One day before Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's North American release, Activision has revealed that the game will feature notable changes to aim assist. This announcement comes from the Black Ops 7 launch patch notes, which detail several interesting changes to movement, multiplayer, and progression mechanics.
Though it's often included as a yes-or-no toggle in a game's settings, aim assist isn't usually a one-mechanic affair. Rather, there are several ways that a game can incorporate aim assist, from aim slowdown and bullet magnetism to right-stick acceleration, and many AAA games use several of these elements simultaneously to create a smoother overall experience for controller users. The type of aim assist covered in the Black Ops 7 patch notes is rotational aim assist, which makes automatic microadjustments to a player's aim when they are tracking a moving target. In practice, this often translates to better movement tracking at close range, as a player's reticle will stick to their target to an extent, especially while moving.
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Activision Announces Big Change to Rotational Aim Assist in Black Ops 7
In an effort to further level the playing field between controller and KBM Black Ops 7 players, rotational aim assist has been altered to "increase the range at which full Rotational Aim Assist strength is achieved." This means that players will have to keep their crosshairs more closely fixed to their target to receive the full rotational aim assist advantage, and that the beneficial microadjustments will be weaker the further the crosshairs are positioned from their target.
Additionally, the patch will introduce "slightly increased Rotational Aim Assist strength at very long ranges," and a new right-stick requirement: "the player's right stick movement must be tracking an enemy target for Rotational Aim Assist to activate at full strength." This is perhaps the most significant change to aim assist in Black Ops 7, since rotational aim assist is traditionally meant to de-emphasize right-stick movement.
Like with the changes to rotational aim assist range, the right-stick requirement is dynamic rather than binary: the effect of rotational aim assist will be reduced if not using the right stick, not negated altogether.
As one might expect, there has already been a good deal of discussion about these changes, with some players calling it a buff and others labeling it a nerf. It depends on how one looks at it, of course, but the improved rotational assist at long range could be helpful for certain playstyles. A sniper, for instance, may have a much easier time following these changes, whereas a close-range player will have to be more diligent about their enemy-tracking, especially when compared to the relatively strong aim assist present in Black Ops 6.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Aim Assist Patch Notes
In Black Ops 6, we updated Rotational Aim Assist strength at close range to scale over a short distance. In Black Ops 7, we are increasing the range before full Rotational Aim Assist strength is achieved.
Additionally, we have slightly increased Rotational Aim Assist strength at very long ranges.
A new right stick aiming requirement has also been added to Rotational Aim Assist. Previously, full Rotational Aim Assist strength was achieved regardless of aiming direction or which stick was being controlled. With this update, the player's right stick movement must be tracking an enemy target for Rotational Aim Assist to activate at full strength. If the conditions are not met, Rotational Aim Assist strength will be reduced. For example, if only the left stick is being controlled during an engagement, Rotational Aim Assist strength will be reduced.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 66 /100 Critics Rec: 34%
- Released
- November 14, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch, Raven Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
WHERE TO PLAY
In Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Treyarch and Raven Software are bringing players the most mind-bending Black Ops ever.
The year is 2035 and the world is on the brink of chaos, ravaged by violent conflict and psychological warfare. David Mason leads an elite JSOC team on a covert mission to the sprawling Mediterranean city of Avalon. While there, they discover a sophisticated plot that won’t just plunge the world into chaos, it will pull them into their own haunting pasts.
Squad up or go solo in an innovative Co-Op Campaign that redefines the Black Ops experience. Take on high-stakes challenges across a wide spectrum of environments, from the neon-lit rooftops of Japan to the Mediterranean coast, and even into the deepest corners of the human psyche.
Multiplayer explodes out of the gate with 16 electrifying 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch. From futuristic Tokyo vistas to the frozen, unforgiving wilds of Alaska, every environment is brimming with danger and opportunity. Master a cutting-edge arsenal and outmaneuver your enemies with an evolved Omnimovement system.
In Treyarch’s legendary Round-Based Zombies mode, the nightmare begins where reality ends. Trapped in the heart of the Dark Aether, the crew is thrust into a vast, ever-shifting hellscape. This isn’t just survival. It’s a descent into madness.
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes - all platforms
- Cross Save
- Yes - all platforms
- Prequel(s)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Franchise
- Call of Duty, Call of Duty: Black Ops
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- November 14, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- November 14, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- November 14, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 204.45 GB
