Activision has dropped a major bombshell ahead of the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7: the Carry Forward feature is being scrapped. That’s right: your Black Ops 6 skins, Operators, and weapon blueprints won’t be making the jump to the next instalment.
Scheduled to launch on November 14, Black Ops 7 is aiming to deliver a more grounded and era-appropriate experience. However, this bold decision from Activision is already kicking the hornet’s nest in the Call of Duty community. Let’s dig into what it all means.
What is Carry Forward, and why is it gone?
If you’ve been around since Modern Warfare II or Black Ops 6, you’re probably familiar with Carry Forward: a feature that’s allowed players to bring skins, weapons, and other cosmetics from one Call of Duty game to the next. It’s been a fan-favourite that offered a sense of continuity and rewarded long-term investment.
But in Black Ops 7, that continuity hits a wall. Activision says the decision was made to preserve the game’s authentic tone and thematic consistency. “Black Ops 7 needs to feel authentic to Call of Duty and its setting,” reads the statement. That means no Black Ops 6 Operators, skins, or weapons
Interestingly, not everything is being tossed out. Players will still be able to carry forward Double XP tokens and GobbleGums to BO7, offering a small consolation prize to fans.
What’s staying, and what’s not
To keep it simple, here’s what you can and can’t bring into Black Ops 7:
- Staying: Double XP Tokens, GobbleGums
- Gone: Black Ops 6 Skins, Operators, Weapon Blueprints, and Bundles
It’s worth noting that all Black Ops 6 content will still be usable in Call of Duty: Warzone. This decision only affects Black Ops 7.
Trying to fix the vibe
The Call of Duty community hasn’t exactly been throwing roses at Activision lately. Fans have been increasingly vocal about the over-saturation of crossover content: think colourful, cartoonish skins that clash with the game’s supposedly serious tone.
MORE BLACK OPS 7
In the wake of heavy dislike-bombing on the Black Ops 7 campaign reveal trailer at Gamescom and backlash against similar silliness in Black Ops 6, Activision is clearly trying to pivot. This move seems like a direct response to passionate player feedback. In their words, the goal is to deliver “a better balance toward the immersive, core Call of Duty experience.”
Black Ops 7 Open Beta dates and access details
Want to get your hands on Black Ops 7 early? Good news: the game’s open beta is just around the corner. Here’s what we know:
- October 2: Early Access begins for players who’ve pre-ordered or subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass.
- October 5–8: Full Open Beta for all players across supported platforms.
The beta is more than just early access: it’s an important technical testbed. Activision says new anti-cheat features will debut during this period, including systems meant to block cheats at the system level. To that end, PC users will now be required to enable both Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 for added protection.
Additionally, new detection and mitigation systems aim to kick cheaters “earlier and harder,” and these tools will be thoroughly tested during the beta window.
Call of Duty NEXT and what’s still to come
Still wondering about the multiplayer? Hoping Zombies finally gets a wild twist again? Keep your eyes locked on Call of Duty: NEXT on September 30, where we’ll get a much deeper dive into core gameplay, PvP, and that beloved undead mode.
Until then, one thing is clear: Black Ops 7 is trying to reset expectations. Whether ditching old cosmetics and gimmicks can win back the trust of veterans remains to be seen. But it’s a step toward making Call of Duty feel like Call of Duty again.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launches November 14 on all major platforms. Beta opens October 2 for early access players.