Call of Duty 2025 Leak Sparks Backlash Over Reported Battle Pass Lockouts

A recent leak about Call of Duty 2025, expected to be titled Black Ops 7, has sparked serious concern among fans. Shared by well-known insider The Ghost of Hope on the Gaming Leaks and Rumors subreddit, the report reveals possible changes coming to how the game handles seasonal content—and the news isn't sitting well with the community.

According to the leak, Activision and Treyarch are planning to change how players access Limited Time Modes (LTMs), and not in a good way. In previous games, LTMs, special game modes, and maps that are only available for a short time have been free for everyone.

However, this report claims that in Black Ops 7, players will need to buy the battle pass just to access these limited-time events. Many of these LTMs are expected to include unique rewards, new mechanics, and exclusive cosmetics. Locking them behind a paywall would be a big shift from the current system.

Right now, Call of Duty players can jump into LTMs for free. Buying the battle pass mainly gives extra cosmetics, operators, and themed content. There are also mid-season Reloaded updates that offer smaller premium "event tracks" that players can choose to buy. But if the leak is accurate, Activision might get rid of that system and instead start locking entire game modes behind the main battle pass.

This move has sparked backlash, with many fans calling it a greedy decision. Players are upset that content that used to be free could now cost money, especially when Call of Duty already has a reputation for pushing aggressive monetization. Over the years, fans have seen more and more content—like operator bundles and weapons—hidden behind expensive purchases.

The timing of this change is also raising eyebrows. Microsoft recently completed its purchase of Activision and now owns the Call of Duty franchise. While nothing directly connects Microsoft to these decisions, some fans are worried the new ownership could be part of the push toward even more paywalled content.

For long-time, players who hoped the franchise would move in a more consumer-friendly direction after the acquisition, this news is disappointing. If true, it signals that the game may be heading even deeper into pay-to-play territory. Some are hoping that strong community backlash will convince Activision to rethink the plan, but others worry that the outrage will be short-lived and forgotten.

In the end, this possible change shows a shift in how Call of Duty values its players—not by rewarding loyalty with access, but by testing how much they're willing to pay for features that were once free. Whether the community pushes back or not, this leak paints a concerning picture of what could be coming in Call of Duty 2025.