I experienced the zombie mode of "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7" at CoD Next, paying attention to armored vehicle map traversal and customization.
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/918/G091840/20251002049/
Writer: Katsutani Umihito | 2025/10/02 10:33 (UTC)
The open beta test for the latest installment in the series, “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” (PC / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S / PS4 / Xbox One), will run from October 3, 2025, according to Japan time.
Coinciding with the beta launch, Activision and Treyarch held their annual CoD Next event at Area 15, a multi-purpose commercial facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. I had the chance to play an early preview of the new zombie mode map “Ashes of the Damned,” so here’s what I experienced.
The open beta test, ahead of the official November 14 release, will be available starting October 3 for those with early access privileges and from October 6 for everyone else.
While players cannot experience the full-scale survival map “Ashes of the Damned” in this open beta’s zombie mode (Zombies), they can try a smaller, contained survival area: “Vandeen Farm,” part of that expansive map. This gives players a glimpse into what “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” has to offer in its zombie mode.
For more detailed information about “Ashes of the Damned,” Activision Blizzard Japan has released additional content (see related article).
Story: Connecting the Original “Dark Aether Saga” with the Latest Entry
“Ashes of the Damned” continues the story that began in the climax of the zombie map “Reckoning,” released alongside Season 5 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in August 2025.
The plot centers around Edward Richtofen, commander of Requiem, who established the Janus Project’s headquarters—Janus Tower—in a corner of Liberty Falls and began conducting various experiments. However, these zombie mutation experiments spiraled out of control, setting off this new story arc.
The failed experiment caused the collapse of Dark Aether, merging disparate times and places into one vast area. As a result, four playable characters—Requiem field operations commander Gregory Weaver, street-born warrior Maya Aguirre, retired veteran Mackenzie Cavere, and biological research scientist Elizabeth Gray—were dragged into this alternate world for reasons still unknown.
“Ashes of the Damned” features a total of eight playable characters, combining new and returning ones. Players can form teams of up to four or enjoy solo play by selecting one from these options.
Additionally, four original characters from the “Dark Aether Saga”—Richtofen, American Tank Dempsey, Russian Nikolai Belinski, and Japanese Takao Masaki—are also summoned into this world by an unknown force. The identity of that individual remains unrevealed for now.
“Ashes of the Damned” allows players to enjoy sessions with up to four characters from these eight, with new storylines unfolding through future updates.
The “Vandeen Farm” (commonly referred to as “the Farm”) will be made available in the open beta test as a playable survival map. But what exactly happened here?
Gameplay: Round-Based Fun Gets Even Stronger
“Ashes of the Damned” continues to use a round-based system, where waves of zombies attack each round. As rounds progress, enemy types grow stronger and more dangerous. After reaching a certain number of rounds, powerful unique zombies called “Elite Zombies” appear—something familiar from previous entries in the CoD series.
As you likely know, two in-game currencies are essential for surviving zombie battles: Essence and Salvage, both central to the CoD zombie mode.
Essence can be earned efficiently through headshots, melee attacks, or score streaks. It’s used not only for purchasing weapons and ammo but also to upgrade player abilities via “Perk-A-Cola” and “Pack-a-Punch,” as well as unlocking locked doors. Salvage is more utilitarian—used primarily for repairing mechanical tools—and can be obtained by defeating zombies.
The “Perk-A-Cola” system consists of drink-based power-ups that enhance your player’s abilities. Examples include “Jagernog,” which increases maximum HP, and “Speed Cola,” which accelerates weapon reload speed—available from vending machines scattered throughout the map.
In Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, a ninth new Perk-A-Cola has been added: “Wisp Tea.” When players take a certain amount of damage, a spirit-like Wisp is summoned and clears nearby zombies for about 30 seconds.
Meanwhile, “Pack-a-Punch” remains the mysterious machine that upgrades your current weapons. According to lore, it was invented by Jebediah Brown, a blacksmith who got lost in a mine at the end of the 19th century. It’s been an essential feature since Call of Duty: World at War, allowing players to upgrade their gear into superior versions.
Additionally, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3’s “Gobblegum” is returning. These are five small gum pieces that grant specific abilities—three appear in the corner of the screen and can be popped into your mouth when needed.
In this installment, there’s a new system where unused Gobblegums can be crushed to convert them into Essence—a welcome addition. A total of 41 types carry over from the previous game, with six brand-new ones added. Among these are “Aftertaste,” which lets you retain all Perks after reviving teammates, and “Power Vacuum,” which increases dropped item quantity—both familiar favorites from past series entries.
A new field upgrade called “Toxic Growth” has also been introduced.
New bullet mods include “Fire Works,” which launches fireworks with every shot. On the field upgrade side, “Toxic Growth” adds poisonous vines that damage zombies while blocking their path.
The number of these items—bullet mods, field upgrades, and “Augments” (which enhance Perk-A-Cola)—has increased by 66 from previous entries, totaling 192 in Black Ops 7.
Map: Largest Round-Based Scale Yet
“Ashes of the Damned” is structured like an infinity symbol (“8”). You choose a path from one of its two apex points. The starting location is Janus Tower Plaza (Plaza), where you can head to “Vandeen Farm,” known for a cult-like mass murder event, or “Blackwater Lake,” associated with past drownings—your choice.
Next is Ashwood, the crossroads of the infinity symbol. From here, you can proceed in four directions: the highway diner Exit 115, and the space station-like Zarya Cosmodrome. If you imagine turning the “8” horizontally, it resembles an infinity sign—mirroring the game’s theme of endless survival through a looping journey.
Between Ashwood and Farm lies The Ship, a large grounded vessel. However, there are no gates separating areas; during my playthrough, I was so engrossed that I passed by without noticing. There’s a memory of traveling through a tunnel with holes punched into metallic walls—likely where “The Ship” is—but what’s inside remains unclear.
Connecting the six main points (PoIs/Points of Interest) is “Fog,” an unmarked path. Here, you’ll speed across on the Wonder Vehicle, the armored truck known as “Ol’ Tessie.” Along this route, new zombies called Ravagers lie in wait—clinging to Ol’ Tessie and slashing both its body and players with sharp claws.
If Ol’ Tessie is destroyed, players must run to reach the next area. Ravagers are extremely tough; eliminating them seems nearly impossible. Also, Essence and Salvage don’t appear in Fog areas, making prolonged combat pointless. The only viable strategy when Ol’ Tessie breaks down: survive long enough to reach the next zone.
Although slightly hard to see, the main zones of the “8”-shaped map are connected via paths called “Fog.” According to developers, “The Ship” isn’t considered a separate area.
When surrounded by Ravagers, Ol’ Tessie takes damage too. Players should work together to knock them off—especially those not driving.
Ravagers aren’t the only new zombie type. In addition, an Elite Zombie named “Zursa,” a primal predator resembling a bear turned into a zombie, appears. It carries a hive of zombified bees called “Zombees,” which attack players in swarms. Zursa emerges around round 17—expect it to be tough even with teamwork.
Wonder Vehicle: Customize Ol’ Tessie and Keep Moving
No discussion of “Ashes of the Damned” is complete without mentioning the Wonder Vehicle, Ol’ Tessie—a nickname that translates to something like “Old Granny” in Japanese. In the first area, finding T.E.D.D.’s head and attaching it to a dilapidated pickup truck brings the vehicle to life as if possessed by his spirit, becoming your team’s primary transport.
While one player drives Ol’ Tessie, another leans out of the passenger seat while two others fight Ravagers on the rear cargo bed. If hit too hard, Ol’ Tessie can catch fire and stop moving—but it can be repaired using Salvage or will automatically return to the next area after a delay if abandoned.
Finding T.E.D.D.’s head at the Plaza isn’t difficult, but this quest to upgrade Ol’ Tessie is actually essential for progressing through “Ashes of the Damned.” You can’t advance past certain areas without breaking down locked gates using upgraded vehicles.
For example, in Ashwood, a prototype “Pack-a-Punch” machine lies hidden. Once found and attached to Ol’ Tessie’s rear, it upgrades the vehicle into a jet-powered version—aptly named “Mobile Pack-a-Punch.”
Ol’ Tessie’s customization options have already been revealed. Attaching the heads of three past Elite Zombies (the Abominations) to its front enhances the vehicle and allows it to fire laser beams from each mouth.
Additionally, placing a Wunderwaffe DG-2—a weapon first seen in World at War’s original zombie mode—as a turret on the cargo bed could make surviving Fog areas much easier after reaching later rounds.
Moreover, certain locations feature power generators. By attacking their glowing orange components with weapons, you restore electricity to nearby buildings. This unlocks previously inaccessible doors and turns lights back on.
Once power is restored, “Jump Pads” activate—launching players high into the air toward a “Landing Pad” in another region. This enables movement without relying solely on Ol’ Tessie.
Another new addition is the “Necrofluid Gauntlet,” a melee weapon shaped like a skull with spider legs that attaches to your character’s arm. It emits an eerie green glow and repels incoming zombies.
While I couldn’t determine exactly where or under what conditions this item can be obtained during this session, its lore-rich design makes it one of the most intriguing elements in the zombie mode.
Developer Short Interview
Finally, despite limited time, I had a brief opportunity to interview Kevin Drew, Treyarch’s Zombie Design Director, and Steve Bianchi, Lead Game Designer:
4Gamer:
Thank you for your time. Why can’t we play “Ashes of the Damned” in the open beta?
Kevin Drew (Drew):
We’re not ready to show everything yet, but players will still enjoy a survival mode experience using the “Vandeen Farm” map—giving a clear glimpse into what’s coming with this new zombie mode.
4Gamer:
There are eight PoIs, including “The Ship” and “Fog.” Will each serve as its own survival map?
Steve Bianchi (Bianchi):
I can’t confirm that exactly. However, we’re planning a faster release pace—introducing one full survival map in Season 1.
4Gamer:
What key design principles did you focus on when creating each map and area?
Drew:
Balancing the uniqueness of each location while maintaining a cohesive Dark Aether world. The story continues from the final DLC in BO6, but we also drew inspiration from earlier timelines—like carrying over elements from “TranZit” into Farm and Exit 115.
The Ravagers are conceptually similar to “Dizzen” from “TranZit.”
We’ve especially put effort into Easter egg locations, with each level designer adding clever tricks. We joked that some would take at least 20 hours for anyone to find—but seasoned players often locate them within an hour of release and post videos about it! Honestly, they’re too good—our secrets are already exposed (laughs).
4Gamer:
In the cinematic trailer, a new Dark Aether villain carried T.E.D.D.’s skull. Who is this character? They looked like a pioneer from the Wild West.
Bianchi:
You’ll just have to play and discover for yourself (laughs). We can’t say more right now.
4Gamer:
What about the “Exfil” (exfiltration) feature?
Bianchi:
Yes. At round 11, a phone booth appears in “Ashes of the Damned,” allowing players to prepare for an escape at any time. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the crackling sound of an old rotary phone—just like in real life.
When Exfil is enabled, a massive horde of zombies—including Elite ones—attacks in the final round. All team members must agree to proceed with Exfil, but if someone refuses, they can continue playing solo while others leave.
4Gamer:
Can you tell us about the “Cursed” mode? It seems exclusive to private sessions.
Drew:
Yes, Cursed Mode is only available on private servers and cannot be played in public matches. This content was developed specifically for hardcore zombie fans—the community has long requested something more challenging.
While standard mode gradually upgrades your gear and abilities, Cursed Mode imposes escalating penalties: losing access to Ammo Cache, mini-map, or even limiting the number of Perks you can use.
These limitations can be lifted by finding “Relics” scattered across the map—something we hope will also engage streamers and viewers.
4Gamer:
So if Cursed is for advanced players, would it be fair to say that standard round-based “Ashes of the Damned” is designed for all players, while survival mode is beginner-friendly—even suitable for solo play?
Drew:
Absolutely. All modes support solo gameplay. That’s how we envision them—whether you’re a zombie fan or not, everyone can find their niche. Our goal is to serve diverse player needs and bring more gamers into the experience.
4Gamer:
Thank you very much for your time today.
The open beta test for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will run for about a week, including early access. Whether playing multiplayer or diving into the zombie mode, it’s worth experiencing all new features and the game’s uniquely moody atmosphere. As mentioned earlier, player progression continues across modes—so use this opportunity to discover which gameplay style suits you best.