Treyarch has canceled and declined several planned crossover skin deals for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, dialing back the series’ recent drift into out-of-world cosmetics after sustained player backlash.

Change Status in Black Ops 7
Big-brand crossovers Multiple deals canceled or turned down
Skin carry-forward from Black Ops 6 Not supported
Aesthetic approach Must fit Black Ops’ world; not strictly “grounded” only

The change follows months of criticism around “goofy” collaborations and arrives alongside a broader reset of Call of Duty’s cosmetic strategy heading into Black Ops 7. Earlier this month, Activision said cosmetics from Black Ops 6 will not carry forward into the new game, cutting off many of the most polarizing bundles.

Cosmetic policy in Black Ops 7

In an interview published by Dexerto, Treyarch senior director of production Yale Miller said the team has walked away from multiple high-profile collaborations to keep skins aligned with Black Ops’ fiction.

“There are opportunities that we have had lined up that, after some of our conversations, we straight up turned down.”

Treyarch’s filter, as described in the same conversation, is whether a cosmetic “makes sense for Black Ops 7,” rather than simply chasing recognizable brands.

Skins won’t be entirely grounded

While Treyarch is stepping away from out-of-place brand tie-ins, it isn’t promising a purely realistic catalog. The studio says some playful or surreal cosmetics can still ship if they feel authentic to Black Ops’ settings and modes. Recent examples cited include in-universe riffs (like Nuketown-themed items) and Zombies cosmetics that fit the series’ tone.

Carry-forward status for Black Ops 6 skins

Activision’s earlier decision to block carry-forward means Black Ops 6 bundles—both conventional and crossover—won’t appear in Black Ops 7. That move effectively draws a line under the prior cosmetic era and prevents the most controversial skins from rolling into the new game’s ecosystem.

Release date and availability

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is scheduled to launch on November 14. Treyarch’s revised approach to cosmetics will be in effect at release, with future additions expected to pass the same “fits Black Ops” test.

If Treyarch sticks to this tighter brief, Black Ops 7 could reclaim a more consistent look without shutting the door on thematic, in-world flourishes.