Clear your calendars for early October: The Black Ops 7 beta dates have been revealed on the game’s Xbox store listing, and they’re only a couple months away.

The next Call of Duty game is a collaboration between developers Treyarch and Raven Software, and it takes place after Black Ops 2 in the series’ chronology. While the Black Ops games jump around a confusing timeline, Black Ops 7 is a direct sequel to a 13-year-old game.

The game’s beta will focus on classic Call of Duty multiplayer modes and feature a mix of six-versus-six and 20-versus-20 maps. This larger-scale action is reminiscent of the Battlefield series — a longtime competitor that just finished hosting a successful beta of its own.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Call of Duty Black Ops 7 beta, including key dates and how to join the early access period.

Black Ops 7 closed beta date and requirements

If you want to jump into the Black Ops 7 closed beta and try the game before anyone else, you’ll need to shell out some cash. The early access beta begins on Oct. 2.

While access to the closed beta is limited, it’s still more widely available than previous Call of Duty closed betas. Usually, people who preorder the game get special access to the closed beta — this is still true with Call of Duty Black Ops 7. This time around, though, Microsoft is adding another way to play during the early-access beta period.

If you have an active Game Pass subscription, you’ll also be able to join the Black Ops 7 closed beta. Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC and Game Pass Console plans are all valid subscriptions to gain access to the early Black Ops 7 beta.

Game Pass is already the best value gaming subscription plan available, so the Black Ops 7 closed beta access is just another way to sweeten the deal.

Black Ops 7 open beta access

Maybe you don’t want to preorder. Maybe you don’t like gaming subscription services and don’t want to grab Game Pass just for the Black Ops 7 beta. Whatever your reasoning for missing the closed beta may be, you’re not locked out of trying the next Call of Duty game forever.

The Black Ops 7 closed beta rolls directly into the game’s open beta period, during which anyone will be able to try out the new Call of Duty multiplayer experience. Black Ops 7’s open beta begins on Oct. 5. We don’t yet know when the beta period will end, although the minimum duration is two days long, according to the store listing.

The open beta period will allow any interested gamer to try out Black Ops 7 on their console of choice. Call of Duty Black Ops 7 will launch on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S and PC, and will feature cross-platform gameplay. While no official release date has been revealed, leaks point to a mid-November launch.

If you’re still playing the most recent Call of Duty game, Black Ops 6, check out our guide on how to make the most of the game’s double XP. If you’re looking to pick up the game after a long hiatus, learn how The Armory can help you catch up on the content you’ve missed.

The US director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, announced on social media late Monday evening that Apple will not be required to provide an encryption backdoor in the UK, easing concerns about weakened privacy and security safeguards.

Gabbard said the the private data of Americans will be protected after an agreement was apparently worked out with the UK, following prolonged behind-the-scenes maneuvering. 

«Over the past few months, I’ve been working closely with our partners in the UK, alongside @POTUS and @VP, to ensure Americans’ private data remains private and our Constitutional rights and civil liberties are protected,» Gabbard said on X. «As a result, the UK has agreed to drop its mandate for Apple to provide a ‘back door’ that would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens and encroached on our civil liberties.»

Apple did not immediately respond to an email for comment. The company has regularly pushed back hard against government requests that it create a backdoor for law enforcement.

What was the UK asking for?

Originally, the UK demanded that Apple provide a way for the government to access data from iCloud accounts not only for British citizens, but also for citizens of other countries, to assist in criminal investigations.

In response, Apple in February pulled an iCloud feature, Advanced Data Protection, in the UK. At the time, Apple said it was «gravely disappointed» by the actions of the UK’s Home Office, the country’s interior ministry, which is responsible for areas including public safety, cybersecurity and immigration. It’s unclear if the announcement will pave the way for Apple to bring back Advanced Data Protection in the region.

More recent reports suggested the UK was backtracking on its original demands and was looking for a way out. 

A representative for the Department of National Intelligence responded to an email seeking more details about the agreement with a link to Gabbard’s X post and a letter Gabbard sent to US Sen. Ron Wyden and US Rep. Andy Biggs in February saying that her office would examine the issue.