Treyarch Focuses on Player Feedback as CoD BO 7 Beta Test Begins

The CoD BO 7 beta test has started for early access players, with the open beta following on October 5. Developer Treyarch has made it clear that community feedback will play a central role in how the game evolves before its official release. With a turbulent reception at reveal and comparisons to rival shooter Battlefield 6, the beta phase is shaping up to be a key test of whether Black Ops 7 can win back trust.

Associate creative director Miles Leslie emphasized that every piece of player input will be examined as the team works on refining the game.

“There are a lot of fans out there from our community who do give us a lot of constructive feedback, and we really appreciate it,” said Leslie in an interview with GamesRadar. “We welcome all constructive feedback—‘constructive’ being the key thing there. To be quite honest with you, we will be looking at everything.” — Miles Leslie

He noted that changes may not appear immediately because of development complexity, but the team intends to continuously review feedback not just from the beta but also through launch and post-launch support.

Design adjustments are already visible in the current build. Associate design director Lawrence Metten explained that the studio has closely tracked community responses to perk systems, especially following the introduction of Omnimovement. Players will now find specific perks tied to tailored playstyles, offering more direct choices in loadout creation.

“If you want Tac-Sprint, then you can take the ‘Tac Sprinter’ Perk,” said design director Matt Scronce. “If you want to move a little faster, then we’ve got lightweight, and if you want to ADS while sliding, diving, or wall jumping, then you can take the Dexterity Perk. We’ve already made adjustments to these that are going to be in the beta build as we really try to nail our Perk distribution.” — Matt Scronce

Here are Call of Duty BO7 Beta Test rewards.

Despite Treyarch’s confidence, questions remain about whether meaningful improvements can be delivered in the limited time before launch. Leslie pushed back on doubts, stating the team is confident that rapid changes are possible, even under the tight schedule.

Black Ops 7 arrives during a period of mixed sentiment around Call of Duty. Many players have expressed frustration with annual releases that appear rushed and increasingly driven by monetization through in-game shops and cosmetic collaborations. The series has been criticized for losing its original tone, with some fans calling for a full reset in direction.

This year’s COD Next showcase did little to address concerns. It leaned heavily on advertising and staged hype, which some commentators described as showcasing “everything wrong with Call of Duty.” At the same time, Battlefield 6’s beta has been praised for feeling like a genuine playtest, highlighting what players see as a lack of sincerity in Activision’s approach. The comparisons have left Black Ops 7 facing heightened scrutiny.

Treyarch’s response is to place transparency and responsiveness at the center of this testing phase. By stressing the importance of feedback, the studio is signaling that it wants to reassure players who feel disconnected from the franchise’s current direction. Whether this approach will lead to substantial changes or just minor balancing tweaks remains to be seen.

Check Call of Duty Black Ops 7's beta test exact start time while all eyes are on the community’s reaction as the beta rolls out.

The Cod 7 beta test will serve as both a technical trial and a public referendum on the state of Call of Duty. If Treyarch can demonstrate that it is listening and adapting, it may rebuild momentum heading into launch. If not, the perception that Battlefield has outshone its longtime rival may only solidify further.