Zombies fans have a lot to anticipate in Black Ops 7 Season 1, and many are already planning long grind sessions, experimenting with builds, and even exploring options like bo7 bot lobbies for Sale to speed up progression in the mode’s toughest challenges. The Season 1 preview highlights a strong emphasis on replayability, smart difficulty tuning, and new systems that reward players who optimize their perks, augments, and field upgrades. Between a space‑set experience and focused survival maps, Season 1 aims to capture both the sense of mystery and the high‑intensity survival gameplay that define the best Zombies releases.
Astro Malorum is the flagship new Zombies experience, set in space after the player barely escapes a devastating attack by ravagers riding meteor‑like projectiles. The map opens with a dramatic crash landing onto a skull‑shaped surface, with a massive observatory and Saturn dominating the skybox, instantly creating one of the most visually memorable settings in recent Zombies history. From there, gameplay revolves around exploring the observatory and uncovering what is happening in this strange location while dealing with meteors and ravagers crashing into the play space.
The map is described as a medium‑sized environment, intentionally designed to be easier to navigate than the huge launch map while still being dense with detail and distinct areas within the observatory. Each space inside the facility delivers a unique look and layout, encouraging players to learn routes, find training spots, and identify efficient paths between objectives and defensive positions. Astro Malorum also introduces a new elite enemy named Oscar, who can be killed for special rewards, adding an extra layer of risk‑reward decision‑making whenever he appears.
Season 1 also expands the perk and augment system with the return of Mule Kick, allowing players to carry a third gun, which is especially powerful now that melee has its own dedicated slot. The designers describe it as a “hoarder” perk because many of the associated augments focus on letting players hold more ammo, craft additional equipment, or carry more armor plates, dramatically improving long‑term survivability. Economy‑focused augments that save money or salvage further support resource‑conscious runs and open up new approaches to efficient setup.
On top of the main map, Season 1 brings ex115 as a dedicated survival map set in a classic roadside diner featured in the larger Ashes of the Dam mission. These survival experiences are positioned as high‑difficulty locations that previously took significant time to reach in the core experience, but now can be accessed instantly for pure survival gameplay, complete with all the upgrades needed to last as long as possible. Directed mode remains a key option, providing full guidance so players always know what to do next, which the developers recommend as a stepping stone before tackling standard mode and more complex quests like the intense main quest for Ashes of the Damned.
Field upgrades and ammo mods also receive major additions, including Mr. Peaks, Frost Blast, Tesla Storm, and ammo options such as Lightmend and Shatter Blast, each with new major and minor augments. Lightmend, for example, ties into an overheal mechanic that lets players stack extra health if they avoid taking damage, rewarding careful play, while Frost Blast offers extra protection when standing inside its blizzard effect. All of these systems together point toward a Zombies experience that balances accessibility with depth, giving both newcomers and veterans plenty of tools to experiment with across Season 1.
