The anticipated price and launch date for Activision`s Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 have reportedly been revealed ahead of its official announcement, which is expected as early as today, August 19. According to well-known leaker billbil-kun, the game is set to debut on Friday, November 14. The standard edition will be priced at $70, while the Vault edition will cost $100.
This pricing strategy aligns with Microsoft`s previous statements that it would not charge $80 for any of its games this year. Microsoft, the owner and publisher of the Call of Duty franchise, had initially considered an $80 price point, starting with titles like The Outer Worlds 2, but later reversed this decision. This consistency in pricing is noteworthy, despite earlier speculation that Microsoft might increase game prices.
The leak also indicates that Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will not be available on Nintendo Switch 2 at launch. While Microsoft and Activision have committed to bringing Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms, the specifics of this rollout remain unclear. The confirmed platforms for Black Ops 7 include PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. The exclusion of the Switch, especially given the game`s availability on older generation consoles, has raised questions.
In 2023, during the FTC vs. Microsoft court proceedings, Microsoft affirmed a “binding 10-year legal agreement” to release Call of Duty titles on Nintendo consoles. This agreement stipulated same-day launches as Xbox, ensuring full feature and content parity. However, Activision has not released a Call of Duty game on a Nintendo platform for over a decade, with Call of Duty: Ghosts for Wii U in 2013 being the last. The series has a complex history with Nintendo, and this situation adds another chapter.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 marks a significant first for the franchise, as it`s the first time Black Ops titles are being released in consecutive years. The game`s narrative unfolds in 2035, a decade after the events of Black Ops 2`s campaign. Development for Black Ops 7 is being co-led by Treyarch and Raven Software, mirroring their collaboration on 2024`s Black Ops 6.
Activision is expected to unveil further details about Black Ops 7 during Gamescom Opening Night Live today.