The Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies community has been buzzing with speculation following the shocking reveal of its first DLC map, Astra Melorum. Fans are eager to know: is this mysterious new map set in New York City, a space station, or somewhere entirely unexpected? Thanks to new leaks and credible insiders, we may finally have some answers.
Shortly after the reveal of Astra Melorum, confusion spread regarding the setting of this Zombies map. The only official image showed a projector and Tesla coil inside a planetarium, with stars being cast across the ceiling. The Latin translation of Astra Melorum means “Stars of Evil,” prompting speculation that the map could take place in space or a space station.
However, renowned Call of Duty leaker TheGhostofHope recently shed light on new details that point in another direction — New York City. According to Hope, Treyarch may have reworked the map from its original concept, pivoting from a space-station design to a planetarium set in post–World War II New York. This aligns with a past leak suggesting a map set in a timeline where Germany won the war and dropped a nuclear bomb on New York.
TheGhostofHope stated that Treyarch “got scared of doing the original idea” and altered the direction of DLC 1. The new version reportedly focuses on a 1940s-era planetarium, possibly inspired by the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. This setting would fit perfectly with the new storyline featuring Dr. Edward Richtofen, who originates from an alternate 1945 universe where the Germans emerged victorious.
Although the change disappointed some fans who loved the space-station concept, Hope mentioned that the original theme might still influence background visuals — such as radiation clouds and zeppelins flying overhead, creating a haunting postwar atmosphere.
While the community debates DLC 1’s setting, TheGhostofHope confirmed some good news — the Japanese temple map with an active volcano is still in development. This map was first mentioned in the March leak by Insider Gaming, which also listed several other locations, including Afghanistan, Vietnam, and a Dark Aether space station.
According to Hope, the volcano map remains unchanged and is “for sure happening.” This confirms that Treyarch is staying true to its plan of exploring each of the Primis characters’ origins through unique DLC maps — from Richtofen’s postwar New York to Takio’s feudal Japan in 1591.
Interestingly, the leaked map settings align perfectly with the characters’ backstories:
If accurate, this could mean that each DLC will revisit a new version of the original Primis crew, each in their own corrupted timeline.
While these leaks should still be taken with a grain of salt, TheGhostofHope’s reliable track record makes them worth paying attention to. If the information holds true, the first Black Ops 7 Zombies DLC will take players to a nuclear New York City planetarium, while future DLCs will transport them to a volcanic Japanese temple and other historical battle zones. In order to maintain your advantage in these new maps, the bo7 bot lobby service provided by U4GM is your best choice, which will help you quickly obtain the weapons and equipment you need at the beginning of the game.
The mystery surrounding the rumored Dark Aether space station continues — could it still appear later as a pivotal part of the Zombies storyline? Only time will tell.
Until Treyarch confirms these details, fans can only speculate, but one thing’s certain — Black Ops 7 Zombies DLC content is shaping up to be some of the most ambitious in the franchise’s history.