Call of Duty players left stunned at Black Ops 7 graphics regression as Black Ops 2’s Meltdown comparison shows glaring differences

Call of Duty is back to its usual tricks by remastering classic maps from eras gone by, but side-by-side comparisons with 14-year-old wartorn playgrounds leave players shocked by the regression of the Black Ops 7 graphics.

Black Ops 7 Rolls Out More Classic Remasters in Season 1 Reloaded

Black Ops 7 is on track to be one of the best competitive titles we’ve seen in a generation of FPS shooters. A lot of that is down to its it diverse maps.

But that hasn’t stopped the developers from sprinkling in a bit of their old magic tricks.

It’s a tried and tested method of success for the Call of Duty series. Bringing back familiar maps has continued to keep players grounded in the franchise’s glory days, despite varying degrees of gameplay.

As Black Ops 7 rolled around, so did a range of remasters, with the evergreen Raid and Hijacked keeping up their tri-annual streak of revivals.

But it’s another Black Ops 2 staple that is causing a stir this time around.

With Season 1 Reloaded, Black Ops 3’s Fringe has been a revelation as one of the only jetpack-era maps to be revisited, but Meltdown has had the adverse effect, drawing comparisons to old-age Call of Duty graphics.

Taking to social media, players have been revealing the differences between the Black Ops 7 graphics and those from 2012, and it’s a stark contrast.

A $7,000 dollar PC with Black Ops 7 on Max settings vs 14 year old Blacks Ops 2 on a $20 Xbox 360. pic.twitter.com/zeinbnUDcQ

— WhiteBoy7thst 🏴‍☠️ (@Whiteboy7thst) January 13, 2026

Not only is the skyline evidently much more lively in the old game, but the details of the modern-day battleground also show no wear and tear like a typical shooter area should.

With a much more muted and basic approach. Players have now called out the design and wished for a return to the rustic aesthetic.

Black Ops 2’s Meltdown Lives up to Its Name

With the comparison going viral on X (previously Twitter), players took aim at the massive file sizes of the current game that lack visual depth.

“Black Ops 7: 166 GB. Black Ops 2: 16 GB. But Black Ops 2 looks and plays better. Crazy what they did to our game,” one creator wrote.

“13-YEAR difference man… TWO console generations apart. You can have the strongest, most efficient technology ever, but unless you have a clear, passionate vision, it means nothing,” another player added.

“Definition of soulless vs soulful.”

A third added, “Why does almost every map nowadays have the most basic skybox ever lol?”

Meldown isn’t the only high-contrast Black Ops 2 map that is ready to rock and roll again, as rumours suggest that Yemen and Plaza are also returning to the series in Season 2, both notorious for their signature looks in Call of Duty too.

While having little effect on gameplay, in a time where Battlefield and Arc Raiders are applauded for their respective artwork, it’s a shame that the Black Ops 7 graphics opt for such a mundane palette.