With the completion of the Modern Warfare trilogy, it’s time to shift focus to the Call of Duty timeline, especially as the Black Ops series prepares to make a major comeback. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is slated to pick up where Cold War left off and promises to be the most ambitious installment yet, possibly earning its place as the best Call of Duty game to date. The initial reveals were cryptic, reflecting the game’s themes of truth and deception, but we’ve gathered enough intel to give you a clearer picture of what’s to come.
Release Date and Platforms
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is scheduled to launch on Friday, October 25, 2024. The game will be available on both current and last-gen consoles, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. As a cross-platform multiplayer game, it will bring players from all systems together once again.
Story and Setting
The reveal trailer sets Black Ops 6 in 1991, shortly after the Cold War. Russel Adler’s reappearance in Kuwait sparks a conspiracy involving a group called “The Pantheon,” which has infiltrated the CIA. Players, alongside Adler and new characters Sev and Felix, must go rogue to stop their plans. Fan-favorite Frank Woods returns in a mentoring role, no longer a field agent, guiding the protagonist, Troy Marshall.
Expect a mix of classic Black Ops-style action with diverse missions ranging from high-intensity shootouts to stealth and even non-violent objectives like robbing a casino. The return of the open mission structure, last seen in Modern Warfare 3, allows players to tackle objectives in various ways.
New Gameplay Mechanics
The biggest gameplay innovation in Black Ops 6 is the “Omnimovement” system, which adds new directional movement options, allowing players to sprint even backwards. Sliding, diving, and going prone are smoother and more dynamic. Multiplayer launches with 16 new maps, including 12 for 6v6 game modes and four that can be played as 6v6 or 2v2. The classic Prestige system is also back, offering 10 levels of progression and 1,000 additional levels after reaching Prestige Master.
Players can also fully customize their HUD for the first time, allowing for a more personalized gaming experience.
Zombies Mode
Zombies make a return, diving deeper into the Dark Aether storyline. The action unfolds on two new round-based maps, Terminus and Liberty Falls, featuring characters like Grigori Weaver and new faces like Mackenzie “Mac” Carver. The Zombies mode introduces new weapons, such as the powerful Beamsmasher, and a killstreak called Mutant Injection, which temporarily transforms players into a Mangler. A new Augments system offers ways to upgrade perks and mods.
Preorder Editions
Players can preorder Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 with two available editions:
- Cross-Gen Bundle ($70): Includes the base game, open beta access, and the Woods Operator pack.
- BO6 Vault Edition ($100): Includes everything from the Cross-Gen Bundle plus the Hunters vs. Hunted Operator pack, Mastercraft Collection, one season of BlackCell, and a Zombies GobbleGum pack.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is shaping up to be a must-play, packed with innovative gameplay, thrilling storylines, and exciting multiplayer features. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach its October 2024 release!
Read also: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Initiates Testing of Previously Restricted Weapons in Ranked Play
Source: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
