Recently, the Call of Duty community has been buzzing over the reveal of the first Zombies DLC map for Black Ops 7, titled Astra Melorum. While the map’s reveal has left fans scratching their heads, questions have arisen about its setting: Is it a futuristic space station, or a reimagined New York City? The confusion deepened following leaked information from a trusted source, leading to some new theories about the map's origins and possible revisions. If you're new to the game, you might consider buying cheap CoD BO7 Bot Lobby access to get a head start. Let’s break it all down.
Initial Leaks and Community Reactions
The first glimpse of the Astra Melorum map came in the form of an image showcasing a projector and a Tesla coil in what appeared to be a planetarium. This image, coupled with the map’s Latin name, Stars of Evil, led many to speculate that the map could be set in space. Speculation grew when a leak from Insider Gaming back in March detailed several future Zombies maps, including one set on a space station and another in a post-World War II New York City, following an alternate history where Nazi Germany won the war.
The space station theory seemed to make sense, given the references to stars and celestial imagery. However, some fans pointed out that the planetarium setting could also be tied to the New York City map, especially since the map was rumored to be set in the 1940s, aligning with Dr. Edward Richtofen’s alternate universe backstory.
The Hayden Planetarium Theory
A popular theory circulating the community involved the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. A Reddit user named Cle shared images of the planetarium from the 1940s, suggesting that the location might be the key to the New York City setting. The theory was further fueled by Richtofen's character description, which hints at his involvement in an alternate timeline where the Nazis triumphed in World War II. This, combined with the leak of a post-WWII New York setting, seemed to point toward the Hayden Planetarium as the likely location for the map.
TheGhostOfHope Weighs In
Renowned Call of Duty leaker TheGhostOfHope added fuel to the fire by commenting on the discussion. According to Hope, who is known for his accurate leaks, the map originally had a different concept that was scrapped in favor of something closer to the planetarium theory. He claimed that Treyarch “got scared” of the initial idea and pivoted toward a 1940s planetarium set in a post-apocalyptic New York City, influenced by the earlier leaked concept.
Hope also pointed out that the original leak sounded more like a traditional alternate history map with heavy Wolfenstein-like influences, but it seems Treyarch has opted for a less direct approach. He suggested that the map might feature some environmental elements—like radiation and zeppelins flying overhead—that would still give it a unique personality, even if it no longer follows the initial “dark” tone.
A More Refined Vision for the New York City Map?
Despite this shift in direction, TheGhostOfHope emphasized that the New York map, though reworked, could still feature the atmosphere and personality of the original leak. If this theory holds, the map might combine historical elements, such as the remnants of a nuclear New York, with more fantastical elements like the planetarium and advanced technology. It’s a shift in approach, but it still leans into the alternate history theme hinted at by earlier leaks.
The Japanese Temple and Other Leaked DLC Maps
In addition to discussing the New York map, Hope also addressed another highly anticipated map: the Ancient Japanese Temple with an active volcano. According to Hope, this map is still in development and will definitely be released, which matches a previous leak that placed this map in a DLC slot. The temple map would likely tie into Takeo Masaki’s backstory, set in 1591 Feudal Japan, aligning well with the character's origin. The Japanese temple is one of the most anticipated DLC maps and seems to be staying true to its original design.
Beyond these two, there are other leaked locations, including maps set in Afghanistan and Vietnam. These settings align with the origins of Nikolai and Dempsey, respectively, and could represent future DLC maps as well. The community is eagerly awaiting confirmation on when each of these maps will drop, with DLC 1 seemingly focusing on New York City.
What About the Space Station?
One of the most intriguing aspects of this leak is the idea of a Dark Ether Space Station map. The original leak suggested that this map would be a key part of the game’s story, serving as a base from which players would explore different worlds and timelines. Some theories still suggest that the Astra Melorum map could be the base for this interdimensional journey, though if the New York map turns out to be DLC 1, the space station theory becomes less likely for this particular DLC.
Conclusion: What Does This All Mean?
While the leaked information is certainly exciting, it’s important to remember that these are still just rumors and leaks. Until Treyarch officially confirms these details, there’s a lot of room for speculation. However, based on the trusted sources and the patterns emerging from the leaks, it seems likely that Astra Melorum will be a post-World War II New York City map set in a planetarium, with a reworked storyline to fit the broader Black Ops 7 Zombies narrative.
Fans of the series are hopeful that the Japanese temple and other maps will follow soon after, offering a variety of settings and historical periods for the new Primis crew. In any case, Black Ops 7 is shaping up to offer some wild new experiences for Zombies fans, and the wait for confirmation only adds to the excitement.
