Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Lands Lowest Metacritic User Score in Franchise History
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is facing a historic community backlash, hitting a record-low Metacritic user score amid player frustration over design choices and generative AI asset use.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is facing an intense community backlash, securing the lowest Metacritic user score in the history of the franchise during its opening weekend. According to Eurogamer, the shooter currently sits at an aggregate user score of 1.7 out of 10, with roughly 85 percent of player reviews landing in the negative. This player reception stands in sharp contrast to the game's critical scores, which currently sit at an 84 on PC. Steam metrics tell a similar story, reflecting a mixed reception from the player base as the community weighs in on the latest annual release.
Players have taken to review platforms to air a wide variety of frustrations, pointing to design choices that feel disconnected from the core identity of the series. Chief among the complaints are controversial mechanics, including a campaign mode that reportedly lacks manual saves and pause functionality. Additionally, player scrutiny has fallen heavily on the inclusion of generative AI assets, specifically pointing to calling cards tied to endgame challenges that Activision officially disclosed on the Steam store page as utilizing AI during development.
The friction highlights a growing tension between massive annual franchises and their dedicated player bases, especially as expectations around asset creation and quality-of-life features shift. For a community that spent the previous year praising the direction of Black Ops 6, the sudden pivot in design choices and production methods feels like a step backward. Whether this overwhelming player response prompts a shift in future development remains to be seen, but the message from the community is loud and clear.
Original reporting by Vikki Blake at Eurogamer.
Tags: Call of Duty, PC Gaming, Industry News, Metacritic, FPS
Original article: Eurogamer