Black Ops 7's Astra Malorum has just been cancelled

Spoilers ahead for Astra Malorum's main quest.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is only a few weeks old, but it's already received its first full-fledged post-launch map. In addition to the Diner Survival map (and Cosmodrome coming mid-season), players can take on the undead on a skull-shaped asteroid with a breathable atmosphere. And while this gorgeous map is on the smaller side, especially compared to the gigantic Ashed of the Damned, Astra Malorum hides an epic secret in its main quest. Much like players traveled between Earth and outer space in BO1 Zombies map the Moon, they get to leave Astra Malorum and visit a segment of Mars in the new experience.

This is hardly the only interesting quest-related content on the map, as there is a side easter egg where players can trigger some special music. However, this is separate from the main hidden song Easter egg, as players will not hear a new Avenged Sevenfold track after completing the gramophone mission. Instead, after finding discs around the map and inserting them into the old music player, they will hear the theme composed for Black Ops 4s Alpha Omega map. This lends weight to the idea that this map will get a remake in a future season of Black Ops 7but given that it was reputable Cod insider @TheGhostOfHope who leaked Alpha Omega's return, players were already convinced that this remake was coming. As such, it's more interesting to theorize about the Mars mode from Astra, as it would make a perfect survival arena.

Whenever Alpha Omega returns Black Ops 7players will also apparently get access to the classic Nuketown Zombies map as a survival experience, potentially as the seasonal content of that particular drop.

Astra Malorum's Mars area may be something more

How to solve the Mars Pillars puzzle in Astra Malorum (all symbols) - Black Ops 7

While it's certainly true that the Mars segment of Astra Malorum's main quest could remain exclusive to that Easter Egg, it would feel like a missed opportunity not to make it a stand-alone experience. Treyarch will run out of Ashes Survival maps sooner rather than later, as the game will only be missing Blackwater, Ashwood, and Janus Towers maps once Season 1 is complete. Even if Treyarch moves to a survival map per season going forward, they'll still have a couple of seasons of slots to fill, making the addition of Mars seem like a no-brainer.

Going to Mars during Astra Malorum's main mission created a mind-blowing surprise that enthralled Cod Zombies fan base, so the location will naturally have some extra meaning for many fans of the mode. Beyond that, the Mars arena is perfect for a survival map. Yes, it's small, but that's how it was Black Ops 2s bus depot area. There's enough room for a Wunderfizz machine and Pack-a-Punch, as well as room for a few players to train the undead (or find a corner to camp in), and small maps like Nacht Der Untoten or even Groesten Haus from WW2 have a certain charm about them. Add in the fact that Treyarch spent time creating special models for zombies in the Mars area, as well as Shangri-La-like temples, and it would be a shame to see Mars limited to a mission that casual players will never experience.

If two survival maps a season is going to be the norm, the fastest a Mars map could happen is the back half of season 3.

Alpha Omega's comeback will live or die by one thing

As for the second coming of Alpha Omega, now officially teased by Treyarch, it's impossible to ignore the community's initial response to hearing it would be back. Almost immediately, the community collectively asked the question of “why”, as Treyarch chooses to bring back a split BO4 map of beloved classics such as Shadows of Evil, IX and Der Eisendrache. Perhaps there will be a narrative reason to return to the Broken Arrow facility, but given how Alpha Omega was an acquired taste, the community's concern is understandable. But perhaps there is more to this strange inclusion than meets the eye.

While a simple remaster would certainly be a headscratcher, perhaps Treyarch will instead create an Alpha Omega successor as opposed to a simple copycat. Much like Ashes of the Damned is a follow-up to TranZit, by reusing ideas from that cult classic to make a really good map, a brand new map that borrows some elements from Alpha Omega could prove to be more fun than the original. Maybe it will just bring back Rushmore and Avogadro, with a brand new underground facility or rebuilt ground level that has changed buildings and map boundaries. If Treyarch leverages Dark Aether to completely reimagine Alpha Omega, both mechanically and aesthetically, it would be a much easier sell. Still, with some players tired of all versions of Nuketown, hopefully more original locations – like the potential Mars Survival map – will continue to be added.