Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Ditches Carry Forward Feature for Authentic Experience

Activision has surprisingly announced that Black Ops 7 will not include the Carry Forward feature, which allowed transferring skins and weapons from previous titles. The decision responds to community criticism about "cartoony" crossover cosmetics that don't fit the game's tone. Only Double XP tokens and GobbleGums will transfer to the new game.

Activision Responds to Community Criticism with Radical Move

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is preparing for its November 14th launch with a significant philosophical change - the Carry Forward feature will not be part of the game. This decision comes as a direct response to massive community criticism regarding inappropriate crossover cosmetics in Black Ops 6, which players say disrupt the authentic atmosphere of the series.

Activision clearly stated their new vision in an official statement: "Black Ops 7 needs to feel authentic to Call of Duty and its setting." This means no operators, skins, or weapons from Black Ops 6 will be available in the new title. The only elements that will carry over are Double XP tokens and GobbleGums.

The decision comes at a time when Black Ops 7 is struggling with negative reception - the Gamescom trailer was flooded with dislikes and players are expressing concerns that the new title will continue the trend of inappropriate cosmetic items.

This decision represents a fundamental shift in Call of Duty strategy. Activision is essentially admitting that their previous monetization approach damaged brand integrity and is willing to sacrifice short-term revenue for long-term community trust.

End of the Crossover Chaos Era

The Carry Forward system was introduced as a way to keep players invested in the Call of Duty ecosystem across individual titles. Players could transfer their favorite skins, weapons, and operators from one game to another, which theoretically should have increased the value of their purchases.

In reality, however, the system led to situations where historically-focused games like World War II or Black Ops became filled with anachronistic elements - from anime skins to crossover content with popular franchises that absolutely clashed with the established atmosphere.

Problems with the Carry Forward System

Activision now acknowledges: 

"We need to deliver a better balance toward the immersive, core Call of Duty experience."

Black Ops 6 Content Remains in Warzone

Important clarification: all Black Ops 6 content remains available in Call of Duty: Warzone. This change only applies to Black Ops 7 as a standalone game. Warzone continues to function as a "melting pot" of different Call of Duty eras, where crossover content has its place.

This strategy makes sense - Warzone as a free-to-play battle royale has different atmospheric expectations than paid premium campaigns with historical or thematic focus.

Ecosystem Division

💡 Pro tip: If you've invested heavily in Black Ops 6 cosmetics, focus on enjoying them in Warzone where they'll remain fully supported, rather than expecting transfers to future premium titles.

New Approach to Anti-Cheat Systems

Activision also announced significant changes in the fight against cheating. PC players will need to enable Secure Boot and TPM 2.0, allowing cheats to be blocked at the system level.

Technical Requirements for PC

• Secure Boot: Verifies that only trusted components load during system startup
• TPM 2.0: Hardware security module for cryptographic operations and secure storage
• New Detection Systems: Faster identification and harsher penalties for cheating players

These measures will be tested during the open beta period, starting October 2nd for pre-order players and Game Pass subscribers, with full open beta from October 5th.

Anti-Cheat Implementation Timeline

Beta Testing Phase:

• System-level cheat detection testing
• Performance impact assessment
• Community feedback collection
• Fine-tuning detection algorithms

Launch Implementation:

• Full TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enforcement
• Real-time cheat blocking capabilities
• Enhanced player reporting systems
• Automated penalty distribution

Beta Testing and Timeline

The Black Ops 7 beta program will provide the first real test of new anti-cheat measures as well as overall game stability:

• October 2nd: Early access beta (pre-order and Game Pass Ultimate/PC Game Pass) October 5th: Open beta for all players 
• October 8th: End of beta period 
• September 30th: Call of Duty NEXT event with more information 
• November 14th: Official launch

The beta period will be crucial for testing new anti-cheat systems in a real environment with thousands of simultaneous players.

Community Reaction and Market Analysis

The decision to cancel Carry Forward has divided the community into two camps. While some players welcome the return to authenticity, others criticize the loss of investments in cosmetic items from previous games.

Positive Aspects of the Decision

• Return of Atmosphere: Black Ops 7 can offer a cohesive visual style without anachronisms
• Community Trust: Proves Activision listens to long-term fan feedback
• Creative Freedom: Developers can create content specifically for the Black Ops environment
• Product Differentiation: Each series entry can have its unique identity

Potential Negatives

• Investment Loss: Players who bought expensive skins in Black Ops 6 cannot use them
• Fragmentation: Content division between different games may confuse new players
• Monetization Challenge: Activision must find new ways to generate revenue
• Precedent: Future titles may also ignore previous player investments

Long-term Consequences for the Franchise

This decision could represent a fundamental directional change for the entire Call of Duty franchise. If Black Ops 7 achieves positive reception due to its authenticity, we can expect a similar approach in future titles.

Activision is essentially testing whether the community is willing to sacrifice content transfer capability for better atmosphere and authenticity. The result of this "gamble" will influence the entire franchise strategy for years to come.

The decision also signals that negative community reactions have real impact on major publisher decision-making. At a time when gaming companies are often accused of ignoring player feedback, Activision is proving willing to make radical changes.

Industry Implications

• Other Publishers Watching: The success or failure of this approach could influence other major franchises
• Monetization Evolution: Shift from cross-game content to game-specific premium experiences
• Community Empowerment: Demonstration that sustained criticism can drive major policy changes
• Authenticity vs. Revenue: Testing whether atmosphere preservation can be commercially viable

Technical Implementation Details

The removal of Carry Forward requires significant technical changes to the game's backend systems and player progression tracking.

Database Architecture Changes

• Isolated Progression Systems: Black Ops 7 will maintain completely separate player data
• Selective Transfer Logic: Code to specifically handle only XP tokens and GobbleGums
• Warzone Integration: Maintaining Black Ops 6 content availability in battle royale
• Future-Proofing: Architecture designed to support per-game content decisions

FAQ

Q: Can I transfer any content from Black Ops 6 to Black Ops 7?
A: Yes, but only Double XP tokens and GobbleGums. No skins, operators, or weapons will transfer.

Q: What happens to my expensive skins from Black Ops 6?
A: They remain available in Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone, but won't work in Black Ops 7.

Q: Does this change affect Call of Duty: Warzone?
A: No, all Black Ops 6 content remains available in Warzone. The change only applies to Black Ops 7.

Q: Will future Call of Duty games also have canceled Carry Forward?
A: Activision hasn't announced plans for future titles. The decision appears specific to Black Ops 7.

Q: What type of cosmetic content can I expect in Black Ops 7?
A: Activision promises content "crafted to fit the Black Ops identity" - likely more historically accurate and thematically appropriate content.

Q: When does the Black Ops 7 beta start?
A: Early access beta begins October 2nd for pre-order players, open beta for everyone from October 5th.

Q: Do I need TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot to play on PC?
A: Yes, these security features will be mandatory for the PC version of Black Ops 7.

Q: Will the new anti-cheat measures affect game performance?
A: Activision hasn't provided performance impact details, but these features typically have minimal effect.

Q: Can I pre-order Black Ops 7 and join the early access beta?
A: Yes, pre-ordering ensures access to early access beta from October 2nd.

Q: When will I learn more about multiplayer and Zombies modes?
A: More information will be announced at the Call of Duty NEXT event on September 30th.

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