Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 vs The Outer Worlds 2

• Perspective: First-Person
• Setting: Futuristic (2035)
• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass
• Core Pillars: Co-op Campaign, Multiplayer, Round-Based Zombies
• Unique Feature: A return to the futuristic themes of Black Ops III, with an evolved movement system, specialist abilities, and a story centered on a manipulative tech corporation.

• Perspective: First-Person / Third-Person (Switchable)
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Arcadia Star System
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass
• Unique Feature: A deep, choice-driven RPG with a unique 'Flaw' system, switchable first/third-person perspectives, and a complete absence of a stamina bar for movement.

• Campaign & Zombies Squad: The game's campaign is a co-op experience. In online modes, your companions are other human players. Teamwork is essential for winning matches and surviving high rounds in Zombies.
  Human (Player/AI)

• The Crew: The game features six unique companions, including Niles, Inez, Aza, Tristan, Marisol, and the robot V.A.L.E.R.I.E. They are integral to the story, act as moral compasses, and provide unique dialogue and combat support. They can be easily downed in combat.
  Varies (Human, Robot)

• Campaign Intel: Hidden items and evidence found throughout the single-player and co-op campaign missions that provide additional lore.
• Zombies Ciphers: Hidden codes and messages scattered across the Zombies maps that are essential for dedicated fans to piece together the deep, ongoing Dark Aether storyline.

• Science Weapons: Iconic, one-of-a-kind weapons with bizarre effects, hidden throughout the galaxy.
• Perks: Unlocked by leveling up and meeting skill prerequisites. There are over 90 perks that provide powerful passive bonuses and new abilities.
• Flaws: Offered to the player dynamically after performing certain actions repeatedly (e.g., getting burned, reloading early). Accepting a Flaw provides a negative detriment in exchange for a benefit.

• Futuristic Warfare
• Spy Thriller
• Technology
• Propaganda
• Co-op
• Multiplayer
• Zombies
• Psychological

• Sci-Fi
• Action RPG
• Satire
• Hyper-Capitalism
• Player Choice
• Narrative-Driven
• Space Opera
• First-Person

• Futuristic Firearms: Varies (Assault Rifles, SMGs, etc.)
  An arsenal of advanced weaponry appropriate for the 2035 setting. Leaked blueprints are described as 'colorful stuff,' leaning into a sci-fi aesthetic.
• Specialist Weapons: Unique Abilities
  Powerful weapons tied to specialist abilities, such as miniguns or flamethrowers, which become available after a cooldown or by earning score.

• Firearms: Varies (Rifles, Pistols, etc.)
  The game features a significantly improved combat system with 'snappier' gunplay. Weapons can be heavily modified with attachments like explosive rounds.
• Melee Weapons: Varies (Hammers, etc.)
  A variety of close-quarters weapons for melee-focused builds.
• Science Weapons: Unique
  The series' iconic, bizarre weapons return, including the 'Shrink Ray', 'Boarst Blaster' (fires exploding tumors), and 'Armageddon' (fires little arms).
• Gadgets: Utility
  Six different tactical gadgets that run on a regenerating energy system, such as an acid gun for stealth or a deployable shield.

• Armor & Helmets: Players can equip various pieces of armor and helmets. A new quality-of-life feature is that gear does not have levels; its power scales with the player's investment in relevant skills and perks.
• Gary: A unique, sentient set of science armor that will lash out at foes.

• Operator Skins: The primary form of character customization. Players can unlock and equip a wide variety of cosmetic outfits for their multiplayer Operators through the Battle Pass, in-game store, or by completing challenges.

The game features a return of Specialist abilities, offering unique powers like grapple hooks and active camo. A significant change is the reported removal of 'tac sprint,' with players instead having a constant, faster base speed. The beloved 'looping streaks' feature is expected to return in the form of an equippable perk.

Features a deep, complex, and irreversible progression system. Players invest in 12 skills (like Speech, Sneak, Hacking) and over 90 perks (like Serial Killer, Charlatan). The unique 'Flaw' system returns, offering players a powerful benefit tied to a gameplay-altering detriment based on their actions (e.g., 'Bad Knees' Flaw for frequent crouching).

Multiplayer will feature a variety of maps, including three remastered classics from Black Ops II at launch: Raid, Express, and Hijacked. New maps are described as being more colorful than those in Black Ops 6, with some featuring automated doors instead of interactable ones. Campaign locations include Japan and the fictional city of Avalon.

The game features a 'semi-open world' or 'open-zone' structure, not a single seamless map. Players travel between at least four large, distinct planets (like the tropical Eden and the snowy Cloyster) and orbital installations, each with a unique visual identity and controlling faction. Enemies do not respawn, allowing zones to be cleared permanently.

• David Mason: Playable Protagonist (Campaign)
  The hero of Black Ops II returns to lead a new team against a shadowy technological threat.
• Emma Kagan: Key NPC / Antagonist?
  The charismatic CEO of 'The Guild,' the powerful tech corporation at the heart of the game's story.
• Mike Harper: Key NPC (Campaign)
  A returning supporting character from Black Ops II, assisting David Mason's team.
• Multiplayer Operators: Playable Characters (Multiplayer)
  A diverse roster of playable characters for multiplayer, each with access to different specialist abilities. Leaks suggest some may have a 'zombie people' aesthetic.

• The Commander: Playable Protagonist
  An agent of the Earth Directorate who awakens after a decade in cryo-sleep to find their associate has betrayed them and the Arcadia system is in chaos.
• Niles: Companion
  A fellow Earth Directorate agent and the Commander's first companion, who shares a history from the game's opening mission.
• Inez: Companion
  A former Auntie's Choice contractor and combat medic who was abandoned by the corporation after failed experiments.
• Aza: Companion
  A violent cultist with a taste for chaos and murder, seeking out her former cult, The Glorious Dawn.
• Tristan: Companion
  A heavily armored, hammer-wielding member of the authoritarian Protectorate faction.

• Co-op Campaign
  A cinematic, spy-thriller story mode where players team up to uncover a conspiracy involving the mysterious tech corporation, 'The Guild.'
• Multiplayer
  The core competitive online experience, featuring a variety of game modes across a mix of new and remastered maps, including Raid, Express, and Hijacked.
• Zombies
  A cooperative survival mode where a team of up to four players fights off endless hordes of the undead, completes objectives, and uncovers a deep storyline in the Dark Aether.

• Main Story Quests
  A 25-30 hour cinematic campaign that follows the Commander's quest for revenge and their investigation into the destructive space-time rifts, forcing them to navigate a three-way faction war.
• Side Quests
  A large number of valuable side quests that are highly unpredictable and often 'swerve' at the end, providing crucial information that can influence main story decisions.

The game is expected to follow a seasonal model with weekly challenges and events, similar to Modern Warfare III, to maintain player engagement. These events will offer rewards like animated camos and aftermarket parts. New maps and content will be added with each season.

The game features an 'Expansion Pass' available with the Premium Edition, which includes two post-launch story packs. 'Loose Cannon' (Q2 2026) and 'The Flower & the Flame' (Q3 2026) will allow players to experience new stories through the perspective of other characters.

• Q: What is new about the movement in Black Ops 7?
  A: It evolves the 'omnimovement' system but removes the controversial 'tac sprint,' providing a constant, faster base movement speed for more fluid gameplay. It will not feature advanced movement like wallrunning or jetpacks.
• Q: Does Black Ops 7 have a campaign?
  A: Yes, it features a full, cinematic co-op campaign set in 2035 that continues the story of David Mason from Black Ops II.
• Q: Is Zombies round-based again?
  A: Yes, it features classic, round-based Zombies. The launch map is set in the Dark Aether and will feature a mix of characters from the original and Black Ops 6 crews.
• Q: Will Black Ops 7 be on Game Pass?
  A: Yes, it will be available on day one for Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.

• Q: What is The Outer Worlds 2?
  A: It is the sequel to the 2019 action RPG from Obsidian Entertainment. It's a single-player, first-person (and third-person) shooter set in a new star system, continuing the series' signature style of dark humor and anti-capitalist satire.
• Q: Is it a true open world?
  A: No, like the first game, it features a series of large, separate 'open-zone' maps on different planets, rather than one single seamless world.
• Q: Are there any major gameplay changes from the first game?
  A: Yes. The gunplay is 'snappier' and more competent, there is no stamina bar for movement, players can switch between first and third-person, and the inventory is limitless. The 'Flaw' system has also been revised to be more impactful on gameplay.
• Q: Do I need to play the first game?
  A: No, The Outer Worlds 2 is a standalone title with a new protagonist, a new star system (Arcadia), and a new story.

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As official specs were not provided, these are hypothetical projections for a next-generation title, likely with requirements similar to or slightly higher than Black Ops 6.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop. Actual performance would vary significantly based on the final game's optimization and the laptop's specific hardware configuration.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features and maintain high framerates in competitive multiplayer.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's fast-paced action will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling and sustain performance.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex physics, netcode, and maintaining high framerates in 128-player modes.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would remain a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance and responsiveness in a competitive FPS.
• Game Name: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. These specifications reflect a next-generation title built on Unreal Engine 5. An SSD is a mandatory requirement for all tiers.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will vary based on the model's cooling and TGP. The game's open-zone maps and high-fidelity visuals can be demanding.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5, including ray tracing.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of various factions and the physics-based combat.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a fast-paced FPS.
• Game Name: The Outer Worlds 2

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features and maintain high framerates in competitive multiplayer.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's fast-paced action will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling and sustain performance.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex physics, netcode, and maintaining high framerates in 128-player modes.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would remain a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance and responsiveness in a competitive FPS.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5, including ray tracing.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of various factions and the physics-based combat.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a fast-paced FPS.