Traditionally, Activision releases a new installment of Call of Duty annually. However, there were speculations about extending the support for each installment to two years. Despite these rumors, the status quo persists, and this year, the franchise will see the addition of a new title, Black Ops 6, which we are about to discuss.
Where did Black Ops 5 go?
Starting from a distance and approaching the release, many fans were confused about the progression from Black Ops 4 to Black Ops 6. Initially, this installment was intended to be named Black Ops V, but the developers opted to drop the numerical designation as it differs significantly from its predecessors.
“For us, Cold War was Black Ops 5, and there was never a doubt that it was going to be Black Ops 5. For us, Cold War was a complete Call of Duty game, and Black Ops 6 will be next.”
Treyarch
Black Ops 6 Announcement
Rumors have been circulating since February that the next installment would bear the same name as previously speculated, but without any official confirmation, many thought the title would be ‘Gulf War.’ Then, on June 9, a trailer was released officially showcasing the final title and hinting that “the truth lies.”
Additional screenings occurred at the Xbox Games Showcase, where it was revealed that the game would be accessible to all from its release day with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, and to PC gamers through PC Game Pass. Subscribers can queue the game for download to begin as soon as it’s available.
Furthermore, the last 25 minutes of the presentation featured Call of Duty Direct—a developer’s blog that presented a segment from the story campaign, zombies, and numerous new features that will be elaborated on shortly.
Details
Prior to delving into the game’s details, it is essential to highlight certain aspects that will undoubtedly capture the attention of the franchise’s enthusiasts:
- Fans had questions even before the trailer’s release, particularly about the game’s size. Players expect Warzone-related Call of Duty games to occupy a significant amount of disk space, and Black Ops follows suit. The game’s size starts at 300 GB, encompassing all components. However, there’s no need for concern, as individual elements like the campaign, multiplayer, zombies, or battle royale can be discreetly removed if unnecessary. Therefore, once the story is finished, it can be uninstalled to avoid occupying surplus space.
- Activision maintains support for previous-generation consoles, ensuring that the upcoming title will be available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Given that Modern Warfare III (2023) achieved an average of 58 FPS in multiplayer, it is reasonable to expect that Black Ops 6 will offer similar, if not better, performance.
- For game enthusiasts who prefer to buy games outright, it’s important to note that Black Ops 6 is priced at $70 for the Standard Edition and $100 for the Vault Edition. The upgrade to the Vault Edition is an additional $30. The Deluxe Edition encompasses all the Standard Edition offers, along with Mastercraft Skin Packs, a BlackCell version of the initial Battle Pass, and a Gobblegum pack.
Global innovations
There are two significant innovations to note: omniuvation and the highly anticipated full customization of display elements.
Omniuvation is a system tailored for Black Ops 6, enhancing the current game mechanics. It enables players to sprint in any direction, not just forwards. Backward running is also possible. Tackles and dives can be performed anywhere, maximizing player agility. Diving deserves a special mention; instead of a complete 180-degree turn mid-air, players will roll in the aim direction, akin to Max Payne, boosting mobility without losing purpose. The prone position incorporates this technology, allowing you to quickly target enemies behind you.
As for display customization, it’s exactly that. There’s not much more to elaborate on. You can reposition any on-screen element to your preference, even obscure your view with a map, or opt to remove elements entirely. It’s all about personal convenience.
Story Campaign
Moving directly to the game analysis, the narrative of Black Ops 6 serves as a direct sequel to the Black Ops 2 campaign, chronicling historical events from 1991 onwards. There are rumors that the September 11, 2001 events will be depicted in one of the missions. The developers are said to be focusing on the Persian Gulf War, which led many to speculate that the installment would be titled ‘Gulf War’.
The storyline will feature several returning characters, including the infamous Frank Woods, now wheelchair-bound, indicating that the canonical conclusion of Black Ops 2 is the one where Raul Menendez shoots him in the legs. Players will assume the role of Troy Marshal, receiving orders from headquarters as in Cold War. Russell Adler will emerge as the antagonist, following the canonical ending of Cold War where he shoots Bell and turns into a state enemy.
Missions in this segment can be tackled in various manners: aggressively or with stealth, and now there are multiple stealth approaches. The “Casino” mission, extensively showcased at Call of Duty Direct, serves as a prime example. If you choose to charge forward, engaging all enemies, you’re free to do so, save for the juggernaut wielding a minigun who will emerge to greet you. For a stealth approach, you can blend in as a civilian, observing your surroundings, interacting with NPCs, potentially intimidating them, or even bartering with them to reach your goal without discharging your weapon. Alternatively, you can take on the role of an assassin by tapping into the CCTV system, tracking enemies, and silently dispatching them one by one, all while avoiding commotion or drawing attention from civilians. If you begin the mission under the guise of a civilian, nothing stops you from retrieving your weapon from a basement at any moment, thus adopting the assassin’s route. However, once you initiate the mission with a bang, it’s improbable that adversaries will forget who fired upon them, making it impossible to revert to a civilian guise.
The developers have indicated that once the story is complete, players can replay any mission, offering the chance to experiment with different personas. It is anticipated that some missions may only be solvable in a singular manner, but this will only be confirmed following the campaign’s early access release, which is also available for pre-order.
For enthusiasts who have experienced every installment and seek the precise chronology of events, Treyarch has unveiled a timeline:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 – 1989 Missions Only
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
The omission of the 2025 missions from Black Ops 2 is disappointing, particularly because Raul’s demise is widely acknowledged as canonical.
The campaign is shaping up to be engaging and fairly extensive, which is encouraging. Exploring the content and navigating through the various locations will be particularly intriguing with the introduction of the new movement mechanics.
Multiplayer
Multiplayer is a fundamental component of any Call of Duty game. Each installment brings something new or revives an old feature, and Black Ops 6 has done both.
Starting with the features reinstated due to player demand, the classic ScoreStreak system makes a comeback. In this system, accumulating a certain number of points through kills or capturing objectives allows you to call in support like an airstrike or a helicopter. If you fall short and are killed, you must start over. This is reminiscent of the system in Cold War, except there, points did not reset after death, leading to frustration among some players. It allowed even those with minimal kills to eventually access high-end equipment by the match’s midpoint or end.
The classic prestige system is also making a return, having been replaced by a seasonal prestige system since Modern Warfare (2019). This system involves reaching the maximum rank and then resetting it to gain a prestige level and a key, which can be used to unlock a weapon or perk. Upon achieving the highest prestige level, you gain access to the Prestige Master, which requires reaching level 1000.
Theater mode will make a comeback in Black Ops 6, continuing the tradition of allowing players to revisit their matches.
In multiplayer, a notable new feature is the ability to use opponents as human shields. This could serve as an alternative or replacement for executions, as demonstrated during the reveal.
Upon release, players will have access to 16 new multiplayer maps and a 2v2 mode. Additionally, the developers plan to release remastered versions of classic Black Ops maps throughout the game’s seasonal updates, alongside new weapons.
The gunsmith system has been revamped, now offering the option to equip up to 8 attachments per weapon. It remains unclear if this feature requires the use of a wildcard or if it’s a standard option, given that wildcards have been carried over to Black Ops 6 from Cold War.
The perk system, along with wilds, has been carried over but with notable improvements. Now, players can freely choose effects from the same category, and by accumulating three perks of the same class, they will unlock a specialization granting an additional bonus. This enhancement allows for the assembly of more versatile and even unconventional loadouts.
Skins and weapons from Modern Warfare III (2023) will not transfer, similar to the transition from Modern Warfare II (2022). This makes sense as they represent different chapters in separate timelines. Integration will occur exclusively within Warzone. Custom skins will debut in Black Ops 6 at the onset of Season One, with only Vault Edition owners having access until then.
Insiders indicate that the multiplayer beta will commence on August 28 for those who pre-order and on August 30 for all others, continuing until either September 3 or September 5. Game Pass subscribers, treated as having pre-ordered, will also gain early access two days prior.
Zombie
Treyarch has promised that the zombie mode will be as entertaining as possible, drawing similarities to Black Ops 3. The narrative will pick up the dark aether storyline from Cold War, featuring a traditional round-based zombie system. Each map will include a unique boss that players must defeat to complete the level. Additionally, an extraction option will become available every 5-10 waves, providing a means to exit without confronting the boss.
At launch, two maps will be accessible in zombie mode. The first is set on an island in the ocean where players initially spawn, and the second is located somewhere in western Virginia, with details yet to be disclosed. Both maps will feature a Rampage Inducer, borrowed from Cold War, which increases zombie aggression for a set number of waves to accelerate the action.
The workbench feature will make a comeback, enabling players to craft equipment and enhance weapons with armor. Parts will be obtainable from zombies in varying amounts, which is to be expected.
The developers have decided to reintroduce GubbleGum, which offers temporary bonuses distinct from the standard liquid perks. For instance, in Black Ops 3, GubbleGum could teleport players to a random location on the map, grant 8 buffs, bestow a wealth of money, among other effects, adding a layer of excitement and unpredictability to the gameplay. The specific effects in the new installment remain unknown, but they can be secured in advance by pre-ordering the Vault Edition.
Additionally, it has been revealed which of the first three wonder weapons will be featured for decimating zombies. These include the iconic ray gun, indispensable in any zombie confrontation, the Jet-Gun or ‘vacuum cleaner’ from Black Ops 2, which allowed players to soar across the map, and the KT4 from Black Ops 3.
It’s encouraging to see the developers drawing heavily from what many consider the best zombie mode in Black Ops 3. Considering Cold War had only four story maps, and Black Ops 6 is set to launch with several at once, we can anticipate a wealth of content in the upcoming seasons. Perhaps we’ll even see the introduction of a horde mode.
Warzone
The integration of Black Ops 6 with Warzone seems certain, promising an expansion of weapons, perks, and content. Tactical running will become just a perk, replaced by a permanent omnimovement feature. Insiders suggest that Activision is planning to bring back Verdansk in early 2025, responding to long-standing fan requests and following the community’s positive reaction to Fortnite’s original map revival. The launch of a significant new Battle Royale map has been postponed to Fall 2025, while a respawn mode map named Area 99 is expected to debut in an upcoming Black Ops 6 season.
Currently, there are no further details about Warzone, as updates to this mode are typically announced shortly before they go live. However, there is an ongoing pre-order event for the game, offering the Frank Woods character and two skins as rewards for earning 200k experience before Black Ops 6 releases. This can be achieved swiftly, often in just a few revival matches.
Summary of Black Ops 6
Taking everything into account, it’s evident that the new Black Ops game offers ample content for all types of players: a single-player campaign rich in narrative for those who appreciate storytelling, which may feature multiple endings; a competitive multiplayer experience filled with an array of weapons and maps, including a ranked mode expected in a future season; and for those who enjoy cooperative play and solving puzzles, a PvE zombie mode that requires thorough exploration and interaction with characters to completely conquer the map.
A definitive judgment can only be passed after the game’s full release scheduled for October 25. However, players will get a taste of the multiplayer mechanics earlier, on August 28.
