Guide

Will Black Ops 7 Be on Game Pass? Plus Cheap Co-op Picks

Black Ops 7 is on Game Pass day one (Ultimate and PC). Here is the fast answer, the tier you need, and 16 cheap action and co-op games to play around it.

AlexUpdated June 25, 202611 min read

Short answer first: yes. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 went straight onto Game Pass on day one, so if you are subscribed to the right tier you can play it without buying it outright. Below it you will find a full, honest list of action and co-op games to pair with it, from cheap zombie grinders to couch chaos.

Last updated: June 25, 2026. Prices checked: June 2026. Sources: Steam, Epic, publisher pages and partner stores. We refresh prices and sale notes regularly.

💡 Key takeaway
Will Black Ops 7 be on Game Pass? It already is. The latest Call of Duty entry launched on November 14, and like its predecessor, Black Ops 7 is a day-one Xbox Game Pass title, available on two tiers of the service: PC and Ultimate. The catch is the tier. Yes, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is on Xbox Game Pass, however you'll need the top-tier Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (or PC Game Pass) to play, Game Pass Essential and Premium members won't have access at launch. If you would rather own it forever or play on PlayStation, you buy the standalone version instead. Want the most game per dollar around it? Skip down to the cheap co-op list.

The Game Pass answer, fast

  • Is it on Game Pass? Yes, and it has been since launch. On November 14, two versions of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 became available on Xbox Game Pass, for PC and Ultimate subscribers.
  • Which tiers? Ultimate and PC Game Pass only at launch. Essential and Premium are out for now.
  • Will Premium get it? Possibly later. Microsoft previously promised that all Xbox-published titles would reach the Premium tier within a year of their debut on Ultimate and PC, so Black Ops 7 may become available on Premium.
  • What does Ultimate cost? In October 2025, Microsoft revamped Xbox Game Pass, raising the Ultimate subscription price to $29.99 per month.
  • Cloud option? It is also available on select cloud gaming platforms, including GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming.
  • Prefer to own it? Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC (Xbox app, Steam, Battle.net), PS5, and PS4 for $69.99. PlayStation players do not get a Game Pass route, so buying is the move there.
✅ Tip
A single month of Ultimate ($29.99) is cheaper than the $69.99 standalone if you mainly want the campaign and a few weeks of multiplayer. Subscribe, play, cancel. You only "buy" Black Ops 7 if you plan to live in Zombies for a year.
⚠️ Heads up
On PC, Black Ops 7 has a strict gate. Black Ops 7's Windows version requires players to enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot on their system in order to play; Activision stated that the requirement is in place to provide the strongest safeguard possible against cheaters. Check your BIOS before you commit a Game Pass month.

Best picks at a glance

Quick category winners if you want great action and co-op around Black Ops 7, most of them far cheaper than a full COD.

Quick list

Sixteen action, co-op and solo picks worth owning around Black Ops 7. Prices are typical June 2026 figures and they move on sale, so confirm on our catalog.

GameBest forPlayersPlatformsEntry costWhy pick it
Call of Duty: Black Ops IIICo-op Zombies1-4PC, PlayStation, Xbox~$10-20The Zombies high point of the series, cheap now
Call of Duty: Black OpsCampaign nostalgia1-4PC, PlayStation, Xbox~$15-20Original Black Ops story plus classic Zombies maps
Borderlands: Game of the Year EnhancedCheap looter co-op1-4PC, PlayStation, Xbox~$8-30All DLC, drop-in co-op, endless guns
Borderlands: Game of the YearBudget looter1-4PC, PlayStation, Xbox~$5-10The original package when it dips cheapest
BlackwakeBig crewed battles1-8+PC~$15Ship-to-ship mayhem, best with a full crew
Stick Fight: The GameCouch party2-4PC, PlayStation, Switch~$5Physics brawler that ends friendships
Duck GameQuick rounds2-4PC, PlayStation, Switch~$3-13Fast, silly, instantly readable
Black DesertOnline grind1-8+PC, PlayStation, XboxFree-$10Gorgeous combat, deep MMO systems
Black Myth: WukongPremium solo action1PC, PlayStation, Xbox~$50-60Best-in-class spectacle action RPG
Ori and the Will of the WispsPlatforming1PC, Xbox, Switch~$10-30Gorgeous, tight, emotional metroidvania
Black MesaFPS classic1PC~$5-20Half-Life rebuilt, a genre cornerstone
Assassin's Creed IV Black FlagOpen-world pirates1PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch~$5-20Sailing, boarding, the best AC for many
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion GOTYOld-school RPG1PC, PlayStation, Xbox~$10-15Huge, weird, still endlessly moddable
Game Dev TycoonSim chill1PC, Switch~$8Build a studio, lose an afternoon
Sultan's GameDark strategy1PC~$13Tense decision-driven roguelike
There Is No Game: Wrong DimensionClever puzzle1PC, Switch~$3-13A puzzle box that mocks puzzle boxes

Best co-op shooters around Black Ops 7

If Black Ops 7 is your Game Pass main course, these are the side dishes for squad nights. Every game here actually supports playing together.

  • Call of Duty: Black Ops III is the obvious companion. Many fans rate its round-based Zombies as the franchise peak, and at current prices it costs a fraction of a new COD. Round it up for 1-4 players who want the classic "survive the horde" loop without paying full price.
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops, the 2010 original, is worth a look for the campaign and the foundational Zombies maps. It is dated, but the atmosphere holds up.
  • Borderlands: Game of the Year Enhanced is the value king of co-op shooters: base game, all add-ons and drop-in co-op for 1-4, very cheap on sale. The original Borderlands: Game of the Year edition is fine if it lands lower.
Pros
  • Cheap entry compared with a $69.99 new release
  • Drop-in, drop-out friendly for most of these
  • Great for filling the gaps between Black Ops 7 seasons
Cons
  • Older matchmaking can mean quiet lobbies at off-peak hours
  • No cross-progression with Black Ops 7

Best for 2 players

Two-player nights do not need a battle royale. These are tight, repeatable and easy to pitch to a friend.

  • Duck Game is the fastest fun here. One hit kills, rounds last seconds, and a 2-4 session disappears in laughter. Costs about a coffee on sale.
  • Stick Fight: The Game is the physics brawler equivalent. Two players, a pile of silly weapons and ragdoll chaos. It runs on almost anything, including a Steam Deck.

Best for big groups (5+)

When the whole group shows up, you need a game built for a crowd.

  • Blackwake is the standout. Crew a tall ship, load cannons, repair hull breaches and board the enemy. It shines with a full roster (1-8+ on a side). Population can be thin off-peak, the honest trade-off.
  • Black Desert covers the persistent-world crowd. It is an MMO, so "group size" really means "as many friends as you can drag online." Combat is genuinely fun to watch and play, and the entry cost is often free during promos.

Best couch and local picks

Same room, same screen, zero patience required.

Best cross-platform value

If your group is split across PC, console and Switch, lean on games that show up everywhere and stay cheap.

  • Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag is the easy winner. It runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch, and it is one of the most beloved open-world games Ubisoft has made. Sailing the Caribbean still beats most modern pirate sims.
  • The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion GOTY spreads across PC, PlayStation and Xbox and remains a generous time sink. It is single-player, so it sits here for reach and value rather than squad play.
  • Black Myth: Wukong is the premium showpiece on PC, PlayStation and Xbox. It is the one game on this list worth paying near full price for, if jaw-dropping solo action is your thing. For more like it, see our action hub and RPG hub.
Typical sale entry cost (USD)
Duck Game
3
Stick Fight
5
Black Ops III
12
Borderlands GOTY Enhanced
8
Black Ops 7 (standalone)
69

Honourable / adjacent picks

Great games that touch the action or co-op theme loosely. None of these are core squad picks, and here is the one-line reason for each.

  • Black Mesa: essential FPS history (the fan remake of Half-Life), but single-player only, so it is a solo cornerstone rather than a co-op night. Pair it with our horror hub for the Xen vibes.
  • Game Dev Tycoon: a cozy management sim. It fits "play around Black Ops 7" only as the calm-down game after a sweaty match.
  • Sultan's Game: a tense, story-driven strategy roguelike. Adjacent to action in mood, not mechanics, and strictly solo.
  • There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension: a brilliant comedy puzzle box. Here because it is one of the best cheap palate cleansers around, see more in our indie hub.

FAQ

Will Black Ops 7 be on Game Pass? Yes. It is already there and has been since launch. Black Ops 7 is available at launch on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. You just need one of those two tiers.

Do I need Game Pass Ultimate, or will a cheaper tier work? You need Ultimate or PC Game Pass. You'll need the top-tier Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (or PC Game Pass) to play, Game Pass Essential and Premium members won't have access at launch.

Is Black Ops 7 on PlayStation Game Pass or PS Plus? No. Game Pass is an Xbox and PC service. Black Ops 7 was released on November 14, 2025, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, but on PlayStation you buy it rather than stream it from a subscription.

Is buying Black Ops 7 cheaper than Game Pass long term? It depends on how long you play. One month of Ultimate at $29.99 is well under the $69.99 box price, so for a short multiplayer burst you subscribe and cancel. For a full year of Zombies, owning can work out cheaper. Compare live prices on our deals page.

Can I play Black Ops 7 without a powerful PC? Yes, via cloud. Players with limited storage can also play via Xbox Cloud Gaming, which has recently expanded to all tiers except PC. It also streams through GeForce Now. Note the PC download itself is large, the PC version is about 116 GB, while console versions are slightly smaller.

Does Black Ops 7 have co-op like the old games? Yes. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 features a solo campaign and squad-based co-op, 16 maps for the classic 6v6 multiplayer mode, two large-scale 20v20 battlegrounds, and the largest Zombies map in the series, Ashes of the Damned. If you want more co-op for less, the Black Ops III and Borderlands picks above are the cheap fillers.

Is Black Ops 7 actually good? Reception was split. Critics praised the multiplayer and Zombies modes, but were mixed on the co-op campaign, and player reception was negative, with the game subject to review bombing on Metacritic, with criticism for the campaign and the use of generative artificial intelligence for in-game assets. That is a strong argument for trying it on Game Pass before you spend $69.99.

Will future Call of Duty games stay on Game Pass? That is the pattern Microsoft has set. The latest Xbox Game Pass revamp saw Microsoft commit to delivering more than 75 day-one releases to the service's Ultimate tier per year. Nothing is guaranteed past announced titles, but day-one COD on Game Pass looks here to stay.

The bottom line

Will Black Ops 7 be on Game Pass? Yes, on Ultimate and PC Game Pass, day one and still there in 2026. Subscribe for a month for a taste, buy it if you plan to live in Zombies, and pad out the rest with cheap co-op like Black Ops III, Borderlands and Duck Game. Check live prices first so you do not overpay.

Browse the full price-comparison catalog, grab today's deals, watch the next Steam sale, and snag a freebie from our giveaways.

Alex, Scout Team

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