Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone are getting their Season 3 Reloaded midseason update around April 30, with Activision already confirming a packed content slate that touches every corner of the game. The update drops at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET across all platforms.
Here's the lowdown: this is one of the more content-dense midseason updates Black Ops 7 has seen. New weapons, three multiplayer maps, a fresh Zombies experience, and four limited-time modes split between multiplayer and Warzone. That's a lot of ground to cover before Season 4 rolls around.
New maps and the return of Free Run
Three maps join the multiplayer rotation. Onsen is a brand-new small map built around a Japanese hot spring, designed for both 6v6 and 2v2 play. Hacienda and Summit return as remastered versions from earlier Black Ops entries, both running standard 6v6.
The mode everyone will want to try first is Free Run. Originally introduced in Black Ops 3, it's a parkour obstacle course mode focused entirely on movement speed and precision. Black Ops 7's version uses a dedicated map called Ascent, which spans 10 zones. Players who have been grinding movement mechanics since launch finally have a mode built specifically for that skill set.
Heat Wave Havoc, Freeze Tag, and what they actually mean for your squad
Two limited-time modes arrive for multiplayer. Heat Wave Havoc rewards cooperative non-lethal actions like capturing objectives, revealing enemies, and scrambling radars. Doing these raises your Heat Level, which unlocks escalating bonuses:
- Low Heat: Faster Field Upgrade recharge
- Medium Heat: Faster movement, sprint-to-fire, and mid-air mobility
- Hot: Faster reloads, ADS speed, and weapon swap speed
- Extra Hot: Equipment refills on enemy eliminations
- Extra Extra Hot: Increased damage and score for headshots
The key here is that Heat Wave Havoc actively punishes lone-wolf play. If your squad is running purely for kills without supporting the team, you're leaving serious buffs on the table.
Freeze Tag is simpler. Lethal damage freezes players instead of eliminating them, and teammates can thaw frozen allies by reaching and defending them. First team to the score limit wins. It's a familiar party mode concept executed with Black Ops 7's movement system, which should make the thaw standoffs genuinely chaotic.
Totenreich and the new Zombies content
The Zombies headliner is Totenreich, a new round-based map set in a remote Norwegian fishing town pulled into the Dark Aether. The setting is WWII-era with direct ties to Richtofen and Group 935, which should satisfy players who have been following the Dark Aether narrative.
Beyond the map itself, the Wild Fire field upgrade lets players ignite themselves to gain a speed boost and burn nearby enemies. Treyarch is also adding ultra-rarity legacy weapons to the Mystery Box across existing maps. The developer hasn't named which classic weapons are coming, but confirmed they'll be rare pulls with stats that rival Wonder Weapons. That's a meaningful addition for players who have already exhausted the current Mystery Box pool.
What Warzone players are getting
Warzone picks up two limited-time modes. Hot Pursuit lands on Avalon as part of Black Ops Royale, drawing directly from Blackout's original Hot Pursuit mode. Squads of four choose cops or robbers, with cops hunting in police vehicles and robbers searching for valuables in getaway cars. Respawns are active as long as one squad member survives.
Prop Hunt Royale runs as 24v24 matches on Rebirth Island. Teams alternate between Hunters and Props across rounds, with Props getting 30 seconds to hide before Hunters are released. Props win if at least one player survives the round; Hunters win by eliminating everyone. First to three round wins takes the match.
The Siren special weapon and Katana melee weapon also join Black Ops 7's arsenal with the update, rounding out the season's weapon pool.
Activision has indicated more events and details are still to come before launch. For loadout ideas heading into the new content, browse more guides to prep your setup before April 30. You'll also want to check out the latest reviews for more coverage across the Call of Duty ecosystem as Season 3 Reloaded gets closer.
