The pre-release journey for the upcomingCall of Duty: Black Ops 6is now firmly underway, with the official reveal trailer for the project releasing at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 8. While this trailer gave fans some good insight into the premise of the title, it left as many questions as it did answers. It is clear that the game will be a direct sequel to 2012’sBlack Ops 2, but it remains to be seen how this semi-futuristic setting will translate over to gameplay. - though fans have gotten some insight into the game’s movement system.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7will have some big decisions to make in terms of choosing whichBlack Ops 2narrative will be canonized, with the game taking place 10 years after the events ofBO2and 30 years before the narrative ofBlack Ops 3. This lines up very well with many of the leaks and theories that surrounded 2025’sCall of Dutytitle before it was officially announced, although Treyarch recently shot down one other longstanding theory for the game. It was recently confirmed thatBlack Ops 7will not feature either wallrunning or jetpack mechanics, instead doubling down on omnimovement, with this choice already having consequences within the community.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s Movement Mechanics Were Always Going to Be Divisive
Movement mechanics have become an increasingly controversial element of the annualCall of Dutycycle, with each game offering at times wildly different movement systems that create distinctly different gameplay. This is an issue that has been followingCoDfor quite some time, beginning when2014’sAdvanced Warfareditched traditional movementin favor of its now-infamous Exo Suit jetpack system.
Using jetpacks to burst through the air introduced quite a different dynamic toCall of Dutymultiplayer, with a similar system being adopted by the following year’sBlack Ops 3. Wallrunning in particular was unique toBlack Ops 3, allowing maps to be designed around the premise of combining wallrunning and jetpack thrust movement to open up a wide variety of potential travel pathways. Many thought that a similar movement system was going to be introduced to therecently announcedCall of Duty: Black Ops 7, with the game also featuring a similar semi-futuristic setting.
A complete wallrunning system was even found in the game files forBlack Ops 6, making it seem like a sure-thing that the mechanic would appear in the game’s direct successor. Despite this, it has been confirmed by Treyarch that neither jetpacks or wallrunning will appear inBlack Ops 7. Instead, it is reported thatBlack Ops 7will feature an evolved version ofBlack Ops 6’s omnimovement system, which itself has proven to be quite divisive.
It remains to be seen what an evolution of the omnimovement system might look like. PerhapsBlack Ops 7’s version could offer the ability to burst in a specific direction akin toBO3’s thrust-like mechanics, though this is purely speculation.
Jetpacks or Wallrunning Could Have Shaken the More Predictable Nature of Modern Call of Duty
The “jetpack era” ofCall of Dutyis the center of some significantly split opinions, with fans either fondly looking back on it as a unique and ambitious time or as a complete dark spot in the franchise. Regardless of the entrenched opinions about this kind of movement system, many fans were seemingly looking forward to seeing some real change tothe modernCall of Dutyformula.
Past games likeBlack Ops 3were defined by their unique takes on movement, with it being clear to see why so many were prepared for similar mechanics in the upcomingBlack Ops 7. As the in-between title forBlack Ops 2and3, it seemed sensible forBlack Ops 7to feature a blend between these past games' movement systems, perhaps only featuring wallrunning while omitting jetpacks. Instead, it seems players will be offered a slightly more advanced take onBlack Ops 6’s more grounded movement. While some players are pleased to hear that these advanced movement systems will not appear inBlack Ops 7, this surprising absence has already caused a notable split in the community’s opinions on the upcoming project.
