The Call of Duty League (CDL) has officially unveiled a brand-new pre-season event: the Monster Energy Launch Invitational, a $75,000 Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 tournament that brings together top professional and amateur teams for the first time.
Set to take place from November 22–23, 2025, the event marks the CDL’s first-ever pre-season invitational featuring all 12 CDL franchises alongside four Challengers teams, offering fans an early taste of Black Ops 7 esports action before the official season begins in December.
A 16-Team Lineup Bridges Pros and Amateurs
In addition to the CDL’s franchise teams, the invitational will include four high-performing amateur squads—OMiT, Team WaR, tBush Gaming, and Stallions—rounding out a 16-team bracket. Their inclusion continues the league’s recent push to spotlight rising talent and strengthen the competitive ecosystem between pros and Challengers.
This tournament also expands the total number of CDL-sanctioned events to six for the Black Ops 7 season. The upcoming year will feature four Majors across Europe and North America, followed by the CDL Championship in July.
Monster Energy Extends Its Commitment to Call of Duty Esports
Monster Energy continues to strengthen its presence within Call of Duty esports. The 2026 season will be the third consecutive year the brand has partnered with the CDL, following its entry into the league in 2023.
The event also brings a major broadcast update. The Monster Energy Launch Invitational will be the first official Black Ops 7 tournament streamed across both YouTube and Twitch. Last season, all CDL matches aired exclusively on YouTube, making this shift a notable change for viewers.
More Invitationals Enter the Scene
The Launch Invitational isn’t the only Black Ops 7 event fans can look forward to. Invitational tournaments are becoming a key way to build momentum and engagement ahead of CDL competition.
Just days before the CDL event, popular esports show The Flank will host its own invitational on November 18th, featuring randomly selected teams competing for a $20,000 prize pool. While smaller in scale, it adds another layer of hype leading into the new title’s competitive cycle.
With the season quickly approaching, the Monster Energy Launch Invitational serves as an exciting preview of what Call of Duty esports fans can expect from the Black Ops 7 era—fresh talent, familiar rivalries, and a packed calendar of competition.
