Activision has just released the gameplay trailer for “Astra Malorum”, the long-awaited Zombies map arriving with Season 1 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, confirming rumors of a terrifying space setting.
Deep Space is the New Nightmare
The trailer, released globally this morning, confirms what dataminers had been suggesting since the game’s troubled launch on November 14: Treyarch is taking the Dark Aether saga to space. The two-minute video, captured on PlayStation 5, presents Astra Malorum (Latin for “Stars of Evil”), a century-old observatory floating in the galactic void, guarding a portal to a dead world.
The change of scenery is drastic. Unlike the favelas and military bases of the campaign, Astra Malorum offers a cosmic horror aesthetic reminiscent of the best moments of Black Ops 3. “A breathable atmosphere millions of miles from Earth,” the introduction narrates, before cutting to frantic low-gravity combat sequences and claustrophobic corridors illuminated by flashing neons like an “80s disco”, according to the video’s own description.
Meet O.S.C.A.R.: The New Mechanical Threat
The technical highlight of the trailer is the introduction of a new elite entity: O.S.C.A.R. (Observatory System and K-effects Adjudicator Robot). Unlike the traditional fleshy abominations of the Zombies mode, O.S.C.A.R. is a security AI corrupted by the Dark Aether.
In the trailer, we see the robot floating and analyzing threats before firing electric arcs (Tesla Field) and deploying attack holograms that enrage nearby undead. The complexity of this enemy suggests a shift in the game’s meta, forcing players to prioritize elemental damage and cover strategies, something rare in the traditional Zombies mode. The community is already speculating that the new “Wonder Weapon”—which appears to be a hybrid of alien technology and Soviet weaponry—will be the only efficient way to dismantle this automated defense.
The Redemption of Black Ops 7?
The launch of “Astra Malorum” carries enormous weight. After mixed criticism of Black Ops 7‘s single-player campaign—considered by many analysts as “short and disjointed”—Activision is betting all its chips on the Zombies mode to keep its player base active.
The initial reception to the trailer on social media has been extremely positive, with fans praising the return of a more “fantastical” and less “militaristic” art direction. With Season 1 scheduled to begin on December 4, 2025, the expectation is that this map will bring back veterans who felt alienated in the first weeks of the game.
Confirmed highlights for Season 1:
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New Map: Astra Malorum (Zombies).
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New Enemy: O.S.C.A.R. (Elite).
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Return of Perks: Mule Kick confirmed.
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Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, PC.
