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The December 16, 2025 Season 01 update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 corrected Akita weapon behavior, reduced Stim Shot healing in Multiplayer, and fixed Double Level XP in Dead Ops Arcade 4. These are historical patch notes, not the latest update as of October 8, 2026; later patches may have changed the balance again.
What changed in Multiplayer?
Treyarch made two Akita adjustments and reduced Stim Shot’s healing rate in Multiplayer.
- Akita pellet travel: Pellets had been traveling about half a meter farther than intended. The update corrected the issue.
- Akita ScorchLink Akimbo: The attachment now carries a 10% damage penalty in Multiplayer.
- Stim Shot: Healing was reduced from 160 HP per second to 80 HP per second.
Treyarch said the dual Akitas’ release timing and general nature made an accelerated set of changes appropriate heading into the holidays, despite the studio’s usual preference to avoid aggressive tuning so soon after content becomes available. The statement appears in the official patch notes and is not attributed to an individual developer.
What changed in Zombies and Dead Ops Arcade 4?
Zombies
The update fixed an issue that made the Jäger 45 fire slower than intended after it was Pack-a-Punched. It also addressed problems with challenge progress and reward-feed visibility.
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Dead Ops Arcade 4
Double Level XP now correctly applies while the event is active. The patch also fixed a controller interaction with Field Upgrades that could trigger Speed Boost and Bomb together, and an issue that sometimes prevented Ravagers from damaging players.
How did the Akita change differ in Co-op Campaign and Endgame?
The Akita ScorchLink Akimbo received a separate, mode-specific adjustment in Co-op Campaign and Endgame: its Damage Range penalty was reduced from 60% to 40%. Treyarch’s notes describe this as a return to pre-nerf levels.
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- Squad up or go solo in an innovative Co-Op Campaign that redefines the Black Ops experience. Take on high-stakes challenges across a wide spectrum of environments, from the neon-lit rooftops of Japan to the Mediterranean coast, and even into the deepest corners of the human psyche.
- Multiplayer explodes out of the gate with 16 electrifying 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch. From futuristic Tokyo vistas to the frozen, unforgiving wilds of Alaska, every environment is brimming with danger and opportunity. Master a cutting-edge arsenal and outmaneuver your enemies with a next level Omnimovement system.
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This is not the same change as Multiplayer’s 10% damage penalty. One figure concerns damage in Multiplayer; the other concerns the attachment’s Damage Range penalty in Co-op Campaign and Endgame.
Patch changes by mode
| Mode | Change type | December 16 update |
|---|---|---|
| Multiplayer | Weapon balance and healing | Akita pellet travel corrected; Akita ScorchLink Akimbo gets a 10% damage penalty; Stim Shot healing drops from 160 to 80 HP per second. |
| Zombies | Bug fixes | Fixed the Pack-a-Punched Jäger 45 firing too slowly, along with challenge-progress and reward-feed issues. |
| Dead Ops Arcade 4 | XP and bug fixes | Active Double Level XP now applies correctly; fixes address a Field Upgrade interaction and Ravager damage. |
| Co-op Campaign and Endgame | Weapon balance | Akita ScorchLink Akimbo Damage Range penalty decreases from 60% to 40%. |
What to take from this update
The most consequential distinctions are mode-specific: the Akita attachment’s Multiplayer damage penalty is separate from its Co-op Campaign and Endgame range adjustment, while Dead Ops Arcade 4’s XP fix applies to Double Level XP when active. The full change list is in Treyarch’s December 16 Season 01 patch notes. Activision’s Black Ops 7 support page provides platform context; an earlier report from Insider Gaming also covered the update date and broad changes.
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- CAMPAIGN MODE – Squad up or go solo in an innovative Co-Op Campaign that redefines the Black Ops experience. Take on high-stakes challenges across a wide spectrum of environments, from the neon-lit rooftops of Japan to the Mediterranean coast, and even into the deepest corners of the human psyche.
- MULTIPLAYER MODE – Multiplayer explodes out of the gate with 16 electrifying 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch. From futuristic Tokyo vistas to the frozen, unforgiving wilds of Alaska, every environment is brimming with danger and opportunity. Master a cutting-edge arsenal and outmaneuver your enemies with an evolved Omnimovement system.
- ROUND-BASED ZOMBIES MODE – The nightmare begins where reality ends. Trapped in the heart of the Dark Aether, the crew is thrust into a vast, ever-shifting hellscape. This isn’t just survival. It’s a descent into madness.
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