CoD: Black Ops 7 Ditches Difficulty Settings—Here’s Why It Works Treyarch confirms the absence of preset campaign difficulty levels in favor of a “baked-in” adaptive system for co-op gameplay

Unlike past entries, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 won’t let you choose between Recruit, Hardened, or Veteran campaign modes. Instead, Treyarch has implemented an adaptive difficulty system that adjusts automatically, based on how many players are in your co-op squad.

🔄 Difficulty “Baked In” for Co-op Balance

As told by Mile Leslie, Associate Creative Director, the game’s campaign difficulty is now dynamic—adjusting automatically for solo or co-op (up to four players)—so the experience remains fair and fun regardless of how you play.

⚖ No Manual Adjustment Needed

This change means fewer hurdles—no need to pick the difficulty slider before starting. Instead, soldiers of all experience levels can jump straight in and have missions feel right out of the box.

🤝 A Shift Toward Inclusivity in Campaign Design

Black Ops 7 prioritizes social gameplay: balancing challenge for solo players and squads alike. It’s a design philosophy that prioritizes accessibility while preserving competitive tension.

📌 Final Thoughts

Removing traditional difficulty selection might surprise longtime fans, but Black Ops 7’s adaptive model streamlines the campaign for seamless solo or co-op play. Whether you squad up or go it alone, the game adjusts to keep the action engaging and fair—no menu hassle required.