Launched on January 13, 2026, this update aims to rebalance several aspects of gameplay, following massive feedback from players. If you’ve noticed any changes in shooting feel or card behavior, it’s no coincidence. This patch comes after several weeks of criticism regarding the power of certain weapons and imbalances in multiplayer.
Weapons revisited from top to bottom
The patch focuses particularly on assault rifles, with notable changes to models like the Maddox RFBTHE M15 MOD 0 and theAK-27. The Maddox’s knockback has been increased, its damage reduced at all ranges, and its movement speeds slightly slowed. Same observation for the M15, which sees its damage range reduced and its firing time after sliding extended.
Some weapons also receive welcome improvements. THE Sturmwolf 45a popular submachine gun, benefits from increased headshot multipliers and reduced recoil. On the precision rifle side, the XR-3 Ion gains fluidity thanks to a better sequence of shots. Finally, several secondary weapons and equipment are adjusted to refine the meta, including pistols like the Velox 5.7 or special weapons like the NX Ravager.
Multiplayer maps fixed, one temporarily removed
Activision also took action on the multiplayer maps. Fringe, Yakei And Meltdown receive fixes to prevent players from going outside of the intended limits. As for Flagshipit is temporarily removed from rotation due to a stability bug still being resolved.
In terms of assets and equipment, the perk Bankroll no longer allows access to all the advantages via the Specialist joker, and the Stim Shot finally benefits from functional XP progression. These adjustments confirm that Activision is closely monitoring game balance and quickly responding to major bugs reported by the community.
Zombies and Endgame modes are not forgotten
The January 13 update isn’t limited to multiplayer. It also improves the stability of the mode Zombiesnotably by correcting the incorrect display of unlocked rewards in the end-of-game report.
The mode Endgame also benefits from several fixes, including a bug preventing some players from keeping their equipment after defeating the boss Faulkner. Concerns related to the simultaneous use of the Power Armor and melee weapons have also been resolved. These adjustments show a desire to optimize all aspects of the game, including solo or cooperative experiences.
Towards a more stable and balanced season
With this January 13 patch, Activision addresses a wide variety of critical points raised since the launch of Black Ops 7. Whether you are a fan of competitive mode, zombies or team play, this update should be felt from your next games. Further adjustments could still follow depending on post-patch feedback. But this first salvo in 2026 sends a strong signal: the development team remains attentive and intends to refine its flagship game of the season.