course

For players new to the Zombies mode, a new Zombies Training Course has been added to the Beta. This course provides an excellent opportunity to learn the ropes and master essential skills before diving into the main Survival experience. Players are advised to consult the guide for Vandorn Farm for additional tips.

Progression

Here is a comprehensive list of all content unlockable and deployable in Multiplayer and Zombies Survival modes through your progression journey from Level 1 to 20 during the Early Access Beta:

• Level 1: Immediate Unlocks
  • M15 Mod 0 (Primary Weapon, Assault Rifle): Full-auto assault rifle, well-rounded in power, accuracy, and handling.
  • Ryden 45K (Primary Weapon, SMG): Full-auto submachine gun, solid balance of close-quarters battle (CQB) power, handling, and recoil.
  • Mk. 78 (Primary Weapon, LMG): Full-auto light machine gun, great damage and high ammo count, balanced by slower mobility and handling.
  • VS Recon (Primary Weapon, Sniper Rifle): Bolt-action sniper rifle, quick rechamber, moderate recoil and stability.
  • M10 Breacher (Primary Weapon, Shotgun): Pump-action charge shotgun, optionally hold trigger to improve hip and ADS spread.
  • Jäger 45 (Secondary Weapon, Pistol): Semi-auto pistol, reliable sidearm with a very fast rate of fire and low recoil.
  • Flatline Mk. II (Melee Weapon): Melee weapon with high damage and moderate attack speed.
• Level 2: Progression Unlocks (Private II)
  • Beta Rewards: “Beta Player” Animated Emblem.
  • Default Loadout: Shotgunner (fast-paced Loadout focused on close-range lethality).
• Level 3: Progression Unlocks (Private III)
  • Default Loadout: Overwatch (Sniper Rifle Loadout with an SMG backup).
• Level 4: Progression Unlocks (Lance Corporal I)
  • Custom Loadouts: Player customizable Loadouts allowing selection of Weapons, Equipment, and Perks.
  • MXR-17 (Primary Weapon, Assault Rifle): Full-auto assault rifle, excellent accuracy and range, offset by slower mobility and rate of fire.
  • Flak Jacket (Perk, Strategist): Reduces incoming explosive and fire damage.
• Level 5: Progression Unlocks (Lance Corporal II)
  • Sticky Grenade (Lethal Equipment): Timed sticky grenade.
  • RC-XD (Scorestreak): Deploy a small remote-controlled, remote-detonated explosive vehicle.
  • Tac Sprinter (Perk, Enforcer): Enables Tactical Sprint but reduces your normal sprint speed.
• Level 6: Progression Unlocks (Lance Corporal III)
  • Beta Rewards: “Gun Flex” Emote.
  • Cryo Freeze (Zombies, Ammo Mod): Bullets deal frost damage; each bullet has a chance to slow a normal or special enemy and increase the damage they receive.
• Level 7: Progression Unlocks (Corporal I)
  • M8A1 (Primary Weapon, Marksman Rifle): Four-round burst marksman rifle, extreme rate of fire within the burst, balanced by moderate burst cooldown.
  • Flashbang (Tactical Equipment): Blinds and deafens targets.
  • Lightweight (Perk, Enforcer): Increased movement speed, jump, slide, and dive further, faster recovery from sliding and diving.
• Level 8: Progression Unlocks (Corporal II)
  • Fast Hands (Perk, Strategist): Reload and swap weapons faster, extend fuses when throwing back grenades.
  • UAV (Scorestreak): UAV recon ship that reveals enemy locations on the minimap.
  • Frenzied Guard (Zombies, Field Upgrade): Repairs armor to full and forces all enemies in the area to temporarily target you. Armor takes all damage during this time, and kills repair armor.
• Level 9: Progression Unlocks (Corporal III)
  • Cold Blooded (Perk, Recon): Undetectable by AI targeting and thermal optics. Player-controlled Scorestreaks don’t highlight you.
  • Trophy System (MP, Field Upgrade): Area defense system destroys enemy projectiles in the air.
  • Cymbal Monkey (Zombies, Tactical Equipment): Attracts zombies for a short duration before exploding.
• Level 10: Progression Unlocks (Sergeant I)
  • Dravec 45 (Primary Weapon, SMG): Full-auto submachine gun, highly stable and effective at longer ranges, but with less raw CQB power.
  • Gung Ho (Perk, Enforcer): Fire while sprinting, improved movement speed while reloading or using Equipment.
• Level 11: Progression Unlocks (Sergeant II)
  • Beta Rewards: “Beta Neon” Sticker.
  • HKDs (Scorestreak): Aerial payload delivers wheeled Hunter Kill Drones which seek targets and explode.
• Level 12: Progression Unlocks (Sergeant III)
  • Pinpoint Grenade (Tactical Equipment): Grenade that detects enemies within its range. Close enemies are shot with tracking devices which can be removed by victims.
  • Blast Link (Perk, Recon): Your explosive damage marks enemies on your minimap, grants this benefit to all allies, earn score when they deal explosive damage.
  • Fire Works (Ammo Mod): Each bullet has a chance to launch fireworks from normal and special enemies that target enemies.
• Level 13: Progression Unlocks (Staff Sergeant I)
  • A.R.C. M1 (Launcher): Charge launcher, hold trigger to charge an energy beam that pierces enemies, deals high damage to vehicles and Scorestreaks.
  • Overkill (Wildcard): Equip any non-melee weapon in Primary and Secondary slots.
  • Active Camo (Field Upgrade): Become invisible for a short period of time.
• Level 14: Progression Unlocks (Staff Sergeant II)
  • Bank Roll (Perk, Enforcer): Start each life with +150 score toward Scorestreaks.
  • Counter UAV (Scorestreak): A drone that scrambles all enemy minimaps.
  • Healing Aura (Zombies, Field Upgrade): Heal all nearby players immediately.
• Level 15: Progression Unlocks (Staff Sergeant III)
  • Beta Rewards: “Beta Beasts” Weapon Charm.
  • Combat Axe (Lethal Equipment): Thrown axe that kills enemies in one hit, bounces off surfaces.
  • Assassin (Perk, Enforcer): Enemies on a kill streak get a unique minimap marker and drop Bounty Packs when killed; pick up the Packs for more Score.
• Level 16: Progression Unlocks (Gunnery Sergeant I)
  • Peacekeeper MK1 (Primary Weapon, Assault Rifle): Full-auto assault rifle, exceptional mobility and handling, but high recoil and limited range.
  • Gravemaker (Scorestreak): Assemble a portable, one-hit-kill sniper rifle that can reveal and eliminate targets behind cover.
  • Charge Link (Perk, Strategist): Faster Field Upgrade charge rate, grants this benefit to all allies, earn Score when nearby allies use their Field Upgrades.
• Level 17: Progression Unlocks (Gunnery Sergeant II)
  • Stim Shot (Tactical Equipment): Military stimulant that quickly heals combat wounds.
  • Ghost (Perk, Recon): Undetectable by enemy Scout Pulse and UAV when moving, planting, defusing, or controlling Scorestreaks.
  • Napalm Burst (Zombies, Ammo Mod): Bullets deal fire damage; each bullet has a chance to apply a burn effect on normal and special enemies, dealing damage over time.
• Level 18: Progression Unlocks (Gunnery Sergeant III)
  • Point Turret (Lethal Equipment): Small deployable sentry turret that automatically shoots at enemies, distracting and damaging them.
  • Gearhead (Perk, Strategist): Two Field Upgrade charges, booby trap Care Packages.
  • Echo Unit (Field Upgrade): Holographic soldier decoy tricks enemies and captures and holds objectives.
• Level 19: Progression Unlocks (Master Sergeant I)
  • XR-3 Ion (Primary Weapon, Sniper Rifle): Three-round burst sniper rifle, high power and low recoil, but slower handling and short pre-fire delay.
  • Close Shave (Perk, Enforcer): Automatically use your Dedicated Melee attack when you perform a weapon butt attack.
  • Toxic Growth (Zombies, Field Upgrade): Summon a deadly growth of thorns in front of you.
• Level 20: Progression Unlocks (Master Sergeant II)
  • Beta Rewards: “Beta Maverick” Operator Skin, “Beta Leader” Operator Skin (Pre-Order Required).
  • VTOL Warship (Scorestreak): Control a VTOL Warship armed with a turret and air-to-land missiles.
  • Gunfighter (Wildcard): Get 3 extra attachment points for your Primary weapon.

Live Issues and Feedback

Known Issues

• Overclocks Progression: The rate at which Overclocks are unlocked will be inconsistent and varied in the Beta compared to the experience at launch. Player data collected during the Beta period will help the team finalize progression rates for launch.
• Level Display Error: In some instances, players may see their level incorrectly displayed as `Max Level` at Level 10. This is a display-only issue that corrects itself upon reaching Level 11 and will be addressed in an upcoming live update during the Beta.
• Gravemaker Scorestreak Retention: In certain edge cases, players may retain the Gravemaker Scorestreak after its timer expires until their next death. This issue is slated for a fix in an upcoming live update during the Beta.
• Frontend UI Error: An error that may reset the frontend UI when attempting to access a party`s Player Info is currently being investigated and will be fixed for an upcoming live update during the Beta.
• Party Leaving Bug: In a party comprising only two people, the non-host of the party may be unable to leave. A fix for this issue is under investigation for an update during the Beta.

Treyarch will actively track live issues and bugs throughout the Beta. Players can refer to the official Black Ops 7 Trello Board and monitor @CODUpdates on social media for the latest information. Feedback can be effectively shared by tagging any of Treyarch’s official social media channels.