I switched on my PS5 the other night, curious to see what the Black Ops 7 Beta had to offer. Within half an hour, I got my answer, and it wasn’t a positive one. The Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) was on another level, and the gameplay felt like a reskinned version of Black Ops 6 with a sci-fi paint job. There was nothing groundbreaking, nothing exciting, and by the end of my third match, I’d already seen enough.
The PlayStation was soon switched off, and I couldn’t help but chuckle in disbelief. How did we get here? What on earth has happened to this franchise? Call of Duty has been my go-to FPS ever since 2004’s Finest Hour, and I’ve remained a fan ever since. Over the years, I’ve been in thousands of multiplayer lobbies, experienced some of the most iconic campaign missions to exist, and genuinely looked forward to each new installment. But this time, I felt nothing. No pleasure, no excitement, just detachment.
As I scrolled through my phone, it soon became evident that I wasn’t alone. The majority of posts were overwhelmingly damning of the game. It genuinely felt like the final nail in the coffin, and honestly, I was relieved knowing Battlefield 6 was just days away, because this wasn’t the Call of Duty I grew up loving.
Then, out of nowhere, a new Open Moshpit playlist dropped into the Beta, featuring the classic matchmaking style of older Call of Duty titles where skill was minimally considered. It seemed like a rather reactionary move by Treyarch, Raven, and Activision, like a last-ditch attempt to restore optimism and mitigate player concern. Of course, this wasn’t the only example of the devs ringing the changes as soon as pressure mounted, having already redesigned the Vault Edition skins to give them more of a grounded appearance.
Curious to see if the new playlist actually made a difference, I hesitantly loaded up the Beta again, and dare I say it, had a lot of fun. Before I knew it, two hours had flown by. I’d reached the level cap and finished every game with a positive K/D ratio. It felt like the classic Call of Duty I remember, and, for once, not a sweat-fest every single time.
But here’s the problem: the core issues remain, and in my opinion, the Open Moshpit playlist only acts as damage limitation.
Even with the addition of the Open Moshpit, Black Ops 7 still feels like recycled content. Besides the new maps, characters, and a rather cheesy wall jump mechanic, everything else, from the menu layout to the movement system, is familiar. Even some of the weapons are a copy-and-paste job from previous entries. If you told me I was just playing a remake of Black Ops 2, I wouldn’t have thought any different.
We’ve seen the same formula for years now. The usual perk system, slightly tweaked movement, and an engine that’s long overdue for a change. The sound design, visuals, UI, it’s all so recognizable that it no longer blows people away. The excitement of picking up a new CoD just doesn’t exist for me right now. Honestly? It feels like watching the same movie with different actors over and over again. In fairness, they've put together a cast even Hollywood would be proud of, with the ridiculous collabs and all.
The sudden addition of the Open Moshpit says a lot, proving that while the developers are listening, they are also scrambling to please a community that’s growing increasingly bored. I can’t speak on behalf of everyone, but I’m now thinking twice before pre-ordering a Call of Duty game, simply because I’m no longer confident it will deliver anything worth my time and money.
Call of Duty seems content with relying on its brand name while its competitors are actively innovating. And that’s exactly why Battlefield 6 has my full attention.
When I look back on my time with the Battlefield 6 Beta in comparison, the difference is night and day. The moment I dropped into a game, I could see the ambition and the pride that went into it. The sheer scale and dynamic of each map brought everything to life. Every explosion had consequences, gunfights were intense and strategic, and the sound of jets made it feel like they were flying over my house, not to mention the revamped destruction system, which took the chaos up another notch.
That Beta left me genuinely excited. It's not just another entry; it's a step forward. A modern shooter that embraces its identity while evolving the formula. It reminded me of what this genre is capable of when developers just get it, when they understand what its target audience truly craves. It also got me thinking about the dreadful launch Battlefield 2042 endured four years ago. The game was a mess, players weren't convinced about its direction, and it was soon left to face the consequences. Ironically, it had abandoned its true roots and identity.
Yet here we are today, on the brink of an incredible comeback, all because its studio learned from previous mistakes and started from scratch. It realised that Battlefield 6 was make or break for a lot of people, and it simply had to make a statement. Without releasing, it currently ranks as the top seller on Steam. Black Ops 7, meanwhile, isn't even in the top 100.
Ultimately, the Black Ops 7 Beta made three things painfully clear: A, players still crave the relaxed experience of classic matchmaking. B, quick fixes like the Open Moshpit can’t mask the fact that we’re playing the same game, albeit reskinned and rebranded. And C, real competition is healthy. Battlefield is clearly benefiting from CoD’s stagnation, and it’s becoming apparent now more than ever that Treyarch, Raven, and Activision are feeling the effects.
The enjoyment I finally got out of the BO7 Beta felt like a concession. If something like the Open Moshpit is still available at launch, then fair play, that’s a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, on this occasion, the developers have listened too little, too late. Battlefield 6 reeled me in a long time ago, and until Call of Duty reunites with the identity that made it into what it is today, I’ll be switching sides.
As I eagerly wait for Friday to arrive, the anticipation I once had for Call of Duty is now firmly and confidently placed in the hands of its main rival.
Over to you, Battlefield.
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