BREAKING INTEL: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Beta – Start Date, Access, Maps, Modes, and Zombies Revealed

The countdown to the next chapter in the iconic Black Ops franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, has officially begun. With the worldwide Multiplayer reveal at Call of Duty: NEXT now complete, Activision and Treyarch have dropped a massive intel blast on the highly anticipated multiplayer Beta, including key dates, content, and, for the first time in a CoD beta, a taste of the returning fan-favorite Zombies mode.

This report compiles all the crucial details on how to secure your access, what maps and modes you’ll be playing, and the exciting new features coming to one of the year’s biggest video game releases. The goal for this Beta is to stress-test the servers, refine the core gameplay experience, and generate maximum pre-order momentum ahead of the November 14 full launch.

Beta Start Dates and Access: Key to Getting In

The Black Ops 7 multiplayer Beta is a six-day event split across two consecutive periods, ensuring players on all platforms get a chance to experience the action. Securing early access is the primary driver for high-value pre-order sales.

Beta Schedule (All Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox):

• Early Access: Thursday, October 2, 2025 – Sunday, October 5, 2025
• Open Beta: Sunday, October 5, 2025 – Wednesday, October 8, 2025

How to Get Early Access:

• Pre-Order Black Ops 7: The most guaranteed way to get in. Digital pre-orders (Standard or Vault Edition) automatically grant access. For physical pre-orders, a Beta code will typically be printed on your receipt, which must be redeemed on the official Call of Duty website.
• Xbox Game Pass: Subscribers to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass are also automatically granted Early Access to the Beta. This is a significant move to drive Game Pass value.
• Twitch Drops & Partnerships: Beta codes will be available through select Twitch Drops for watching the Call of Duty: NEXT event and through other promotional partnerships (such as Xfinity Rewards in the US).

How to Access the Open Beta:

• The Open Beta period is free and available to all players on all platforms, regardless of whether the game has been pre-ordered. Players can simply download the client and jump in.

Multiplayer Maps and Modes: What You Will Play

The Beta will feature a curated selection of content designed to showcase the new feel of the game’s core 6v6 multiplayer, including a brand-new objective mode and a host of new weaponry and customization options.

Confirmed Maps in the Beta (6 Core 6v6 Maps):

• Blackheart: A new environment likely designed for classic three-lane engagements.
• Cortex: Expected to be a medium-sized map focusing on fast-paced gunfights.
• Exposure: A returning fan-favorite or a new map in a familiar style, designed for versatile combat.
• Imprint: A highly anticipated new map that will define the early competitive meta.
• Toshin: A map with a distinct aesthetic, expected to offer varied sightlines.
• The Forge: A map that will test players’ mastery of the new movement mechanics.

The full game at launch is confirmed to have a robust offering of 16 Core 6v6 maps, including 3 remastered classics from Black Ops 2 like Raid, plus 2 new large-scale Skirmish (20v20) maps.

Confirmed Modes in the Beta (5 Modes):

• Overload (NEW): The standout addition. This 6v6 mode is a new objective race where teams fight to possess a neutral “Overload Device” and deliver it to designated zones near the enemy spawn. It’s designed for constant movement and hectic close-quarters defense.
• Team Deathmatch (TDM): The timeless classic—eliminate enemy players to earn points.
• Domination: Capture, hold, and defend three objectives to score. A staple of competitive FPS gaming.
• Hardpoint: Rotate and hold a single, continuously moving objective zone.
• Kill Confirmed: A twist on TDM, requiring players to collect enemy dog tags to score and friendly dog tags to deny points.

Zombies Survival Mode: A First for the Beta

In a historic move for the franchise, Zombies content will be playable in a Call of Duty Beta for the very first time. This is a clear signal of the confidence in the new iteration of the beloved co-op mode.

• Zombies Survival Mode: Players will get to try out the new Zombies Survival mode. Unlike the main story-driven, round-based mode, Survival is a smaller, self-contained, arena-style experience focused entirely on intense, hectic carnage and raw score accumulation.
• The Map: Farm: The Beta will feature the Farm Survival map. This smaller, concentrated arena is taken from an isolated area of the much larger launch map, Ashes of the Damned. It features classic Zombies tropes like a barn, loft, and a farmhouse, emphasizing traditional wave-based survival.
• New Mechanics Preview: This is a chance for players to test the new mechanics, including changes to armored zombies, new audio cues for zombie strength increases, and the function of new Wonder Weapons and power-ups. The full scope of the main ‘Ashes of the Damned’ map and the new vehicle system is reserved for the full game.

Strong Takeaway for Investors: The inclusion of Zombies in the Beta is a calculated marketing strategy to leverage the mode’s strong fanbase and further differentiate the Black Ops experience, driving high-value purchases.

Everything Else To Know: RICOCHET and PC Requirements

The Beta is also a critical stage for technical testing, particularly for the game’s anti-cheat systems and performance on various hardware.

• RICOCHET Anti-Cheat: The full force of RICOCHET Anti-Cheat will be active in the Beta, with WotC debuting new machine learning upgrades and a strict set of PC requirements.
• PC Security Requirements: For PC players, the Black Ops 7 Beta will require TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot to be enabled. This is a significant hardware and software barrier for some players but is intended to create the most secure environment possible against cheating software.
• Progression: Players will be able to progress their Career Ranks and unlock various Weapon Camos and challenges during the Beta, giving them a head start and a reason to invest significant playtime.

The Black Ops 7 Beta is set to be the ultimate pre-launch stress test and an essential window into the state of this year’s premium FPS title. Players should secure their Early Access codes now to be among the first to drop into the action on October 2.