Treyarch is bringing back the old-school zombies experience in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, but not exactly the way purists might have hoped. According to prominent COD insider TheGhostOfHope, the game will launch with two distinct zombies modes: the modern Standard Mode and a hardcore Classic Mode called Cursed. The catch? You’ll need to work for the full classic experience.
What Ghost of Hope Revealed
TheGhostOfHope dropped the details on social media in late September 2025, outlining how Cursed Mode strips away many modern conveniences that have been added to zombies over the years. According to the leak, this classic mode will feature its own separate wallbuy system, mystery box, and restricted weapon list that differs from the standard experience. Players will start with just a pistol, exactly like the original World at War zombies back in 2008.
The mode eliminates several quality of life features that have become standard. There’s no minimap to guide you, no armor system to protect you, and no exfil option when things get too hot. The perk limit is capped at four, just like the classic games, and the point system returns to the Black Ops 3 style where you earn points for bullets fired rather than just kills. For veterans who remember memorizing wallbuy locations and counting their bullets carefully, this should feel like coming home.
The Relic System Complicates Things
Here’s where things get interesting and potentially frustrating depending on your perspective. The full classic experience isn’t available from the start. Instead, Cursed Mode introduces a system called Relics, which are unlockable modifiers hidden throughout the map. These aren’t power-ups that make you stronger. They’re deliberate handicaps that make the game even harder.
Each Relic you find and activate adds new restrictions to your gameplay. The two confirmed examples include the four-perk limit and removing all ammo caches from the map. You unlock these Relics by completing specific in-game challenges, though Treyarch hasn’t revealed exactly what those challenges entail. The idea is that hardcore players will chase down every Relic to create the ultimate classic zombies challenge, earning exclusive rewards in the process.
How to Access Cursed Mode
You won’t be able to jump into Cursed Mode the moment Black Ops 7 launches on November 14, 2025. Treyarch confirmed during a developer discussion that the mode unlocks only after someone anywhere in the world completes the main easter egg quest in the launch map, Ashes of the Damned. This community-wide unlock system is similar to how Destiny 2 handles raid unlocks.
The good news is you don’t personally need to solve the easter egg. Once any squad anywhere manages to finish it, Cursed Mode becomes available for everyone. Given how quickly dedicated zombies players tear through easter eggs, this will likely happen within hours of launch. Still, it’s an odd gate to put in front of a mode that many players specifically want to experience from day one.
Community Reactions Are Mixed
The zombies community has responded with both excitement and skepticism. Hardcore fans who’ve been begging for a return to classic gameplay are thrilled that Treyarch is even attempting this. The prospect of playing without armor, loadouts, and unlimited perks has reinvigorated interest among players who dropped the mode after Black Ops 4 changed too much.
However, many feel the Relic system misses the point. Instead of making players grind to remove features that shouldn’t exist in a classic mode to begin with, some argue Treyarch should have provided the full classic experience upfront and used Relics as optional additional challenges. Content creators have suggested alternative uses for Relics like starting room only runs, headshots only modifiers, or mystery box weapon restrictions rather than gating basic classic features behind them.
Ghost of Hope’s Track Record
TheGhostOfHope has established credibility within the Call of Duty leak community over the years. While not every prediction pans out perfectly, the insider has accurately revealed numerous features before official announcements. In this case, Ghost of Hope was careful to note that not all details about Cursed Mode have been shared yet, suggesting there’s more to the system than what’s been leaked so far.
The insider also shared that an Outbreak-style mode was originally planned for Black Ops 7 but appears to have been cancelled or delayed. This large-scale open-world zombies experience, which was popular in Black Ops Cold War, was reportedly set for the Avalon map but hasn’t been mentioned in official marketing materials leading up to launch.
What Else Is Coming to BO7 Zombies
Beyond Cursed Mode, Black Ops 7 Zombies is bringing substantial content at launch. The main round-based map, Ashes of the Damned, is being promoted as the largest zombies map Treyarch has ever created. Players will have access to full loadout customization, HUD personalization options, and the return of fan-favorite systems like GobbleGums and Augments from previous games.
New additions include the Wisp Tea Perk-a-Cola, Fire Works Ammo Mod, and Toxic Growth Field Upgrade, along with wall jump mechanics for improved mobility. The beta in October 2025 marked the first time zombies mode was ever included in a Call of Duty beta, giving players an early taste of what Treyarch has been cooking.
Post-Launch Maps and Seasons
According to Ghost of Hope and other leakers, Treyarch has multiple DLC maps planned for Black Ops 7 Zombies throughout the post-launch seasons. Rumors suggest one map will feature an ancient Japanese temple with an active volcano, which would align with character backstories that hint at locations in Japan, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. Each new map will reportedly include additional Relics to discover, expanding the Cursed Mode experience over time.
The fact that Treyarch is planning long-term support for both Standard and Cursed modes indicates they’re serious about serving different segments of the zombies fanbase. Whether this dual-mode approach succeeds will depend largely on how well the Relic system is received and whether the classic experience feels authentic enough to win back lapsed players.
FAQs
Who is TheGhostOfHope?
TheGhostOfHope is a well-known Call of Duty insider who regularly leaks accurate information about upcoming COD games before official announcements. While not every leak proves true, this source has built credibility over several years in the community.
When does Black Ops 7 release?
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launches on November 14, 2025, for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. The game is available day one on Xbox Game Pass.
Can I play Cursed Mode immediately at launch?
No, Cursed Mode unlocks only after any player or team in the world completes the Ashes of the Damned main easter egg quest. This will likely happen within hours of launch, but it’s not available from minute one.
What are Relics in Black Ops 7 Zombies?
Relics are unlockable modifiers in Cursed Mode that add difficulty restrictions to your gameplay. Examples include limiting you to four perks or removing ammo caches. You find them by completing challenges, and they offer exclusive rewards when activated.
Does Cursed Mode have armor and loadouts?
No, according to Ghost of Hope’s leak, Cursed Mode removes armor entirely and you start with only a pistol instead of custom loadouts. It’s designed to recreate the original classic zombies experience.
Will there be more zombies maps after launch?
Yes, Treyarch has confirmed multiple DLC maps are planned throughout Black Ops 7’s post-launch seasons. Leaks suggest these will include diverse locations like a Japanese temple with an active volcano.
Is Outbreak mode returning in Black Ops 7?
According to Ghost of Hope, an Outbreak-style mode was planned but appears to have been cancelled or delayed. It has not appeared in any official announcements leading up to launch.
What makes Ashes of the Damned special?
Ashes of the Damned is being promoted as the largest round-based zombies map in Call of Duty history. It serves as the launch map for Black Ops 7 Zombies and contains the main easter egg quest that unlocks Cursed Mode globally.
Conclusion
Treyarch’s decision to include Cursed Mode in Black Ops 7 shows they’re listening to longtime fans who’ve felt alienated by the modernization of zombies over the past several years. Whether the Relic system enhances or hinders that classic experience remains to be seen. The concept of earning your way back to true classic gameplay through challenges is innovative but risks frustrating players who just want to jump in and play the way they remember. Still, the fact that both modern and classic options will coexist means there’s something for everyone. If the execution matches the ambition, Black Ops 7 Zombies could unite a fractured fanbase that’s been arguing about the mode’s direction since Black Ops 4. We’ll find out for sure when the game launches on November 14 and the race to unlock Cursed Mode begins.