Activision has confirmed that all players of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will get the popular The Replacer Operator skin for free when Season 1 launches next month. This character has been an important part of the franchise’s live-action advertising for years. Players will receive the Operator as a complimentary gift. The character is famously portrayed by Peter Stormare, an actor known for his roles in films and TV shows like Prison Break and Constantine. His return as a character everyone can use has excited the community.
This decision seems to address a recent issue among players. Before the game’s release, the publisher announced that the Carry Forward feature would be canceled. This feature would have limited the transfer of most cosmetic purchases from Black Ops 6 to the new game. This announcement upset many fans who had spent a lot on previous bundles. By giving away a well-loved Operator like The Replacer for free, Activision likely wants to improve relations and acknowledge the loyalty of its players. The studio noted that this gift is meant as “a thank you” to the dedicated Black Ops 7 audience.
The Operator will be available to players when Season 1 starts on December 4. This version of the character will wear his classic black suit, now slightly updated with a unique Black Ops 7 lapel pin. While The Replacer has served as a marketing mascot since his first appearance in a Black Ops 2 commercial, he was introduced as a playable character later in the franchise, specifically in the Blackout mode of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. He was also a premium Store Bundle in Black Ops 6. This is the first time the Operator will be available to all users at no cost when the season begins.
In addition to the free character, the Season 1 roadmap includes a large refresh of content, featuring new weapons and various Multiplayer maps. The developers have confirmed that several popular maps will return to the rotation. Fan-favorite maps Standoff and Meltdown will come back at the start of the season, while the map Fringe is set to join the game with the mid-season update, typically around one month after the initial launch. This significant addition of content, highlighted by the free character offer, shows a strong effort to increase engagement for Black Ops 7 as it enters its first major post-launch period.
