What Happens When Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Locks PC Players Out? The TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot Problem Explained

Are Gaming Requirements Getting Too Strict? Why COD and Battlefield Both Need PC Security Changes in 2025

PC gaming just got more complicated. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 won’t let you play unless your computer has two important security features turned on. This means millions of players might need to change their computer settings before they can jump into the game later this year.

Starting with Season 5 in August 2025, both Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone began using these same security rules. Right now, you get a warning message if these features are off. But when Black Ops 7 comes out? That warning becomes a hard stop.

What Are TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot?

TPM 2.0 is like a security guard for your computer. It’s a special chip that makes sure no one messes with your system’s important parts. Think of it as a bouncer at a club – it checks everyone at the door.

Secure Boot works during startup. It only lets trusted programs run when your computer turns on. This stops bad software from loading before your system is fully ready to defend itself.

These two features work together to catch cheaters who try to mess with the game at a very low level. Traditional anti-cheat software can’t always catch these sneaky cheats, so Activision is using hardware-level protection instead.

Why Games Are Making This Change

Gaming companies are tired of losing the cheating battle. Both Activision and EA (which makes Battlefield 6) decided to use the same approach. They’re requiring PC players to enable these Windows security features to play their games.

Here’s what this change does:

• Stops rootkits and viruses from loading during startup
• Makes it much harder for cheat software to work
• Creates a more secure gaming environment for everyone
• Works alongside existing anti-cheat systems like RICOCHET

System Requirements You Need to Know

To play Black Ops 7, your PC must have:

Operating System Requirements

• Windows 10 (version 22H2 or later)
• Windows 11 (any version)

Hardware Requirements

• Intel: 8th generation or newer with Intel PTT enabled
• AMD: Ryzen 2000 series or newer with AMD CPU fTPM enabled
• UEFI boot mode (not Legacy)
• GPT disk partition style (not MBR)

Most Windows 11 computers already have these features turned on by default. Windows 10 users might need to update their BIOS settings.

How to Check and Enable These Features

Checking TPM 2.0

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type “tpm.msc” and hit enter
3. Look for “The TPM is ready for use” under status

Checking Secure Boot

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type “msinfo32” and hit enter
3. Look for “Secure Boot State” – it should say “On“

If either feature is disabled, you’ll need to restart your computer and enter the BIOS to turn them on. The exact steps vary by motherboard, but you’ll typically press F2, F12, or Delete during startup.

What This Means for PC Gamers

This change affects more than just Call of Duty. Battlefield 6 also requires the same security features. Other popular games like Valorant already use similar requirements.

The good news: These features actually make your computer more secure overall. They protect against malware and other threats beyond just game cheats.

The challenging part: Some older PCs might not support TPM 2.0. Players with these systems will need hardware upgrades to continue playing.

Performance concerns: Some gamers worry these features might slow down their systems. However, most modern PCs handle them without noticeable performance drops.

Timeline for Changes

• August 2025: Season 5 begins testing these features in current Call of Duty games
• Currently: Players get warning messages but can still play
• Later in 2025: Black Ops 7 launches with mandatory requirements
• Future games: Expect more titles to follow this trend

This shift represents a major change in PC gaming security. While it might cause short-term frustration for some players, it’s part of a broader effort to create fairer gaming environments. The days of playing AAA shooters without proper system security are coming to an end.