Black Ops 7 beta has date and access: the new format is critical to Game Pass

An Activision (implied) disclosed the schedule and access methods for the Black Ops 7 multiplayer beta, revealed during Gamescom ONL. The test will take place in October on all platforms, but the organization of the dates suggests a strategic shift to favor pre-orders and the paid distribution model over free access.

The Black Ops 7 multiplayer beta will last seven days, from Thursday, October 2nd, to Wednesday, October 8th, 2025. However, the schedule organization breaks with the traditional Call of Duty format, which separated the closed and open phases on different weekends. The open phase, which will be free for all players on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, is limited to the final three days, from October 6th to 8th. This means that most players without early access will only be able to participate during the weekdays, a decision that the original article presumes to be a move to "encourage more players to pre-order" instead of waiting for the availability of Game Pass.

Early access to the closed beta phase, which runs from October 2nd to 5th, is guaranteed for those who pre-order the game in any edition and platform. In addition, Activision will provide early access codes through Twitch drops on September 30th, 2025. Interested parties can tune into the CoD Next event on Tuesday, September 30th, to try to acquire a code and participate in the closed phase. Players who pre-order digitally will have automatic entry, while physical purchases (in-store) will receive the code by email or printed on the receipt.

For those willing to invest in the most complete edition, the Vault Edition offers substantial additional incentives, in addition to early access to the beta. Players who purchase this edition will receive a BlackCell Battle Pass for one season, an exclusive Operator collection, a Mastercraft weapon collection, an Ultra GobbleGum Pack for the Zombies mode, and a Permanent Unlock Token. These added bonuses are designed to add immediate value to pre-orders and reward players willing to join the live service cycle from the beginning.

The Black Ops 7 beta test will be fully cross-platform, simultaneously spanning PC, Xbox, and PlayStation during the seven full days. This total availability is essential to test network infrastructure and cross-play before launch. The period is crucial for Treyarch to collect technical feedback and insights on the balance of the multiplayer game before its final arrival. The date announcement was made by Activision (implied) during Gamescom ONL, with the aim of generating hype before the game's arrival.

The Black Ops 7 multiplayer beta will take place from October 2nd to 8th, 2025 on all platforms, but the limitation of open access to weekdays is a point of contention that encourages pre-orders. Activision has ensured various access routes, including Twitch drops and the Vault Edition, which offers a robust rewards package, including the BlackCell Battle Pass and the exclusive Operator collection, aiming to compensate for the inconvenient timing for free access.