Sinistra Sensei

Treyarch Studios has mysteriously pulled Blackheart, a beloved multiplayer map, from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s rotation less than two hours into Season 1. One of the game’s fifteen original launch maps, Blackheart quickly won over players with its well-balanced three-lane layout that gave every weapon type—from Assault Rifles and SMGs to LMGs, Shotguns, and Snipers—a chance to shine. December 4 was a huge day for Call of Duty fans, marking the start of Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 1. The update delivered a slew of new maps, weapons, modes, and Operator bundles, while fully integrating Warzone with Black Ops 7. Now, players can level up weapons and characters across both games, letting anyone who’s been grinding since the game’s November 14 launch bring their upgraded loadouts into Warzone and dive right into the new Resurgence map, Haven’s Hollow. Not long after Season 1 kicked off, Treyarch Studios unexpectedly pulled the Blackheart map from the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 rotation. According to the Call of Duty Updates Twitter account, the map has been temporarily taken out of both Public and Private pools while the studio looks into an issue. There’s no clear timeline for its return, with the statement only mentioning it’ll be back in a future update. Since Season 1 just launched today, December 4, it might be at least a few days before Treyarch is ready to roll out another update. The exact issue isn’t clear, but fans aren’t thrilled about the temporary removal of the Blackheart map. One player called it their “favorite map” and questioned what could be wrong, noting it’s been fine since launching with the game on November 14. Another reacted with, “BRUH HUH?!? One of the best maps?!?” showing clear disappointment. On the bright side, Season 1 is packed with content, giving players plenty of new maps to enjoy while Treyarch sorts out the problem. Since December 4, three fresh maps and a remastered classic have been added, with even more coming in next month’s mid-season update. For now, players can dive into Fate, Utopia, Odysseus, or Standoff, the latter being a remaster from Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. While nothing’s confirmed yet, another remastered map might be coming to Black Ops 7 soon—and this one’s stirring up some debate. A recent leak suggests Stakeout, the polarizing Strike map from last year’s Black Ops 6, could be making a comeback. A data miner reportedly found files listing it as a Black Ops 7 map, even though it’s not currently in the game. Some players hated its tight, close-quarters action, while others loved it for grinding weapons and unlocking camos, so its return wouldn’t be all that shocking.

Ubisoft’s long-rumored Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag remake is reportedly just a few months away. In its latest financial report, the company listed games slated for release before the fiscal year ends on March 31, 2026, leaving one project “unannounced.” According to Insider Gaming, that mystery title is the Black Flag remake, aiming for launch the week of March 23, 2026. While Ubisoft hasn’t officially confirmed the game despite years of leaks, speculation, and hints from its lead actor, fans have been keeping close tabs and think they know what to expect. The remake is said to feature major visual and gameplay upgrades to match Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ quality with a stronger RPG focus, plus brand-new missions for Edward Kenway. However, modern-day gameplay sections are reportedly being cut — a change that’s not sitting well with some fans. Rumor has it that Ubisoft Singapore is leading development on the new Black Flag remake, after previously releasing the long-delayed Skull and Bones, which originally spun off from Black Flag’s naval gameplay. Ubisoft is doubling down on Assassin’s Creed, its flagship series, with this year’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows and a recent Saudi Arabia-funded free update to 2023’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Alongside the Black Flag remake, next year is expected to see a second major Shadows expansion. Further ahead, Ubisoft has confirmed a multiplayer Assassin’s Creed title and its next big project, the witchcraft-themed Assassin’s Creed Hexe. Earlier today, the company credited “strong performance” from the franchise for its positive financial results, noting that Mirage has surpassed 10 million sales, though no update was given on sales for Shadows.

Kazuya Kujou is a foreign student at Saint Marguerite Academy, a luxurious boarding school in the Southern European country of Sauville. Originally from Japan, his jet-black hair and dark brown eyes cause his peers to shun him and give him the nickname "Black Reaper," based on a popular urban legend about the traveler who brings death in the spring. On a day like any other, Kujou visits the school's extravagant library in search of ghost stories. However, his focus soon changes as he becomes curious about a golden strand of hair on the stairs. The steps lead him to a large garden and a beautiful doll-like girl known as Victorique de Blois, whose complex and imaginative foresight allows her to predict their futures, now intertwined. With more mysteries quickly developing—including the appearance of a ghost ship and an alchemist with the power of transmutation—Victorique and Kujou, bound by fate and their unique skills, have no choice but to rely on each other.