Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Trending
  • Gamescom 2025 schedule
  • Gamescom
  • Battlefield 6
  • New Games for 2025
Don't miss these
Screenshot from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 reveal teaser.
Call of Duty Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 announced: the first consecutive release in the series gets a 2025 release window, is set 40 years after Black Ops 6, and brings back campaign co-op
A close up of a man holding a gun during the reveal for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Call of Duty Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 – Everything we know so far about the upcoming shooter
Black Ops 7 new screenshot
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 is fighting franchise fatigue in the most unexpected of ways with an ambitious co-op adventure which Treyarch believes can "redefine what campaign can be in Call of Duty"
Black Ops 7 new screenshot
Call of Duty Yes, those leaks were true: Black Ops 7 is out this November, it's still coming to PS4 and Xbox One, and there's an open beta right around the corner
A woman with tattoos looking up during the trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Call of Duty As Battlefield 6 keeps skins grounded, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 goes the other way by carrying over all of Black Ops 6's goofy skins as devs are still "figuring out" how to keep everyone happy
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Beavis and Butthead skins
Call of Duty Activision owns up to ugly Call of Duty skins, reverses course on Black Ops 6 skins transferring and promises "authentic" skins for Black Ops 7 – a game that is already selling cyborgs and murder robots
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 lead says FPS fans are "eating" thanks to the head-to-head release with Battlefield 6, "but if you want maximum variety..." play the new Call of Duty game
A close up of a man holding a gun during the reveal for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Call of Duty Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 ad goes live early, showcasing stompy mechs, Goliath foes, and yet another November release date
A robot standing in a green room during the trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Call of Duty Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 dev doesn't care about former Blizzard president calling the series "lazy" or saying it'll get "boot stomped" by Battlefield 6: "You just don't worry about it, right?"
Screenshot from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 reveal teaser.
Call of Duty Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 release date reportedly leaks, and it looks like the FPS is the latest to escape Microsoft's $80 price hike
Black Ops 7 rewards
Call of Duty All Black Ops 7 rewards explained
Screenshot from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 reveal teaser.
Call of Duty When are the Black Ops 7 beta times and dates
A close up of a man holding a gun during the reveal for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Call of Duty If you're wondering how Call of Duty's Black Ops 7 trailer is going down, the top comment on YouTube by some way is "this actually made me pre-order Battlefield 6"
Battlefield 6
Battlefield The Battlefield 6 beta may be over, but EA is still testing new customization options, weapons, and gadgets in Battlefield Labs ahead of October's launch
Resident Evil Requiem screenshot of Grace Ashcroft, who has white short hair and glasses and wears a black blazer with an FBI badge, sitting at a desk in front of a PC monitor
Games Gamescom Day 1 live coverage – all the news, interviews, and previews as they happen
  1. Games
  2. FPS
  3. Call of Duty

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 - the new setting, sandbox gameplay, player choice and more

Features
By Lorenzo Veloria published 2 May 2012

War is changing, and so is the next Call of Duty

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

There's sure to be much more revealed for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, but for now this is everything we know about the next in the worlds most popular first-person shooter franchise.

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
It's set in the future

It's set in the future

Why wouldnt there be Black Ops soldiers in the future? In the year 2025, the world has new global concerns with conflicts over new energy and economic resources, cyber warfare, and drone warfare. There are also plenty of prototype guns, gadgets, and fancy technology to fight those threats. So, for those whove gotten tired of the same old M16 variant, there will be new toys to play with.

Setting the game in the future lets Treyarch free itself from recorded history, but, at the same time, the developer is working on making its version of the future as plausible as possible without venturing into pew, pew sci-fi. Treyarch has done some extensive research on how the world might actually be 13 years from now, even getting help from Peter Singer (political advisor and author of Wired for War). Technology is expected to reach extraordinary levels in the next decade, which gives the dev team plenty of room to use their imaginations. This lead to some unexpected encounters on the battlefield. But, more on that later...

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Its a direct sequel to Black Ops

Its a direct sequel to Black Ops

The action in 2025 centers on David Mason, who obviously didnt fall far from the tree and joined the US military as a Black Ops operative. The grizzled heroes will be facing political tensions triggered by Menendez, which escalate into the second Cold War between China and the US.

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Multiplayer also takes place in the future

Multiplayer also takes place in the future

As for what types of maps to expect, we caught a quick peek at part of a stage set in a desert-like environment and another urban battlefield set in the aftermath of a Los Angeles invasion. Go ahead and let your imaginations fly.

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Robots and drones play a much larger role

Robots and drones play a much larger role

War has changed and so have the combatants. There are still flesh and blood soldiers to bust a cap in, but now there are various types of remote-controlled drones that bring new challenges. These arent humanoid Terminator machines or anything, but we did see quad-rotor aerial sentries, four-legged walking CLAWs with Gatling guns and grenade launchers, and weaponized UAVs that make a prominent air presence on the battlefield.

The inclusion of drones revealed some interesting gameplay thats never been seen in a Call of Duty game. In one intriguing instance, we saw a walker drones leg get blown off by a sniper bullet stopping the walkers mobility. Then another shot to the drones unarmored soft points exploded the robot completely.

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Choices matter

Choices matter

Rather than having a completely linear story campaign, Treyarch is taking a choose-your-own-adventure style approach with a branching storyline. Some elements of the story will also change depending on the performance of certain levels in Strike Force. (Click onto the next page for more on that...)

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Strike Force mode

Strike Force mode

Strike Force takes Call of Duty to the sandbox, forcing player choice and changing campaign events depending on performance. These missions take place away from the main characters but utilize a Black Ops SEALs team to carry out the objective. Players will reach these missions in the campaign, and then are given the option of which mission (out of several) they can take. You don't have to be "succeed" to move on, but the result will affect the story.

In terms of gameplay, Strike Force is taking Call of Duty where its never been before. These missions can be played out from three separate perspectives, which can be switched on the fly in-game as you try to complete the multiple objectives across the multiplayer-sized open map. Play through the eyes of a SEALs soldier for the standard COD experience, or take control of several air and ground drones for a wider perspective. The third option is to observe the battle in Overwatch mode, which looks like more of a strategy game where commands are given to the SEALs team and drones below.

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
The graphics and sound got a huge overhaul

The graphics and sound got a huge overhaul

From our perspective, the Treyarch games always seemed a notch below Infinity Wards Modern Warfare titles in terms of visuals. This doesnt look like it's going to be the case for Black Ops 2. In our demo, the graphics were cranked up beyond what we anticipated. Just the sheer amount of activity happening on screen was overwhelming. Explosions go off in every direction, drones fly overhead while enemy soldiers shoot behind cover. All this took place in highly detailed environments with a silky smooth framerate, resulting in some of the most impressive visuals weve seen on a console shooter.

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Zombies is fully fleshed out, with new modes

Zombies is fully fleshed out, with new modes

Its strange to think Nazi Zombies started off as just an Easter egg at the end of World at War. Now for Black Ops 2, this has become its own game mode that Treyarch boasts has been given the same amount of attention as the single and multiplayer modes. We werent able to pry too many details from the developers, but we did get some vague statements saying there will be multiple zombie modes, a bigger zombie world, it will run on the multiplayer engine, and it will feature matchmaking. Maybe well see more than four players at once. Maybe therell be a Left 4 Dead style versus mode or a new twist on Survival. Its all speculation at the moment, but having some additional modes over the traditional survival is very welcome indeed.

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Thats it for now

Thats it for now

So is Black Ops 2 what you expected? Let us know what you think of Treyarchs new direction for Call of Duty. We've divulged everything we know so far, but theres still a ton of multiplayer and zombies to see in the future. What are you looking forward to the most? Sound off in the comments!

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming PlayStation Xbox Platforms
PRODUCTS
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Call of Duty
Lorenzo Veloria
Lorenzo Veloria
Social Links Navigation

Many years ago, Lorenzo Veloria was a Senior Editor here at GamesRadar+ helping to shape content strategy. Since then, Lorenzo has shifted his attention to Future Plc's broader video game portfolio, working as a Senior Brand Marketing Manager to oversee the development of advertising pitches and marketing strategies for the department. He might not have all that much time to write about games anymore, but he's still focused on making sure the latest and greatest end up in front of your eyes one way or another.

See more PC Gaming Features
Read more
Screenshot from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 reveal teaser.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 announced: the first consecutive release in the series gets a 2025 release window, is set 40 years after Black Ops 6, and brings back campaign co-op
A close up of a man holding a gun during the reveal for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 – Everything we know so far about the upcoming shooter
Black Ops 7 new screenshot
Black Ops 7 is fighting franchise fatigue in the most unexpected of ways with an ambitious co-op adventure which Treyarch believes can "redefine what campaign can be in Call of Duty"
Black Ops 7 new screenshot
Yes, those leaks were true: Black Ops 7 is out this November, it's still coming to PS4 and Xbox One, and there's an open beta right around the corner
A woman with tattoos looking up during the trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
As Battlefield 6 keeps skins grounded, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 goes the other way by carrying over all of Black Ops 6's goofy skins as devs are still "figuring out" how to keep everyone happy
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Beavis and Butthead skins
Activision owns up to ugly Call of Duty skins, reverses course on Black Ops 6 skins transferring and promises "authentic" skins for Black Ops 7 – a game that is already selling cyborgs and murder robots
Latest in Call of Duty
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Call of Duty drops a whopping 100 GB on PS5, and fans think it's due to Battlefield 6: "Competition is always good for gaming"
A soldier in a jungle setting and a bandana in Call of Duty: Black Ops
Cancelled Call of Duty: Fog of War would have had you playing hide and seek with a B52 bomber crashing in "a scary version of Vietnam"
A brightened Code Violet trailer screenshot shows a female character facing a huge dinosaur, with flames in the background.
PS5 exclusive horror game bucks the trend, announces a delay to get out of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's way instead of Hollow Knight: Silksong
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Beavis and Butthead skins
Activision owns up to ugly Call of Duty skins, reverses course on Black Ops 6 skins transferring and promises "authentic" skins for Black Ops 7 – a game that is already selling cyborgs and murder robots
Black Ops 7 rewards
All Black Ops 7 rewards explained
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Black Ops 7 lead says FPS fans are "eating" thanks to the head-to-head release with Battlefield 6, "but if you want maximum variety..." play the new Call of Duty game
Latest in Features
Borderlands 4 screenshot shows someone holding a weapon forward towards the camera.
"We tend to commit to the bit": Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford talks Borderlands 4, the evolution of looter-shooters, and $80 game discourse
Valor Mortis
Ghostrunner devs abandon parkour for Valor Mortis, a first-person soulslike that might explain why the rest of the genre follows Dark Souls' lead
A mech firing a machine gun in the desert in Menace
Menace is an XCOM-Warhammer hybrid that makes turn-based strategy feel like an immersive sim, and for the first time in my life I'm playing a game that seems made for me
Metal Gear Solid 5 showing Snake and Ocelot looking to the horizon in front of more soldiers
10 years later, Metal Gear Solid 5 remains a masterpiece that was never going to live up to its own hype
Dogtooth
The new Yorgos Lanthimos movie is getting rave first reactions out of Venice Film Festival, but I think it's worth revisiting his breakout feature Dogtooth before Bugonia hits theaters this fall
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Legacy of the Forge DLC showing Henry and two allies standing looking down
I built a home and ran a business in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's next DLC, and the added role-playing guarantees I'll spend another 70 hours in my current game of the year
  1. Kaser clad in black and Victor in white clash swords in Lost Soul Aside
    1
    Lost Soul Aside review: "We (don't) have Final Fantasy Versus 13 at home"
  2. 2
    Hell is Us review: "The lack of waypoints and explicit objectives is a double-edged magical sword that pulls me deep into its harsh world"
  3. 3
    Shuten Order review: "The Danganronpa creator's new multi-genre mystery feels like a forgotten DS cult classic I would have been obsessed with"
  4. 4
    The Rogue Prince of Persia review: "I roguelike but don't roguelove this freerunner – there's just not enough to stand out"
  5. 5
    Shinobi: Art of Vengeance review: "So close to being to a pitch-perfect revival of a classic series, but just can't quite line up the killing blow"
  1. Jacob Elordi as the monster in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein
    1
    Frankenstein review: "A classy, if somewhat safe, adaptation"
  2. 2
    Weapons review: "A twisted fairytale that bests Barbarian"
  3. 3
    The Fantastic Four: First Steps review: "An occasionally thrilling heroic adventure that sits safely within a B-tier MCU range"
  4. 4
    Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU"
  5. 5
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  1. John Cena as Peacemaker holds a gun to the head of a different John Cena as Peacemaker in Peacemaker season 2.
    1
    Peacemaker season 2 review: "Darker and sadder than the first year, but there's still a lot of fun to be had with the 11th Street Kids."
  2. 2
    Wednesday season 2 part 1 review: "Complex and exciting but weighed down by too many subplots"
  3. 3
    Alien: Earth review: "Arguably the franchise's strongest outing since James Cameron's Aliens"
  4. 4
    King of the Hill season 14 review: "Hank Hill himself has evolved into a much more open and accepting person"
  5. 5
    Eyes of Wakanda review: "A creative premise shortchanged by the runtime and Marvel bloat"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...