In a significant move aimed at winning back its community, Activision Blizzard, owned by Microsoft, has announced a major overhaul of its launch strategy for the iconic Call of Duty franchise. The company has directly addressed player feedback, promising to deliver excellence and outlining a three-pronged plan centered around free access, robust post-launch content, and a fundamental change in its release calendar.
A Free Trial to Win Back Trust
In a bold confidence-building measure, Activision has declared that players will have the opportunity to try Black Ops 7 Multiplayer and Zombies for free next week. This free trial period will coincide with a Double XP weekend. The company stated that this move is to allow the community to "experience the game firsthand and decide for yourselves," shifting the onus of judgment from marketing claims to player experience.
Commitment to Unprecedented Live Service
Beyond the initial launch, Activision is pledging what it calls "unprecedented seasonal support" for Black Ops 7. The studio emphasized that player feedback will directly shape these updates. They revealed that Season 01 is already the largest live season in the franchise's history, with a promise of more to come, aiming to make Black Ops 7 one of the best entries in the Black Ops series.
The End of Annual Fatigue: A New Release Cadence
The most strategic announcement is a change in the franchise's core release model. Activision confirmed it will no longer produce back-to-back releases of Modern Warfare or Black Ops titles. The primary reason cited is to ensure that each annual release provides an "absolutely unique experience each and every year," focusing on meaningful innovation rather than incremental updates.
In a blog post titled "A message from the Call of Duty team," the company acknowledged that the franchise has not fully met some players' expectations in recent times. They assured the community, "We know what you expect and rest assured we will deliver, and overdeliver." Regarding Black Ops 7, the developers have aimed to create a spiritual successor to the fan-favorite Black Ops 2.
While future plans for the "next era of Call of Duty" remain under wraps, Activision expressed strong confidence, stating the future is bright given the depth of its development teams. This pivotal shift represents a direct response to community criticism and a clear attempt to reinvigorate the multi-billion dollar franchise under Microsoft's stewardship.
