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Call of Duty fans have something big to look forward to this week, as Activision has officially brought back the Race to Prestige to celebrate the launch of Call of Duty Black Ops 7. Starting tomorrow at 3 AM PT, players and creators from around the world will begin a full sprint to reach Prestige Master, marking another year of high-energy competition that always arrives with a fresh COD release.

The Race Returns for Black Ops 7

The Race to Prestige has become a launch tradition for the Call of Duty series, giving the community a fun, competitive way to dive into each new title. For Black Ops 7, the stakes are set even higher. A massive lineup of 25 teams is aiming to hit Level 1000 as fast as possible, with Call of Duty’s social channels providing daily updates on rankings and progress.

Fans can expect to see a wide mix of squads in the running, including:

Punkill Race
Monsters
Aviões do COD
Team Mariale
Piperno
JCKingz Team
CZBR
Teamos Brasileirinhos
Noctis
MX Esports Brasil
Begamers
EU Baddies XO
Matrix Squad
Istigghilul
A Rippers Team
Marvel
Nuke Squad
Vegas Inferno
Project Reset
Cup of Robots
Mroaft x Legion Lan
Team Fenix
GoonOps67
Ranked Play Grinders
Team Swishe
MTD

It is a truly global roster, with creators from Brazil, Mexico, Europe, and the United States all racing for the top spot.

What Players Are Racing Toward

Black Ops 7 includes ten Prestige levels to complete before players can begin the climb toward the coveted Prestige Master. It is a lengthy grind, but the race to be the first adds extra excitement to the early days of the game.

The event also helps kickstart the multiplayer scene, especially since this year’s title holds extra nostalgia value. Black Ops 7 is a direct sequel to Black Ops 2, returning players to a world that shaped much of Call of Duty’s competitive history. Black Ops 2 was responsible for the rise of League Play and the original CoDCaster system, both of which helped push COD esports into the mainstream.

A Big Year Ahead for Black Ops 7 Esports

Although the Race to Prestige is front and centre at launch, the esports calendar for Black Ops 7 is already stacked.

In October, the Call of Duty League revealed the event locations for the 2026 season. For the first time in five years, the CDL will head back to the United Kingdom, hosting a Major at DreamHack Birmingham from 27 to 29 March 2026. Four Majors and the CDL Championship are on the way, marking one of the biggest competitive years in recent memory.

Black Ops 7 has also secured a spot as one of the first 20 featured titles for the Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This tournament sits outside the regular CDL season, giving players and organisations another high-profile event to compete in.

A Launch Filled With Competition and Community

The Race to Prestige adds a fun, community-driven competition to the launch of Black Ops 7, bringing fans together to watch their favourite creators race through levels with barely any sleep. With daily progress updates, global teams, and a year of esports already locked in, Black Ops 7 is lining up for a massive competitive run.

Whether you are grinding levels yourself or watching teams push to Prestige Master, this year’s race is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet.