The core narrative and Zombies mode remain grounded in classic Black Ops action without activist framing. The primary progressive element is the multiplayer operator Volta Rossi, explicitly the series' first non-binary character using they/them pronouns in descriptions and portrayed by non-binary actor Kimber London, who publicly emphasized the representation and responded to criticism.

Campaign and operator rosters include diverse casting such as female assassin Sevati Dumas and various ethnic backgrounds, but these appear as standard modern inclusions rather than forced swaps or thematic drivers. Audience pushback focused on the non-binary operator as overt messaging, though it remains peripheral to the game's premise and does not alter gameplay or story structure.