The Fallout event in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has a set a precedent — and leaves last year’s shenanigans a distant memory

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Collaborations in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, like those featuring Squid Game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, American Dad, Beavis and Butthead, and a particularly disliked event with Seth Rogen promoting cannabis, really frustrated a lot of players.

As an analyst, I’ve been following the launch of Black Ops 7’s first collaboration, and I have to say, it’s a significant improvement over last year’s attempts. A big part of that is the choice of Fallout as the partner franchise – it’s a well-respected and beloved property, and honestly, one I personally enjoy a lot.

Also, the quality is genuinely impressive. Whether or not you buy the extra content, this is a great example of how crossovers should be handled in Call of Duty.

Fallout is a different type of futuristic to Black Ops 7, but I think it works

What makes this event stand out compared to last year? The worlds of Fallout, with its devastated future, and Black Ops 7’s more modern setting aren’t really a good fit, are they?

From my perspective, the changes don’t feel out of place at all. Nuketown especially feels like a natural fit with the Vault-Tec aesthetic. It was already very retro, aligning perfectly with the Fallout universe, so the makeover really works well.

Aside from being a bit different, The Ghoul, Maximus, and Lucy (once they’re released) fit in with the existing operator skins just as well as many others already available. In fact, they’re a noticeable upgrade compared to some of the skins currently offered in the Store.

The weapon designs are also great. I especially like the animated Vault-Tec camouflage, and the premium track blueprints are a big improvement over last year’s quirky Unicorn design. They have a unique, futuristic style that still fits perfectly with the game’s overall look.

The game has incredible detail. Even the special weapons and finishing moves include the classic Fallout green numbers when enemies are defeated. Deathclaws are genuinely frightening.

Plenty of actual Fallout-themed content to play

The new Fallout collaboration isn’t simply about making money, and I understand why some people might feel that way. It does include an event pass with optional paid extras, which you can purchase if you’re interested in getting more content.

As a huge Call of Duty fan, I’m really excited about how they’ve integrated the Fallout universe this year! Each of the four main modes – Campaign (Endgame), Multiplayer, Zombies, and Warzone – is getting its own special, limited-time events and modes themed around Fallout. It’s going to be a really fun way to experience both franchises!

Players who enjoy the Zombies mode are in for a treat! The new playlist offers rewards on both large maps, such as a special Calling Card earned by defeating the Deathclaw after collecting Vault-Boy Bobbleheads. You can also unlock rewards for reaching rounds 10 and 50.

As a big Fallout fan, I’m really excited they’ve updated the maps to feel more like that universe! They didn’t just change the look, either – they’ve also made some fun tweaks to how the game actually *plays* on those maps, which is awesome.

A new event is happening in Call of Duty: Warzone! A nuke will detonate on the map, creating a dangerous, irradiated area filled with tough Deathclaw enemies. If you complete the event, you’ll unlock the final Dark Ops Calling Card and gain access to the Brotherhood of Steel Power Armor, which you can use as a special Scorestreak.

With the launch of the third World Event in Endgame, the last Dark Ops Challenge is now available. If you’ve finished the first two events, completing the Atomic Impact event will reward you with the Titan Hunter Dark Ops.

The multiplayer experience has a few updates. Nuketown is now called Vault Town, there’s a new game mode inspired by the Holiday Havoc event, but with a Fallout theme, and the popular Infected mode is back, featuring Ghouls and ongoing radiation damage.

Warzone is introducing Power Armor Royale, a new mode that blends player-versus-player combat with cooperative challenges on a smaller version of the Verdansk map. It’s a more relaxed take on the battle royale experience, and it features the awesome addition of Power Armor – which, let’s be honest, makes everything better.

Not everyone will love every game mode, and things like Zombies or finishing an Endgame aren’t always something people want to replay endlessly. However, the game offers a good amount of overall content, and having plenty to do is what really matters.

Black Ops 7 Season 01 has been better than the whole of Black Ops 6

Last year’s Black Ops 6 struggled because it didn’t offer enough substantial content. While there were additions like new Multiplayer maps, the return of Verdansk in Warzone, and plenty for Zombies fans, as well as various events, it still felt lacking.

The game started strong, but its appeal faded quickly. I was really into Black Ops 6 when it first came out, playing it a lot for the first few months, but I eventually stopped because it became too repetitive.

Despite what you might read online if you don’t play, Black Ops 7 is off to a fantastic start. There’s a huge amount of content to enjoy in all four game modes, particularly if you enjoy a good challenge – which I definitely do!

In just over a month, this first season has already given us more great content than the entire last year! The Fallout event was fantastic, the holiday content was consistently good, and I’m really enjoying everything so far.

Wow, I just completed the Mastery Camo and the Calling Card challenge in Warzone. It’s a bit strange because I don’t really like playing that game, but I did it anyway!

Fallout has definitely raised the bar, but its success will only matter if future games and partnerships are just as good. We can only hope for more of the same.

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2026-01-10 20:10