The battle lines are shifting as Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone prepare for the launch of Season 2 on 5 February. Headlined by the return of competitive Ranked Play and a trip to the Red Planet in Zombies, this update represents one of the most substantial content drops in recent franchise history.
Multiplayer: Ranked Play and Classic Remasters
The wait for competitive fans is over. Ranked Play officially arrives at the start of Season 2, featuring the same rules, maps, and loadout restrictions used by the Call of Duty League (CDL). Players can climb the ranks to earn exclusive skins, camos, and blueprints by proving their skill in 4v4 matches.
The map pool is also expanding significantly. Fans of classic Black Ops lane-based combat will welcome the return of Slums at launch, with Firing Range and Grind slated for mid-season. New environments include:
- Torment: A blood-soaked arena.
- Sake: A Japanese manufacturing facility.
- Nexus: A frozen simulation environment.
- Cliff Town: Arriving mid-season, this is a reimagined version of the fan-favourite map Yemen, bringing its vertical urban combat into the modern era.
Zombies: Survival on Mars
The undead threat is going interplanetary. The new Survival map, Mars, takes players to an ancient temple buried beneath the red sands. Accompanying the new map are two distinct modes:
- Cursed Survival: A hardcore experience featuring a pistol-only start, a stripped-back HUD, and a points system inspired by Black Ops 3.
- Starting Room: A challenge mode that traps crews in the initial area of the map, testing endurance and skill in tight quarters.
Warzone: Winter Warfare and the Return of ‘Blackout’
Rebirth Island is getting a seasonal makeover with a winter refresh, introducing snow-covered terrain and a new Turbine point of interest. However, the biggest news for Battle Royale fans arrives mid-season with the debut of a brand-new experience on the Avalon map.
This upcoming mode is ‘built from the ground up’ and draws heavy inspiration from the original Blackout mode from Black Ops 4. It promises a more traditional scavenging-focused loop compared to the standard Warzone loadout system.
New Arsenal and ‘Endgame’ Updates
A mini-arsenal of seven new weapons will be introduced throughout the season. Highlights include the REV-46 SMG (Battle Pass), which features a unique folding mechanic to alter handling, and the EGRT-17 Assault Rifle.
The Endgame mode is also being bolstered with ‘Guild Strikes’. These random events transform sectors of Avalon into high-difficulty ‘Nightmare Zones’ guarded by Strike Bosses. Players who successfully navigate these zones can earn high-tier loot and progress through the new Eagle Eye Skill Track, which focuses on precision and critical damage.
Season 2 for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone launches 5 February at 9 AM PT.
