If you want to play the special new mode of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, you’ll first have to fight your way through the campaign. That is changing now.
Which part of Black Ops 7 is it about? The campaign. This should be one of the major innovations of the shooter with the possibility for cooperative gameplay and a special endgame, but has been struggling with heavy criticism from the community since its release.
Many players dislike both the setting of the campaign and the narrative itself. The squad led by protagonist David Mason fights against fantasy enemies like Frank Woods, trapped in a giant plant, zombies, and a comrade who is rampaging as a crazed giant, thanks to severe hallucinations at bizarre locations.
The campaign is therefore far from a realistic espionage thriller with political intrigue.
Additionally, Black Ops 7 made a mistake that many gamers also criticize harshly in other games: You can only play the story with an active internet connection, meaning there’s an online requirement. Plus, there are no save points (checkpoints), no pause function, and absent players will be kicked.
Now, Treyarch, the developer studio behind Black Ops 7, frees itself from the campaign and rewards the fearless players who have already completed the story experience of the shooter.
Straight to the endgame without detours
What are the developers changing now? As Treyarch announced in a post on X.com, starting from November 21, 2025, you can immediately enter the game’s endgame without detours. You won’t have to complete the controversial campaign to play the new mode.
If you have already earned access to the endgame by finishing the campaign, you will receive a series of rewards (or compensations) from Treyarch:
- 3 tokens for one hour of double XP for account level
- 3 tokens for one hour of double weapon XP
- 3 tokens for one hour of double Battle Pass XP
- 3x the “Perkaholic” gum for the zombie mode
Why this change? The endgame is indeed well-received by many players. A player on Reddit even writes that the endgame is the most fun he has had in Call of Duty in years. Other users agree, adding that they do not understand why the mode was locked behind the campaign.
This thought is likely the basis for the change. Treyarch also mentions a “great response” regarding the endgame, which is why they are making it accessible to everyone now.
What is the endgame actually? The endgame is a kind of extraction shooter, but exclusively with PvE combat. You choose your equipment, drop onto a vast open map, and complete various missions. In the end, you extract and level up your character. The goal is to reach max level without dying and thus losing your progress.
What makes the endgame interesting is that you can level up your account and weapons, similar to the zombie mode. This makes it easier to get into multiplayer, as you won’t have to face off with unlevelled weapons without attachments. Which weapons you should level up first can be seen here: CoD Black Ops 7: The best weapons with loadouts
