Black Ops 7 won't get an early access release

Soldiers in helmets aiming their weapons in Call of Duty Black Ops 7.

Vaspaan Dastoor is the editor of TheGamer. Previously, I worked at IGN India and am constantly working to get people to make time to participate in the LOTR Marathon. He can be seen giving a heated response to a cold response on @DastoorVaspaan.

Previously, early access allowed developers to receive feedback from the community before releasing the final version of the game. Games like Hades 2 and Baldur's Gate 3 were hugely successful because they evolved based on early access feedback. But now it's also a money-making scheme for companies that allow some players to get into the game a few days before others.

It is usually offered as one of the bonuses when purchasing a premium edition of a title, along with various cosmetics and in-game currency. A recent Forbes article rumored that the $100 Vault Edition of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 would come with 72 hours of early access. However, Activision has now stated that no such service exists.

Black Ops 7 Vault Edition does not come with an early access period

Four soldiers covered in red mist in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

The Forbes article has since been updated, and after speaking with an Activision representative (thanks GamesRadar), all references to early access have been removed. The publisher also reiterated that the early access period has not gone ahead, with the game releasing on November 14 for all versions on all platforms.

In summary, Black Ops 7 Vault Edition only includes everything in the base game, premium rewards including exclusive Zombies Mastercrafts, and early access to the BlackCell Premium Season Pass. You can play the game with everyone else only on November 14th.

For a while, it seemed like Battlefield 6 would overshadow Call of Duty this year, but things may have changed after Season 1 of Dice's shooter. The sheer volume of microtransaction options and the abundance of colorful new skins left the community feeling a bit betrayed. Perhaps Black Ops 7 can capitalize on this to win over some fans. But don't get your hopes up too high, as it's very likely that Black Ops 7 will do the exact same thing as Season 1.