Ranked Play is planned to arrive soon-ish in Black Ops 7.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is set to receive some of the best post-launch support we've ever seen from a game in the franchise. Developer Treyarch has stated that seven multiplayer maps will arrive before Season 1 is over, along with several weapons, game modes, and other content. However, some fans are curious how Ranked Play fits into this post-launch cycle of Black Ops 7.
As we all expected, Ranked Play will not be available on day one of the new game. When Black Ops 7 launches on Nov. 14, only non-competitive playlists will be playable. This has become common practice for Call of Duty titles, but the time Ranked Play arrives in a new game has been different year after year. So, when can we expect Ranked Play to drop in Black Ops 7?
Ranked Play slated for a 2026 release in Black Ops 7
While we don't have an exact release date for Ranked Play just yet, Treyarch has confirmed a rough release window for the mode. According to the developers, Black Ops 7 will see Ranked Play around the launch of Season 2.
We've seen Season 2 introduce Ranked Play in previous Call of Duty titles, but this is a large shake-up from how Black Ops 6 handled the mode. Just a year ago, Ranked Play was introduced during Season 1.
At this time, we aren't sure when Season 2 will arrive in Black Ops 7. If previous Call of Duty games are any indication, though, Season 2 should launch at the start of February in 2026. We're expecting Season 1 around early-mid December, and Call of Duty seasons are always roughly two months long. However, the time from Season 1 to Season 2 is often longer than other seasons, as we have to account for the Holidays during that time.
Naturally, waiting for up to three months past the launch of Black Ops 7 isn't ideal for competitive fans who enjoy Ranked Play. It's worth noting, though, that when Ranked Play launched earlier in Black Ops 6, it was incredibly buggy and nearly unplayable for the first few weeks after it was released. So, by waiting an extra month or two, Treyarch might be able to mitigate those issues and ensure a smoother launch. The developers could also be better prepared for cheaters in Ranked Play by waiting longer to release the mode.
It's possible that Ranked Play could launch sooner than Season 2, so we'll make sure to keep this guide updated with any new information. For now, though, expect to see the mode in early 2026 in Black Ops 7.
For more Black Ops 7 news, make sure to check out our other guide about how to pet the DAWG scorestreak in multiplayer. You can also take a look at our pieces going over how to earn Black Ops 2 camos in BO7 and every confirmed weapon in multiplayer so far.
