Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Continues Story From Black Ops 2 With 2035 Setting

Call of Duty is known for its iconic characters — Captain Price, Ghost, Soap from Modern Warfare, and Alex Mason and Frank Woods from Black Ops. But Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, revealed at the Xbox Showcase, is going in a different direction.

Instead of relying on the usual popular faces, this game brings back two characters we haven’t seen in over a decade — David Mason and Raul Menendez, both last seen in Black Ops 2, released way back in 2012.

A Direct Sequel to Black Ops 2

Black Ops 7 continues the story from Black Ops 2. It’s set 10 years later, in the year 2035, and focuses once again on David Mason, son of Alex Mason, and Raul Menendez, a terrorist leader who tried to take revenge on the CIA.

Back in Black Ops 2, players followed Menendez’s rise and fall through the perspectives of both Alex and David Mason. The campaign had different endings based on the player’s choices — some players saw Menendez die, others saw him spared.

But the series never clarified what actually happened, and since then, both Mason and Menendez have been mostly ignored in the franchise.

They weren’t seen in Black Ops 3, which took place far into the future, nor in Black Ops Cold War or Black Ops 6, which were set before the events of Black Ops 2.

Why This Could Be a Risky Move?

Reviving two characters after 13 years is a bold step. While long-time fans may remember them, newer players might not know who they are, which could create confusion.

That’s what makes Black Ops 7 a gamble — it’s putting its main focus on characters who haven’t appeared in over a decade and were only part of one earlier game. For a franchise as big as Call of Duty, this is a major storytelling risk.

But if done well, this could work. The developers have a real opportunity to continue a story fans have been waiting for. They just need to make sure the game explains past events clearly so that both old and new players understand the stakes.

How Can the Game Make This Work?

To avoid confusion, Black Ops 7 needs to start strong. A smart move would be to include flashbacks that explain what happened in Black Ops 2 and show which ending is now considered official. This would refresh the memory of older players and help new ones get up to speed.

Since the story is set in 2035, we also hope to see missions that cover the 10-year gap between Black Ops 2 and Black Ops 7. This could make the story deeper and more engaging.