Technology

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 campaign requires a constant online connection and has zero checkpoints — mission levels are designed for four, necessitating repetitive tasks if you play alone

Source

Tom's Hardware

Published

Nov 15, 2025

TL;DR

AI Generated

The latest Call of Duty title, Black Ops 7, requires a constant online connection even for solo play, with missions designed for cooperative multiplayer. Players have criticized the lack of checkpoints, inability to pause, and repetitive tasks when playing alone. The game's online-first approach has led to mixed reviews on Steam, with complaints about the storyline, cutscenes, and the $70 price tag. Despite a smaller player count compared to previous titles, Black Ops 7 is available on Xbox Game Pass for subscribers.

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MindsEye's sabotage mission is being slammed as dull and pointless

Build A Rocket Boy accuses individuals of sabotaging MindsEye's launch, spending over €1 million on damaging efforts. The studio integrates the controversy into a new in-game mission, Blacklist, to showcase evidence of sabotage to players. However, reports describe the mission as lackluster and failing to deliver a compelling narrative. Critics attribute the launch issues to internal problems, such as management and design decisions, casting doubt on the sabotage claims. The saga continues as MindsEye's post-launch turmoil unfolds.

TweakTown•

8 hours ago

Save a huge $400 on this Acer Predator OLED gaming laptop with an RTX 5070 Ti and 32GB DDR5, now under $1,800 — big saving on Helios Neo 16S AI rig that ships with a 24-core Intel CPU, 1TB SSD, and a 240Hz refresh rate

Best Buy is offering a $400 discount on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI gaming laptop, now priced at $1,799.99. This laptop features an RTX 5070 Ti GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 16-inch OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate. Powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, it is designed for high-performance gaming and multitasking. The laptop's slim design includes various ports, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, and a 1TB SSD. This deal provides a cost-effective option for gamers seeking top-notch specs in a portable package.

Tom's Hardware•

10 hours ago

Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum receive clamshell makeover — iconic 8-bit legends join the handheld gaming wars

Retro Games Ltd and Blaze Entertainment are releasing handheld gaming devices inspired by the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum home computers from the '80s. Priced at $129.99, the C64 Handheld and Spectrum Handheld aim to bring nostalgia with modern convenience, featuring a clamshell design, 4.3-inch IPS screens, quad-core processors, and 256 MB of DDR memory. Both devices come pre-loaded with 25 retro games and offer expandable storage via a microSD card slot. The handhelds also include USB Type-A ports for connecting peripherals and are set to ship on October 15, with a collector's edition available for $149.99.

Tom's Hardware•

10 hours ago

Elder Scrolls Online created to rival World of Warcraft, original ZeniMax Online founder says

The Elder Scrolls Online was created as a response to the success of World of Warcraft, with Bethesda drawing inspiration from Blizzard's popular MMORPG. Former ZeniMax Online Studios founder Matt Firor revealed that ESO was developed to transform the Elder Scrolls franchise into a multiplayer experience. Firor was recruited by Bethesda due to his experience with online games like Dark Age of Camelot. Despite ESO's evolution and success across platforms, Bethesda has not shown further interest in expanding into the online market, as seen with the cancellation of the ZeniMax Online Studios game Blackbird leading to Firor's resignation.