WithCall of Duty: Black Ops 7being a follow-up to 2012’s belovedBlack Ops 2, it’s only natural that fans are hoping to see a lot of their favorite guns make a comeback. That game’s weapon lineup was truly iconic, as virtually every category had something special to offer. The KAP-40 machine pistol was deadly enough to be treated as a primary, the slug rounds fired by the KSG made it a menace of a shotgun, and the DSR 50 helped skilled snipers dominate lobbies. SMG and AR users had many viable options, with the former having guns like the Skorpion EVO and MSMC at its disposal and the latter being able to wield the AN-94 and M8A1. Even LMG users had the deadly LSAT and Target Finder combo, though it seems likeBlack Ops 7has a different returning LMG in mind.
ThoughBlack Ops 7is a follow-up toBO2, it’s set in the 2030s, meaning it will be able to feature some of the technology that goes on to appear inBO4(2040s) and BO3 (2060s). Therobot seen inBlack Ops 7’s reveal trailerwas a clear first step toward making theBlack Opsuniverse feel seamless, and a natural next step for the series would be the addition of weapons fromBlack Ops 3andBlack Ops 4. Some of these guns could be the exact models used, while others could turn out to be prototypes, but no matter what,Black Ops 7will have a chance to add some fan favorites from all eras ofBlack Opsby being in the middle of the timeline. For fans of guns with big magazines, fewBlack Opsweapons have hit the spot quite like the Hades fromBO3andBO4, and there are now a few reasons why it’s likely to re-appear inBlack Ops 7.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s LMG Category May Be Dominated by the Hades
Recently, leaks from social media user @realityuk_ compiled by YouTuberTridzoprovided all the internal names forBlack Ops 7’s weapons. Many of these guns are labeled with codenames, making it impossible to determine all the weapons the game will offer and forcing players to analyzeBO7’s leaked screenshotsand reveal trailer. However, one name will immediately jump out to gamers, as it doesn’t seem to be a codename at all: Hades. For old-schoolBlack Opsplayers or those only familiar with the latest entries, this LMG was a fan favorite inBlack Ops 3, so much so that it made a comeback withinBlack Ops 4. Intriguingly, though, this leak isn’t the only evidence for the Hades’ comeback, as Treyarch’s own actions suggest it will return.
Black Ops 7is rumored to borrowMW3’s carry forward system, which would make a fair bit of sense considering this will be the second year ofBlack Opsgames in a row. This possibility makes the Olympia shotgun’s Pack-a-Punch name change feel deliberate. The Olympia, which was added toBlack Ops 6as part of theBeavis and Buttheadevent, boasts the name Pluto when Pack-a-Punched. Naming the upgraded Olympia after the god of the underworld is all well and good, but what’s interesting is that the weapon already used to be named after a different god of the underworld: Hades.
In the originalBlack OpsandBlack Ops 2, Pack-a-Punching the Olympia saw it gaining the name Hades, which would have caused an obvious problem if carry-forward were to happen withBO7. Specifically, if the upgraded Olympia were to keep its oldPack-a-Punch nameand feature alongside the Hades LMG, people could have two Hades in their inventories at the same time, leading to confusion. Players could also have had a hard time distinguishing between a Tier 1 Packed Olympia or a default Hades LMG if they were just going off the names, so making the Olympia’s new PaP name a tribute to a different god of the underworld may be clever future-proofing. Though the name change could just be a fun way to play with community expectations, it may also be an admission that the Hades LMG will indeed be featured inBlack Ops 7.
Despite theOlympiabeing added toBO3multiplayer via supply drops, it was not featured in Zombies, meaning Treyarch was able to dodge two weapons having the same name in that title.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s Hades Will Hopefully Be the Real Deal
There are a few things that led to the Hades being such a popular weapon, andBO7will want to remember them if it does bring the gun back. InBlack Ops 3Zombies, it was one of the strongest options available to players due to its hefty magazines and high damage output, soBO7’s Hades would naturally have to be one of the best options available in its Zombies mode. InBlack Ops 4multiplayer, the Hades was incredibly fun to wield and deadly in the right hands thanks to its crossbar Operator Mod, which removed ADS in favor of quicker movement and a focused hipfire mode. If the weapon does make a comeback in 2025’sCall of Dutygame, it would be great to see the Crossbar featured within its attachment list.
