Treyarch pushed a server-side update for Black Ops 7 on November 24, tackling bugs, stability problems, and gameplay adjustments across Multiplayer, Zombies, Campaign, and the Endgame extraction mode. A follow-up hotfix on November 25 added disconnect protection for Endgame, one of the most requested features since launch. The Proving Grounds event also went live, giving players a chance to earn exclusive camos before Season 1 drops December 4.
Endgame Disconnect Protection
The November 25 hotfix addressed a major pain point for Endgame players. Before this patch, a crash or disconnect meant losing all Combat Rating progress. Someone grinding at Combat Rating 60 could be sent back to zero through no fault of their own.
The fix works by taking a snapshot of Combat Rating when a match starts. Players who extract successfully keep their gains. Those who die or fail to escape lose progress as intended. But if a disconnect happens, the next match starts at whatever Combat Rating the player had before that session began.
So if someone loads in at Combat Rating 36, climbs to 39, then crashes, they'll return at 36 instead of zero. It's not perfect, but it beats losing everything. Treyarch said they're working on more robust solutions and will share details later.
A separate fix also dealt with a loadout bug affecting Avalon deployments. Players attempting eight-attachment camo challenges with the Gunfighter wildcard found that equipping a camo removed one attachment. Anyone still experiencing this needs to recreate their loadout weapon from scratch, which unfortunately wipes any purple or gold rarity. Once rebuilt, camos should track properly again.
Multiplayer Changes
Medal and Challenge Tweaks
Earning "Low Blow" and "Dive Shot" medals got easier with an extended grace period after sliding or diving. The camo challenge requirement also changed from "Kill enemies affected by your Tactical" to include non-lethal Scorestreaks, giving players more options for progressing.
The Popcorn Medal now correctly awards for multi-kills with the Needle Drone or Sticky Grenade.
Scorestreak Adjustments
The Drone Pod Field Upgrade took hits across the board. Charge time went from 2.5 to 3 minutes, active duration dropped from 10 to 8 seconds, and damage fell from 60 to 50.
Hand Cannon Scorestreak tuning went both ways. The Akimbo Overclock got buffed with 7 rounds per gun (up from before) and 44% tighter hipfire spread. The Extended Mag Overclock lost ammo, dropping to 10 rounds.
The LDBR Scorestreak's Second Strike Overclock now fires 13 missiles per target, up from its previous count.
Treyarch also fixed an issue where Legion Scorestreak Overclocks displayed out of order.
Spawns and Map Changes
Free-for-All spawn logic improved across all maps. The minimap viewable area expanded another 10% on top of a previous 15% increase.
Weapon Balance
Assault Rifles received increased flinch, while SMGs gained extended damage ranges, better recoil control, and attachment improvements. The M15 MOD 0, AK-27, and X9 Maverick all got nerfed with worse damage falloff, handling penalties, and higher recoil.
SMGs like the Ryden 45K and RK-9 became more viable at mid-range. Marksman Rifles (including the Warden 308), LMGs, and Pistols also saw various tweaks.
These changes built on earlier Aim Assist adjustments that lowered the minimum Rotational Aim Assist penalty from 35% to 25%.
Zombies Updates
Sticky Grenades now count toward the "Kill 25 Zombies with Equipment" Daily Challenge after a tracking fix.
Treyarch removed the "Eliminate 5 Special Zombies" Daily Challenge entirely.
The camo challenge wording changed from requiring kills "shortly after" Field Upgrade use to "while a Field Upgrade is active," making requirements clearer.
In Dead Ops Arcade 4, an exploit let players earn an achievement by saving and quitting during the Papaback Boss Fight. That's been patched.
The Pathfinder Camo for the DS20 Mirage now requires 300 Dead Wire Ammo kills instead of 5, likely correcting a typo in the original value.
Campaign and UI Fixes
The Kinetic Jump tutorial in the Exposure mission no longer has an ability cooldown, letting players practice without waiting between attempts.
On the UI side, the Weapon Prestige prompt now clearly states players must hold the button, preventing accidental prestiges that wipe attachment progress.
Other fixes addressed incorrect text on the EAM XL Reflex when unlocking the Blue Bullseye Reticle, an error when picking up customized versions of equipped weapons, wrong Total Mags displays in the Gunsmith, and weapon camo unlocks not showing in After-Action Reports.
Multiple crash fixes went live across all modes, though Treyarch didn't specify what was fixed.
Proving Grounds Event
A new event called Proving Grounds launched before Season 1, running for about 5 days. It's Multiplayer-only.
The Setup
Players earn leaderboard points by accumulating score in any Multiplayer playlist. These points determine placement on a 30-player leaderboard.
Rewards by Placement
Top 30 earns a Calling Card. Top 15 adds the "Burial Grounds" camo, a basic static design. Top 10 gets a Loading Screen and another Calling Card. Top 5 receives an additional Calling Card plus "Reverence," an animated camo. First place wins the Champion Proving Grounds reward.
Score Milestones
Separate from leaderboard placement, hitting 10,000 score earns a Double XP token. Higher tiers award a Weapon Charm, more Double XP, and an M15 MOD 0 blueprint with a bronze and wood look.
10v10 Mode Confirmed
Treyarch lead developer Matt Scronce confirmed 10v10 is coming to Black Ops 7, though not immediately.
"The reality is that it's a fairly unpopular and low performing playlist outside of the first couple of weeks," Scronce wrote on social media. He pushed back on the common argument about playlist placement: "Yes, I know that someone will say that it's because we moved it from feature to quickplay, but that's just not true."
He acknowledged that snipers particularly enjoy the mode but stressed that Treyarch needs to be careful with playlists given the new matchmaking and persistent lobbies system.
Season 1 Preview
Season 1 launches December 4 with a significant content drop.
New Maps at Launch
Utopia is a medium-sized 6v6 map in a Guild research facility with three-lane design and mixed indoor/outdoor paths.
Fate is a small 6v6 map on the floating remains of Menendez's Nicaraguan compound, featuring impossible geometry throughout.
Odysseus supports 6v6 and 2v2 on a carrier deck from David Mason's past.
Standoff returns as a remastered Black Ops 2 classic.
Mid-Season Maps
Yakei is a small 6v6/2v2 map on Japanese city rooftops with various structures and billboards.
Meltdown brings back another Black Ops 2 favorite.
Fringe returns from Black Ops 6, set at the Rolling Hills distillery.
Holiday Map Variant
Sleighjacked dresses up Hijacked with lights, tinsel, and festive decorations for a 6v6 holiday experience.
New Weapons
The Kogot-7 SMG and Maddox RFB Assault Rifle arrive with the season.
New Scorestreak: Deadeye Drone
This lethal Scorestreak costs 575 score and lets players pilot a drone armed with a rifle. Overclock options include Extended Mag for more shots or Grenadier for an attached bombing grenade. Mastery Badges are available.
Returning Gear (Mid-Season)
Shock Charge returns as a Tactical. Impact Grenade and Thermo Grenade come back as Lethals. Field Upgrades include Morphine Injector and Tactical Insertion.
Returning Scorestreaks include Archangel Launcher, Combat Bow, Death Machine, Dreadnought, Grim Reaper, SAM Turret, Strategic Bomber, and War Machine.
New Mode: Takeover
This mid-season mode pits two teams of 6 against each other for control of 3 neutral zones. Each controlled zone earns points, and the highest score wins. Once all three zones are captured, a brief cooldown precedes the territories shifting to new locations.
Returning Party Modes
Prop Hunt, One in the Chamber, and Sharpshooter return at launch. Sticks and Stones and Gun Game arrive later in the season.
Holiday LTMs
Holiday Havoc is a festive moshpit where kills unlock bonuses like Quick Regen, Sprint Speed, and Movement Speed. Holiday Care Packages drop periodically.
Snowfight arms players with snowballs restocked from piles around the map. Land a hit to eliminate enemies. No respawns.
More Season 1 Content
New Operators, the Zombies map Astra Malorum, and Warzone's Haven's Hollow Resurgence map round out the Season 1 lineup.
What This Means
The November 24-25 updates fixed several frustrating issues while adding Endgame disconnect protection and the Proving Grounds event. With Season 1 arriving December 4, these patches help stabilize the game before a major content wave hits. Players have roughly a week to compete in Proving Grounds and take advantage of Double XP before the new season changes everything.