Black Ops 6 release date, preload, Zombies & everything you need to know
ActivisionBlack Ops 6 is almost here, so take a look at what you need to know about the next entry in the Black Ops series, including the developers, platforms, and more.
After back-to-back years in the Modern Warfare universe with MW2 and MW3, we’re returning to Black Ops in 2024. This sub-series is one of the most beloved among CoD fans, and this next entry is looking to take the franchise forward in a number of ways.
Here’s everything we know about Black Ops 6.
CoD: Black Ops 6 release date & times
The release date for Black Ops 6 is October 25, 2024. It goes live at midnight in your region if you’re playing on PlayStation, Xbox, or buying it from the Microsoft Store on PC, while Battle.net and Steam players will have to wait until the following times:
Battle.net & Steam
- Los Angeles: 9 PM PDT (October 24)
- Mexico City: 10 PM CST (October 24)
- Toronto: Midnight EDT (October 25)
- New York: Midnight EDT (October 25)
- Sao Paulo: 1 AM BRT (October 25)
- London: 6 AM BST (October 25)
- Paris: 6 AM CET (October 25)
- Johannesburg: 6 AM SAST (October 25)
- Helsinki: 7 AM EET (October 25)
- Riyadh: 7 AM AST (October 25)
- Dubai: 8 AM GST (October 25)
- Seoul: 1 PM KST (October 25)
- Tokyo: 1 PM JST (October 25)
- Sydney: 3 PM AEDT (October 25)
- Auckland: 5 PM NZDT (October 25)
Pre-orders are available for the upcoming Call of Duty title, so take a look at all the editions and prices.
All Black Ops 6 platforms
Black Ops 6 is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam and Battle.net).
Every console edition of Black Ops 6 comes with cross-gen compatibility for past-gen players who are looking to upgrade their console.
ActivisionHow to preload
You can begin preloading Black Ops 6 from Monday, October 21, at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM BST, so here’s how to do it on each platform:
PlayStation
- When preloading is available, go to the Call of Duty app on your console.
- Press the ‘Options’ button.
- Select ‘Manage Game Content.’
- Scroll to Black Ops 6.
- Hit ‘Install.’
Xbox
- Find the Call of Duty app on your home screen.
- Press the Start button.
- Select ‘Manage Game & Add-Ons.’
- Find Black Ops 6.
- Select the files you want to preload and hit ‘Install.’
PC
Steam
- Go into your library and find the Call of Duty app.
- Select ‘Settings.’
- Click on ‘Properties.’
- Then click ‘DLC.’
- Tick the Black Ops 6 files you need.
- Start the install.
Battle.net
- Find Call of Duty.
- Click on ‘Settings.’
- From the drop-down menu, select ‘Modify Install.’
- Head into ‘Content.’
- Select ‘Modify Install’ again.
- Pick the Black Ops 6 files you want to install.
- Press ‘Start Update’ to start downloading.
Black Ops 6 developer
It’s confirmed that Treyarch and Raven Software co-developed Black Ops 6, as they officially shared via an X post, with Raven focusing on the game’s campaign.
Campaign details
Black Ops 6 is set in 1991 during the Gulf War, as confirmed by the devs during the reveal event on June 9. Frank Woods will feature heavily in the campaign, alongside his protege Troy Marshall.
An official description for BO6 explains the setting and time period of the campaign: “While the Gulf War commands the global spotlight, a shadowy clandestine force has infiltrated the highest levels of the CIA, branding anyone who resists as traitors. Exiled from their agency and country that once hailed them as heroes, Black Ops veteran Frank Woods and his team find themselves hunted by the military machine that created them.”
Black Ops 6 follows the events that occurred in Black Ops Cold War, and the world is directly tied to the flashbacks in Black Ops 2.
Will MW3 content carry forward to BO6?
No, Modern Warfare 3 weapons, skins, camos, and other content will not carry over to Black Ops 6.
Black Ops 6 multiplayer will be a brand-new experience with no carry-forward content from previous titles. However, Warzone will feature content from MW2, MW3, and BO6.
New & returning multiplayer features in Black Ops 6
Take a look at some of the major new and returning features that are coming to Black Ops 6:
Classic Prestige system returns
The Classic Prestige system is returning in Black Ops 6, allowing players to show off their unique badges for each Prestige. BO6 will feature ten prestige with 55 military ranks each.
It’ll be up to players to decide whether to embark on the prestige grind or not.
UI changes
The devs have implemented several UI changes to Black Ops 6 after players had countless complaints about the UI in MW2 and MW3. One of the major changes is allowing players the ability to edit their HUD in the game.
Maps
Black Ops 6 will feature 16 new maps at launch. 12 of those maps will be 6v6 battlegrounds of various sizes, while the other four will be smaller Strike maps.
In addition, the devs have confirmed that the “classic three-lane design” is back to “keep the action flowing.”
Loadouts
Black Ops 6 loadouts will feature a Primary weapon, a Secondary weapon, and a Melee weapon. Players will also need to select three Perks as part of their loadouts.
In terms of weapon attachments, guns in BO6 will feature five attachments that can rise up to eight with a Wildcard.
What is Omnimovement in BO6?
BO6’s Omnimovement movement will allow players to slide, dive, and sprint in any direction. This new feature will give players more options than ever when it comes to finessing enemies.
Black Ops 6 weapons
We got our first look at the new lineup of weapons during the BO6 beta, so check out every confirmed gun below:
- XM4 (Assault Rifle)
- AK-47 (Assault Rifle)
- AMES 85 (Assault Rifle)
- C9 (SMG)
- Jackal PDW (SMG)
- Tanto .22 (SMG)
- Marine SP (Shotgun)
- XMG (LMG)
- SWAT 5.56 (Marksman Rifle)
- DM-10 (Marksman Rifle)
- SVD (Sniper Rifle)
- KR 7.62 (Sniper Rifle)
- Knife (Melee)
- CIGMA 2B (Launcher)
The beta featured only a fraction of the guns that will appear in the full game, so this list is set to get much bigger come October 25.
Equipment, Perks & Scorestreaks
Perks
| Perk 1 | Description |
|---|---|
| Assassin | Enemies on a kill streak get a unique minimap marker and drop Bounty Packs when killed. Pick up the Packs for more score. |
| Scavenger | Resupply ammo and equipment from killed enemies. |
| Bruiser | Melee kills and finishing moves replenish health and earn extra score. |
| Ninja | Move more quietly. |
| Ghost | Undetectable by enemy Radar Ping and UAV when moving, planting, defusing, or controlling Scorestreaks. Undetectable by Prox Alarm. |
| Flak Jacket | Reduces incoming explosive and fire damage. |
| Tac Mask | Resistance to enemy flash and concussion grenades and enemy neuro gas. |
| Perk 2 | Description |
|---|---|
| Dexterity | Reduced weapon motion while jumping, sliding, and diving. Take less fall damage. |
| Gung-Ho | Reduced movement penalties when reloading or using equipment. Reload while Tac Sprinting. |
| Tracker | See enemy footsteps, ADSing auto-pings enemies. Long cooldown. |
| Engineer | See enemy equipment and scorestreaks through walls and enemy scorestreak icons on the minimap. |
| Forward Intel | Increases minimap area and shows direction indicators for revealed enemies. |
| Dispatcher | Reduced score cost for non-lethal Scorestreaks. Stacks with Bankroll. |
| Fast Hands | Swap weapons faster and extend focus when throwing back grenades. |
| Perk 3 | Description |
|---|---|
| Double Time | Greatly increased duration of Tac Sprint. |
| Bankroll | Start each life with +150 score toward Scorestreaks. |
| Vigilance | Display a HUD icon whenever you appear on enemy minimaps. Immune to CUAV and Scrambler. Immune to Sleeper Agent. |
| Cold-Blooded | Undetectable by AI targeting and thermal optics. Player-controlled Scorestreaks don’t highlight you. Immune to Spy Cam. |
| Quartermaster | Recharge equipment over time. |
| Gearhead | 2 Field Upgrade charges. Increased Field Upgrade charge rate. Hack enemy equipment and field upgrades. Booby trap Care Packages. |
| Guardian | Faster healing while capturing and holding objectives. Revive downed teammates faster. |
Equipment & Field Upgrades
| Lethals | Description |
|---|---|
| Frag | Cookable fragmentation grenade |
| Sticky Grenade | Reliable sticky grenade with a timed fuse |
| Thermo Grenade | Creates a large fuel-air cloud that explodes after a duration |
| Blast Trap | Planted explosive device detonates when enemies come near. Clever enemies can creep past the Blast Trap to prevent detonation |
| Combat Axe | Thrown axe that kills enemies in one hit. Bounces off surfaces |
| Tacticals | Description |
|---|---|
| Concussion | Grenade that slows victim’s movement and aiming |
| Flashbang | Grenade that blinds targets for a duration |
| Stim Shot | Combat stim that heals wounds and refreshes Tactical Sprint |
| Prox Alarm | Set of two sticky alarms that ring and flash when an enemy is nearby. Tripped alarms show on allied minimaps |
| Decoy | Grenade that simulates footsteps and gunfire sounds to confuse enemies. Sticks to surfaces |
| Equipment | Leaked description |
|---|---|
| Assault Pack | Deploy a box of extra ammo and equipment to resupply your team |
| Trophy System | Deployable defense system that destroys enemy projectiles in the air |
| Neurogas | Deployed trap which emits a neurotoxic gas cloud causing severe hallucinations and disorienting and damaging victims |
| Acoustic AMP | Personal audio amplifier that makes enemy footsteps louder for a duration |
| Sleeper Agent | Infiltrate the enemy team, appearing as a friendly to them for a shot duration. Kills extend the time. Gunfire and enemy content reveal your ture identity. |
Scorestreaks
| Scorestreak | Description |
|---|---|
| Scout Pulse | Radar ping that reveals nearby enemies on the user’s minimap. |
| RC-XD | Deploy a small remote-controlled, remote-detonated explosive vehicle. |
| UAV | Aerial recon drone that reveals enemy locations on the minimap for your team. |
| Counter UAV | Launch a drone that scrambles enemy minimaps. |
| Watchdog Helo | Watchdog Helo that engages enemies and pings enemy locations for your team. |
| Hellstorm | Control a long-range missile with brake and boost capabilities and secondary missiles. |
| Interceptors | Call in a fighter jet squadron that eliminates enemy air targets. |
| Chopper Gunner | Take control of the door gun turret on an assault chopper. |
| Nuke | Call in a nuclear bomb that ends the game with a huge explosion. |
Keep in mind that all this information is based on the beta, so more will likely be added and there could be some tweaks by the time the full game launches.
Classic round-based Zombies returns in Black Ops 6
Two round-based Zombies maps will be available in Black Ops 6 at launch. Not only will players be returning to the Zombies gameplay that originally made the mode so popular, but they’ll have two maps to choose from straight from the start.
To find out more about the mode and the leaked content that hasn’t been revealed yet, check out our guide to BO6 Zombies.
Game engine
Following MW2, Warzone, and MW3, every future Call of Duty game will be developed under “one unified engine” – an advanced version of the IW engine.
Speaking to the Washington Post, Call of Duty’s then-General Manager Johanna Faries confirmed that even though the next Black Ops will be on the same engine as the Modern Warfare titles, it will still feel different, as they want Treyarch games to feel like Treyarch games and MW games to feel like Modern Warfare.
Before the new title comes around, there’s still time to grind MW3 and Warzone. So, make sure you’re armed with the best guns in multiplayer and in battle royale.