The controversy that began with a simple announcement has now become a frustrating reality for many players. When Activision confirmed that the campaign for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 would require a constant internet connection, the community was skeptical. Now, with the game in the hands of the public, that skepticism has turned into tangible criticism as players experience unexpected and jarring interruptions mid-gameplay.
The core of the issue lies in the game's mandatory "always-online" DRM (Digital Rights Management). No matter how deep you are in a covert operation or how intense a firefight you're surviving, your session is vulnerable to being hijacked by one thing: a game update.
The "Update Available" Nightmare
A recent clip shared by the popular outlet ModernWarzone on X (formerly Twitter) has gone viral, perfectly illustrating the problem. The short video shows a player immersed in a critical campaign cutscene, only for the narrative tension to be shattered by a glaring "Daily Update Available" notification.
The pop-up offers no "Remind Me Later" option; the only choices are to update now or be booted from the experience. The game immediately halts the cutscene and begins the update process, forcibly pulling the player out of the world of Black Ops 7. While reports indicate that players don't lose mission progress in these scenarios, the damage to immersion is irreparable. It's unclear if these daily updates pertain to the campaign, the multiplayer component, or both, but the disruptive effect is the same.
Ready to experience the controversial campaign for yourself? You can find Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 available for purchase on Steam and the Battle.net store.
The Pause Button That Isn't
Compounding the frustration is another consequence of the always-online requirement: the inability to pause the game. In a traditional single-player campaign, hitting the menu button freezes the action, allowing you to take a break, answer the door, or manage a real-life interruption without consequence.
In Black Ops 7, opening the menu leaves the game world running live in the background. This design choice quickly becomes a point of annoyance, as stepping away for even a moment can result in your character being killed by an enemy patrol, forcing you to replay a segment of the mission. For players with busy households or unpredictable schedules, this transforms a relaxing pastime into a stressful commitment.
Why the Always-Online Requirement? The "Worlds Collide" Explanation
So, why has Activision implemented such a divisive feature? The answer lies in the game's ambitious endgame content, known as "Worlds Collide."
This new mode, which unlocks after the main campaign missions, is designed as a shared, persistent experience for up to 32 players. The entire campaign supports co-op, but Worlds Collide takes it further, creating a dynamic open world where players can encounter each other, collaborate on objectives, and unlock items usable across other Black Ops 7 modes. It's important to note that this is a PvE (Player vs. Environment) experience; you won't be suddenly shot by another player, but their presence in your world is a constant.
To maintain the integrity and synchronicity of this shared universe, a constant connection is required—even for the portions of the campaign that lead into it. As detailed in a deep-dive by Insider Gaming, the line between traditional solo play and a connected live service is intentionally blurred.
For players excited by this persistent, MMO-like endgame, the always-online requirement is a necessary trade-off. However, for those who purchase Call of Duty primarily for its cinematic, single-player story, it feels like a significant penalty for a feature they may never use.
The debate around Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 highlights a growing tension in the gaming industry between innovative, connected experiences and the classic, uninterrupted single-player campaign. As players continue to log in, the question remains: is the promise of "Worlds Collide" worth the price of a pause button and an immersive narrative?
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is available now on PC via Steam and Battle.net, as well as on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.
Since Black Ops 7 is an always online campaign without the ability to pause, even if playing solo, when there is an update pushed it will interrupt your campaign regardless of where you are and what's happening.
— ModernWarzone (@ModernWarzone) November 14, 2025
Glad I didn't lose any progress at least. pic.twitter.com/ofOXPLSvQD