How to play Black Ops 6 beta – Dates, preload & rewards

With Black Ops 6 launching on October 25, CoD fans can try out the multiplayer portion ahead of time through the beta.

There will be a lot to try out across the campaign, Zombies, and multiplayer, with this trial period allowing you to test the new weapons, maps, and movement ahead of launch.

Here’s how to play the Black Ops 6 beta and all the weapons, maps, and modes you’ll get to test.

When is the Black Ops 6 beta? Dates explained

The Black Ops 6 beta will go live again on Friday, September 6, at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST and end on Monday, September 9, at the same time.

While the Early Access beta ran from August 30 until September 4, this second weekend will be open to everyone so you don’t have to pre-order, have Game Pass, or get a code to join in. It’s also the first year that all platforms (Xbox, PlayStation, and PC) can access the beta at the same time, as before, PlayStation players would get access first.

To play you’ll need to download it from the store on your platform of choice. If you have Call of Duty HQ installed, the beta will be an automatic download.

How to preload BO6 beta

If you have the Call of Duty launcher and the Season 5 Reloaded update installed, Black Ops 6’s beta will be an automatic update to your existing install. You’ll have to download it from your platform’s storefront if you don’t already have CoD installed.

Check out the file size for each platform:

Platform	Size (CoD HQ & S5 Reloaded Downloaded)	Size (No CoD HQ)
PS5	34 GB	80 GB
PS4	15 GB	67 GB
Xbox Series X|S	35 GB	75 GB
Xbox One	17 GB	52 GB
Battle.Net	32 GB	74 GB
Steam	32 GB	66 GB
Microsoft Store	29 GB	68 GB

Call of Duty confirmed that “Beta content will be automatically removed during the Season 6 update,” which is due to arrive on September 18.

Open beta updates & fixes

• Level cap raised to 30
• Weapon balancing
• Spawn tuning
• Increased Weapon XP earn rate
• Audio improvements
• Bug fixes + more

Weapon balance and spawns led the discussion around the beta’s first weekend, with almost every player using the Jackal PDW, and many calling out the spawns.

You’ll also be able to level up weapons much faster during the second weekend as Treyarch confirmed it was slower than intended during early access.

Weekend 1 of the #BlackOps6 Open Beta has officially ended!

Thank you for playing and providing your feedback. The action continues Sept. 6 at 10 AM PT in the Open Beta, along with plenty of new content, updates, and fixes, including:

▪️ Level cap raised to 30
▪️ Weapon… pic.twitter.com/xXOsUXvKn3

— Treyarch Studios (@Treyarch) September 4, 2024

Maps & modes

Maps

• Skyline – Core
• Rewind – Core
• Scud – Core
• Derelict – Core
• Gala – Strike
• Pit – Strike
• Babylon – Core (Weekend 2)
• Stakeout – Strike (Weekend 2)

Core maps are your classic 6v6 arenas and Strike maps are smaller battlegrounds, designed for close-quarters combat.

Modes

• Team Deathmatch
• Domination
• Hardpoint
• Kill Order
• Face Off Team Deathmatch
• Face Off Kill Confirmed
• Gunfight (Weekend 2)
• Face Off Kill Order (Weekend 2)

Kill Order is a new game mode that adds a High Value Target to Team Deathmatch. Taking down this special HVT is worth more points.

The first weekend of the beta had six maps and six modes, and two additional maps and modes will arrive with weekend two.

Black Ops 6 beta unlocks for every level

• Level 1
  • Enforcer – Default Loadout
  • Recon – Default Loadout
  • Strategist – Default Loadout
• Level 2
  • Commando – Default Loadout
• Level 3
  • Overwatch – Default Loadout
• Level 4
  • Custom Loadouts
• Level 5
  • Sticky Grenade – Lethal Equipment
  • Gung-Ho – Perk
  • RC-XD – Scorestreak
• Level 6
  • Flashbang – Tactical Equipment
  • Vigilance – Perk
• Level 7
  • AK-74 – Assault Rifle
• Level 8
  • Flak Jacket – Perk
  • Trophy System – Field Upgrade
• Level 9
  • Dispatcher – Perk
  • Thermo Grenade – Lethal Equipment
  • UAV – Scorestreak
• Level 10
  • Jackal PDW – SMG
• Level 11
  • Overkill – Wildcard
  • Double Time – Perk
• Level 12
  • Stim Shot – Tactical Equipment
  • Ghost – Perk
• Level 13
  • 9mm PM – Pistol
• Level 14
  • Dexterity – Perk
  • Neurogas – Field Upgrade
• Level 15
  • Counter UAV – Scorestreak
  • Bankroll – Perk
• Level 16
  • LR 7.62 – Sniper Rifle
• Level 17
  • Bruiser – Perk
  • Prox Alarm – Tactical Equipment
• Level 18
  • Tracker – Perk
  • Acoustic Amp – Field Upgrade
• Level 19
  • Perk Greed – Wildcard
  • Guardian – Perk
• Level 20
  • AMES 85 – Assault Rifle
• Level 21
  • Blast Trap – Lethal Equipment
  • Scavenger – Perk
• Level 22
  • Interceptors – Scorestreak
  • Fast Hands – Perk
• Level 23
  • Cold-Blooded – Perk
• Level 24
  • Combat Axe – Lethal Equipment
  • Tac Mask – Perk
• Level 25
  • DM-10 – Marksman Rifle
• Level 26
  • Gunfighter – Wildcard
  • Forward Intel – Perk
• Level 27
  • Gearhead – Perk
• Level 28
  • Decoy – Tactical Equipment
  • Ninja – Perk
• Level 29
  • Chopper Gunner – Scorestreak
• Level 30
  • Tanto .22 – SMG

While the Early Access Beta only went up to Level 20, the second weekend will let players go all the way to Level 30 and unlock more weapons, Equipment, and Perks.

Keep in mind that none of these gameplay unlocks will carry over to the full game when it launches and you’ll have to unlock them all over again to use them in multiplayer matches.

Beta rewards

You can earn exclusive Weapon Blueprints, Operator skins, and Calling Cards by taking part in the Open Beta. These are all earned by simply playing, earning XP, and leveling up until you hit the cap of Level 30.

These rewards even carry over to the full game and will be waiting for you on launch day, so be sure to check out our guide of all the Black Ops 6 beta rewards and how to get them.

Black Ops 6 launches on Xbox Game Pass on day one as well as last-gen consoles, so make sure you’re up to scratch on the rest of the BO series in the meantime.