The shooter showdown of 2025 is heating up. Activision has officially confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will hold an open beta in October, with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers gaining early access on October 2 and everyone else on October 5. 
The beta will run for at least two days, though Activision has yet to clarify if it will extend across multiple weekends.
More details are expected to surface during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025, where the full reveal of Black Ops 7 is scheduled to open the showcase. Leaks have already hinted at a November 14, 2025 release date, as the in-game Reznov Challenge Pack for Black Ops 6 must be redeemed by then – virtually confirming the launch window.
What makes these dates especially intriguing is how they overlap with Battlefield 6, which recently held its own open beta and is set to launch in early October. This means Black Ops 7 will be testing its servers right as Battlefield is trying to lock in its player base. With a month’s head start, EA’s shooter could gain traction before Call of Duty even hits store shelves.
The community is split: some believe Battlefield finally has the momentum to challenge Call of Duty’s dominance, while others argue that the weight of Call of Duty’s annual tradition and massive fanbase makes it nearly impossible to topple. Either way, fans of first-person shooters are in for a rare clash of titans – two major franchises going toe-to-toe in the same season.