CALL OF DUTY: NEXT COMMS AND THE BLACK OPS 6 BETA
The following Blog is one of five Deep Dives into the announcements at the 2024 Call of Duty: NEXT showcase, as well as bringing you a wealth of free, official guides to every aspect of the Black Ops 6 Multiplayer Beta that starts on August 30**. Be sure to read all the following content to ensure you’re up to date with breaking news and Beta content:
An incredible showcase of brand-new locations from the 16 launch maps. Innovations across game Modes. Key evolutions in how you create and save your Loadouts, utilize weapons, equipment and Perks. And more.
This is Black Ops 6 Multiplayer.
Read on to gain all the knowledge you need before you jump into the Black Ops 6 Beta on August 30!
THE MULTIPLAYER MAPS
Set to deliver an impressive selection of all brand-new maps at launch, the Black Ops 6 Multiplayer team is focusing on incredible movement and fast-paced, explosive action, and this vision for the game extends to the creation of the 16 multiplayer maps.
All the launch maps are small to medium-sized maps with traditional three-lane routes and have been meticulously designed to fully realize the signature Call of Duty: Black Ops experience. This means offering rapid, energetic combat, along with a variety of scenic set-pieces, cover opportunities, and ranged thoroughfares to ensure your favorite style of play is catered to, from close quarter strikes to long-range sniping, with emphasis always on the action. This culminates into tighter gameplay that’s perfectly suited to Omnimovement.
Maps are split into two main categories: There are 12 brand-new Core 6v6 maps. In addition, there are four brand-new, compact-sized Strike maps designed to be played in 6v6 configurations.
Confirmed Launch Maps
Here’s a list of the 16 confirmed Multiplayer Maps for launch, along with some basic intel on the eight maps from this list that you’ll be playing during the Black Ops 6 Beta:
Core 6v6 Maps:
Babylon
(Core 6v6, Playable at Beta)
Battle amongst the ruins of an ancient city, climbing on its crumbled columns and crawling underneath the palace. There’s plenty of verticality to make use of here, so stay limber as you circle the central alter and seek out the best ground. Back out to the chapel or depot for more concealed views or get heated and rush the middle.
Derelict
(Core 6v6, Playable at Beta)
Deep in the Appalachian Mountains, a train graveyard lies shrouded by a lush forest. Abandoned and forgotten, this derelict depot along the NOR Appalachian Railroad has become a prime ambush point for Rogue Black Ops and Crimson One to face off in a deadly skirmish.
Rewind
(Core 6v6, Playable at Beta)
Visit the Liberty Shopping Plaza right on the edge of Liberty Falls, West Virginia and wreak havoc through the strip mall. This 6v6 map has a unique layout, as two outer lanes are connected by multiple routes through and around the shops, a video store in the middle housing several major objectives.
Scud
(Core 6v6, Playable at Beta)
Deploy to a desert military outpost following a devastating attack. The damaged radar dish and nearby buildings have taken several hits, the air thick with smoke from the surrounding fires. Bunker down in the depot or HQ or flank enemies in the trenches. Watch for snipers near the radar dish; its base provides a near 360-degree view.
Skyline
(Core 6v6, Playable at Beta)
Take in breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside from the rooftop of a luxury resort featuring an exquisite penthouse with access to a lounge, kitchen, gym, and pool. Descend into the panic room to cross under the map or fight in the open around the victims of a recent hit job.
Black Ops 6 Beta: Strike 6v6 Maps
Gala
(Strike Map, Playable at Beta)
Explore the aftermath of an annual fundraising event in Washington, D.C. Get up on stage or kick back in the lounge. Along the sides, move through a makeshift bar, coatroom, and campaign stand. Every move counts on this tiny map, so get out there and punch the winning ticket.
Pit
(Strike Map, Playable at Beta)
Burrow into a small subsection of an underground mining tunnel and collide in the central cave. A ventilation shaft casts some natural light over the cave, the mine tracks within circling back to the narrow tunnels. Climb up the ladders to reach an overhead vantage point or weave between the mine carts for ground floor cover.
Stakeout
(Strike Map, Playable at Beta)
A stakeout in the Mediterranean region of Avalon has been compromised as Operators breach the small apartment, battling through the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and spilling out onto the balcony. Leftover surveillance equipment marks the progress of the conducted intel-gathering, a smashed-out wall giving the former agents easy access to their gear.
FREE OFFICIAL GUIDES: Need exclusive tactical guides to every Beta Multiplayer map? We have a guide with an interactive Tac-Map and quick tips so you’re ready to go on August 30.
Protocol
(Training Map at Beta)
Omnimovement is definitely a gamechanger, but it’s also designed for players of every skill level to enjoy, and for those feeling a little intimidated about controlling an Operator for the first time in the Beta, then ensure you spend time listening to Frank Woods taking you through your paces on the all-new Training Course:
There’s no better way to get used to all the Omnimovement innovations and combat basics required to be proficient in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 than jumping into the Training Course featured on the Multiplayer map, Protocol. Follow the training missions assigned to you and pay attention to the instructions. Run around the Training Course as often as you wish and practice your favorite maneuvers before facing real players in the Beta moshpits!
THE MULTIPLAYER MODES
Along with a vast selection of new maps to play, Black Ops 6 is set to offer an equally impressive variety of modes, including many not yet revealed at Call of Duty: NEXT or Beta. For Black Ops 6, Treyarch took the time and looked at all the standard core modes, added some improvements, and ensured they played amazingly well. These improvements include adjustments for Domination and Hardpoint (see below), as well as a brand-new mode you’ll be able to play during the Beta: Kill Order.
New Mode: Kill Order
Eliminate the enemy High Value Target (HVT) while keeping your HVT alive. HVT eliminations earn bonus score for your team.
Kill Order is a 6v6 respawn mode that pits two teams against each other, each with their own High Value Target, or HTV, at any given time. Teams score points for all eliminations throughout the match, however focusing on defeating the enemy’s HVT is worth the largest number of points, followed by eliminations by the HVT, then normal eliminations.
Also expect to play the Face Off Kill Order variant. This follows all the same rules as Kill Order with two caveats. As with all Face Off modes, Scorestreaks are completely disabled. Additionally, Face Off modes will also take place on more compact Strike maps, which can lead to even greater chances for “tactical chaos”!
Other Announced Modes
Other modes announced at Call of Duty: NEXT include the following:
Team Deathmatch:
Eliminate enemy players to earn scores for your team.
Domination:
Capture, hold and defend objectives to earn scores for your team.
For Black Ops 6, expect the scoring footprint of each Domination flag to be larger, more visibly marked and renamed as a “Zone”, offering greater tactical opportunities no matter whether you’re attacking or defending.
Hardpoint:
Capture and hold the Hardpoint zone to earn scores for your team.
To heighten the tactical tension and help teams working well together, a number has been added to each Hardpoint zone for players to call out. Play like the pros and call out your rotations to your team.
Face Off:
This follows the rules of a particular game mode (Team Deathmatch, for example), with Scorestreaks disabled.
Gunfight:
Eliminate all enemy players using pre-determined classes to win the round. No respawns.
Gunfight is a 2v2 mode that takes place specifically on Strike maps. In this single-life mode, teams must either eliminate the other team or capture the zone in the center of the map when it appears. Each player will have the same exact Loadout as each other player during a round. Every round, the Loadouts will randomize and players will continue to battle until one team reaches the number of wins required to win.
FREE OFFICIAL GUIDES: Want exclusive tactical guides to every Beta Multiplayer mode from Kill Order to Face Off? We’ve got you covered.
THE MULTIPLAYER GAMEPLAY
Black Ops 6 is driven by ensuring the gameplay feels like a Call of Duty: Black Ops game, delivering fast, fluid, and frenetic action (which can be turned up a few notches on Strike maps). Let’s start with the adjustments to TTK:
TTK: The Time To Kill in Black Ops 6 has been fine-tuned over the course of development to synergize with innovations like Omnimovement and of course with a heavy focus on weapon balance, including the 12 brand new weapons at launch, never before seen in the franchise. Time to Kill is slightly faster than players may remember from Black Ops Cold War Multiplayer while still retaining the ability to react to incoming damage and have meaningful engagements, or disengagements if you prefer. While your enemies won’t have visible health bars, a personal contextual health bar when taking damage is one of the many bespoke features that you’ll find on your own HUD…
Heads Up: Display Options: One of the many innovations made to the game is the flexibility of the HUD, and the Black Ops 6 Beta is the place to try out a few visual examples in preparation for a full complement at launch. Simply access the Barracks, or Settings “cog” menu, select “Interface”, scroll over to “Gameplay HUD”, and choose from the Presets that suit your style of play, as well a variety of Interface Element Colors and Settings.
Audio Improvements: A cornerstone of Black Ops 6 gameplay is how the audio reacts to your actions, and this was a key priority during development. You’ll hear for yourself during the Beta, but making sure a player can hear the most important audio information, at the most important time within a match, is a key feature. Whether it’s ensuring spatially accurate gunplay or footsteps, Black Ops 6 has audio prioritization when you need it.
Slide Cancelling: More advanced maneuvers that take a modicum of skill to pull off are also part of Black Ops 6 Multiplayer and designed to ensure fast-paced and fluid combat. We can confirm Slide Cancelling in any direction thanks to Omnimovement, as well as other favorite maneuvering elements, are part of the game, and you can test this out in the Beta.
Body Shield: If you’re behind an enemy at close quarters, and you require an extra layer of protection, you can choose to double-tap the Melee button and grab them to use as a Body Shield, rough-housing them around for a few seconds while using your foe to absorb any incoming ordnance. Drop the foe with a quick dispatch or Finishing Move before they expire.
Dynamic Death Camera: With the number of hit zones more than doubling compared to previous titles, the way you succumb to enemy fire results in far more bespoke animations. The dynamic camera takes this one step further, following your final takedown in the Kill Cam, and focusing on the death animations. For example, if you’re rocked by an exploding lethal device, the Kill Cam follows your body in its spectacular demise!
Other Features and Enhancements
As well as quickening the time it takes to get into a match, Black Ops 6 Multiplayer brings a variety of refinements and fan-favorite elements to the game. These include:
**Actual launch date(s) and platform availability of Open Beta subject to change. See www.callofduty.com/beta for more details. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required. Online multiplayer subscription may be required.
*** Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 required to redeem. Sold separately.
© 2024 Activision Publishing, Inc. ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, MODERN WARFARE, CALL OF DUTY WARZONE, and CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
For more information, please visit http://www.callofduty.com/ and http://www.youtube.com/callofduty, and follow @Activision and @CallofDuty on X, Instagram, and Facebook. For Call of Duty Updates, follow @CODUpdates on X.
Continue reading...
The following Blog is one of five Deep Dives into the announcements at the 2024 Call of Duty: NEXT showcase, as well as bringing you a wealth of free, official guides to every aspect of the Black Ops 6 Multiplayer Beta that starts on August 30**. Be sure to read all the following content to ensure you’re up to date with breaking news and Beta content:
- Blog 1: Black Ops 6: Global Gameplay Systems. Detailing content – like Omnimovement, Gunsmith changes, Global Weapon Builds, Classic Prestige, and Mastery Camos – applicable to all the different games and modes, mainly focused on innovations across Multiplayer Zombies, and Call of Duty: Warzone™.
- Blog 2: Black Ops 6: Multiplayer Intel. All of the specific announcements related to Black Ops 6 Multiplayer from Call of Duty: NEXT. You’re reading this blog now!
- Blog 3: Black Ops 6: Zombies Intel. All of the new details regarding Round-Based Zombies in Black Ops 6, including information on Liberty Falls, Wonder Weapons, and more, straight from Call of Duty: NEXT.
- Blog 4: Black Ops 6: Warzone Integrations. Important information regarding the brand-new Area 99 Resurgence Map, as well as new gameplay innovations, Mastery Camos, and more.
- Blog 5: Black Ops 6 Beta: Everything You Need to Know. Ready to drop into the Multiplayer Beta? Prepare yourself with this game-winning overview and guide to levelling up to ensure you unlock all the Beta Rewards, including the two exclusive Operator skins!
An incredible showcase of brand-new locations from the 16 launch maps. Innovations across game Modes. Key evolutions in how you create and save your Loadouts, utilize weapons, equipment and Perks. And more.
This is Black Ops 6 Multiplayer.
Read on to gain all the knowledge you need before you jump into the Black Ops 6 Beta on August 30!
THE MULTIPLAYER MAPS
Set to deliver an impressive selection of all brand-new maps at launch, the Black Ops 6 Multiplayer team is focusing on incredible movement and fast-paced, explosive action, and this vision for the game extends to the creation of the 16 multiplayer maps.
All the launch maps are small to medium-sized maps with traditional three-lane routes and have been meticulously designed to fully realize the signature Call of Duty: Black Ops experience. This means offering rapid, energetic combat, along with a variety of scenic set-pieces, cover opportunities, and ranged thoroughfares to ensure your favorite style of play is catered to, from close quarter strikes to long-range sniping, with emphasis always on the action. This culminates into tighter gameplay that’s perfectly suited to Omnimovement.
Maps are split into two main categories: There are 12 brand-new Core 6v6 maps. In addition, there are four brand-new, compact-sized Strike maps designed to be played in 6v6 configurations.
Confirmed Launch Maps
Here’s a list of the 16 confirmed Multiplayer Maps for launch, along with some basic intel on the eight maps from this list that you’ll be playing during the Black Ops 6 Beta:
Core 6v6 Maps:
- Babylon (Playable at Beta)
- Derelict (Playable at Beta)
- Lowtown (Available at Launch)
- Payback (Available at Launch)
- Protocol (Training Map at Beta, MP Map Available at Launch)
- Red Card (Available at Launch)
- Rewind (Playable at Beta)
- Scud (Playable at Beta)
- Skyline (Playable at Beta)
- Subsonic (Available at Launch)
- Vault (Available at Launch)
- Vorkuta (Available at Launch)
- Gala (Playable at Beta)
- Pit (Playable at Beta)
- Sand House (Available at Launch)
- Stakeout (Playable at Beta)
Babylon
(Core 6v6, Playable at Beta)
Battle amongst the ruins of an ancient city, climbing on its crumbled columns and crawling underneath the palace. There’s plenty of verticality to make use of here, so stay limber as you circle the central alter and seek out the best ground. Back out to the chapel or depot for more concealed views or get heated and rush the middle.
Derelict
(Core 6v6, Playable at Beta)
Deep in the Appalachian Mountains, a train graveyard lies shrouded by a lush forest. Abandoned and forgotten, this derelict depot along the NOR Appalachian Railroad has become a prime ambush point for Rogue Black Ops and Crimson One to face off in a deadly skirmish.
Rewind
(Core 6v6, Playable at Beta)
Visit the Liberty Shopping Plaza right on the edge of Liberty Falls, West Virginia and wreak havoc through the strip mall. This 6v6 map has a unique layout, as two outer lanes are connected by multiple routes through and around the shops, a video store in the middle housing several major objectives.
Scud
(Core 6v6, Playable at Beta)
Deploy to a desert military outpost following a devastating attack. The damaged radar dish and nearby buildings have taken several hits, the air thick with smoke from the surrounding fires. Bunker down in the depot or HQ or flank enemies in the trenches. Watch for snipers near the radar dish; its base provides a near 360-degree view.
Skyline
(Core 6v6, Playable at Beta)
Take in breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside from the rooftop of a luxury resort featuring an exquisite penthouse with access to a lounge, kitchen, gym, and pool. Descend into the panic room to cross under the map or fight in the open around the victims of a recent hit job.
Black Ops 6 Beta: Strike 6v6 Maps
Gala
(Strike Map, Playable at Beta)
Explore the aftermath of an annual fundraising event in Washington, D.C. Get up on stage or kick back in the lounge. Along the sides, move through a makeshift bar, coatroom, and campaign stand. Every move counts on this tiny map, so get out there and punch the winning ticket.
Pit
(Strike Map, Playable at Beta)
Burrow into a small subsection of an underground mining tunnel and collide in the central cave. A ventilation shaft casts some natural light over the cave, the mine tracks within circling back to the narrow tunnels. Climb up the ladders to reach an overhead vantage point or weave between the mine carts for ground floor cover.
Stakeout
(Strike Map, Playable at Beta)
A stakeout in the Mediterranean region of Avalon has been compromised as Operators breach the small apartment, battling through the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and spilling out onto the balcony. Leftover surveillance equipment marks the progress of the conducted intel-gathering, a smashed-out wall giving the former agents easy access to their gear.
FREE OFFICIAL GUIDES: Need exclusive tactical guides to every Beta Multiplayer map? We have a guide with an interactive Tac-Map and quick tips so you’re ready to go on August 30.
Protocol
(Training Map at Beta)
Omnimovement is definitely a gamechanger, but it’s also designed for players of every skill level to enjoy, and for those feeling a little intimidated about controlling an Operator for the first time in the Beta, then ensure you spend time listening to Frank Woods taking you through your paces on the all-new Training Course:
There’s no better way to get used to all the Omnimovement innovations and combat basics required to be proficient in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 than jumping into the Training Course featured on the Multiplayer map, Protocol. Follow the training missions assigned to you and pay attention to the instructions. Run around the Training Course as often as you wish and practice your favorite maneuvers before facing real players in the Beta moshpits!
THE MULTIPLAYER MODES
Along with a vast selection of new maps to play, Black Ops 6 is set to offer an equally impressive variety of modes, including many not yet revealed at Call of Duty: NEXT or Beta. For Black Ops 6, Treyarch took the time and looked at all the standard core modes, added some improvements, and ensured they played amazingly well. These improvements include adjustments for Domination and Hardpoint (see below), as well as a brand-new mode you’ll be able to play during the Beta: Kill Order.
New Mode: Kill Order
Eliminate the enemy High Value Target (HVT) while keeping your HVT alive. HVT eliminations earn bonus score for your team.
Kill Order is a 6v6 respawn mode that pits two teams against each other, each with their own High Value Target, or HTV, at any given time. Teams score points for all eliminations throughout the match, however focusing on defeating the enemy’s HVT is worth the largest number of points, followed by eliminations by the HVT, then normal eliminations.
Also expect to play the Face Off Kill Order variant. This follows all the same rules as Kill Order with two caveats. As with all Face Off modes, Scorestreaks are completely disabled. Additionally, Face Off modes will also take place on more compact Strike maps, which can lead to even greater chances for “tactical chaos”!
Other Announced Modes
Other modes announced at Call of Duty: NEXT include the following:
Team Deathmatch:
Eliminate enemy players to earn scores for your team.
Domination:
Capture, hold and defend objectives to earn scores for your team.
For Black Ops 6, expect the scoring footprint of each Domination flag to be larger, more visibly marked and renamed as a “Zone”, offering greater tactical opportunities no matter whether you’re attacking or defending.
Hardpoint:
Capture and hold the Hardpoint zone to earn scores for your team.
To heighten the tactical tension and help teams working well together, a number has been added to each Hardpoint zone for players to call out. Play like the pros and call out your rotations to your team.
Face Off:
This follows the rules of a particular game mode (Team Deathmatch, for example), with Scorestreaks disabled.
Gunfight:
Eliminate all enemy players using pre-determined classes to win the round. No respawns.
Gunfight is a 2v2 mode that takes place specifically on Strike maps. In this single-life mode, teams must either eliminate the other team or capture the zone in the center of the map when it appears. Each player will have the same exact Loadout as each other player during a round. Every round, the Loadouts will randomize and players will continue to battle until one team reaches the number of wins required to win.
FREE OFFICIAL GUIDES: Want exclusive tactical guides to every Beta Multiplayer mode from Kill Order to Face Off? We’ve got you covered.
THE MULTIPLAYER GAMEPLAY
Black Ops 6 is driven by ensuring the gameplay feels like a Call of Duty: Black Ops game, delivering fast, fluid, and frenetic action (which can be turned up a few notches on Strike maps). Let’s start with the adjustments to TTK:
TTK: The Time To Kill in Black Ops 6 has been fine-tuned over the course of development to synergize with innovations like Omnimovement and of course with a heavy focus on weapon balance, including the 12 brand new weapons at launch, never before seen in the franchise. Time to Kill is slightly faster than players may remember from Black Ops Cold War Multiplayer while still retaining the ability to react to incoming damage and have meaningful engagements, or disengagements if you prefer. While your enemies won’t have visible health bars, a personal contextual health bar when taking damage is one of the many bespoke features that you’ll find on your own HUD…
Heads Up: Display Options: One of the many innovations made to the game is the flexibility of the HUD, and the Black Ops 6 Beta is the place to try out a few visual examples in preparation for a full complement at launch. Simply access the Barracks, or Settings “cog” menu, select “Interface”, scroll over to “Gameplay HUD”, and choose from the Presets that suit your style of play, as well a variety of Interface Element Colors and Settings.
Audio Improvements: A cornerstone of Black Ops 6 gameplay is how the audio reacts to your actions, and this was a key priority during development. You’ll hear for yourself during the Beta, but making sure a player can hear the most important audio information, at the most important time within a match, is a key feature. Whether it’s ensuring spatially accurate gunplay or footsteps, Black Ops 6 has audio prioritization when you need it.
Slide Cancelling: More advanced maneuvers that take a modicum of skill to pull off are also part of Black Ops 6 Multiplayer and designed to ensure fast-paced and fluid combat. We can confirm Slide Cancelling in any direction thanks to Omnimovement, as well as other favorite maneuvering elements, are part of the game, and you can test this out in the Beta.
Body Shield: If you’re behind an enemy at close quarters, and you require an extra layer of protection, you can choose to double-tap the Melee button and grab them to use as a Body Shield, rough-housing them around for a few seconds while using your foe to absorb any incoming ordnance. Drop the foe with a quick dispatch or Finishing Move before they expire.
Dynamic Death Camera: With the number of hit zones more than doubling compared to previous titles, the way you succumb to enemy fire results in far more bespoke animations. The dynamic camera takes this one step further, following your final takedown in the Kill Cam, and focusing on the death animations. For example, if you’re rocked by an exploding lethal device, the Kill Cam follows your body in its spectacular demise!
Other Features and Enhancements
As well as quickening the time it takes to get into a match, Black Ops 6 Multiplayer brings a variety of refinements and fan-favorite elements to the game. These include:
- Map Voting: Available at Beta, you’re able to vote in the Lobby for your preferred map or a classified random map, prior to a match.
- Best Plays: Depending on the mode and the match-up, expect the final Dynamic Kill Cam to showcase the best play of the game, prior to the Winners’ Circle. For Search & Destroy mode, players will view a Final Kill Cam.
- Winners’ Circle: The most impressive players of the winning team in a match receive their own Winners’ Circle showcase, with some of their statistical competence on display. This is also a location where you can celebrate your prowess more individually by employing a favorite Emote, too!
- Theater Mode: Though not available in the Beta, the Multiplayer experience of Black Ops 6 brings a fully featured Theater Mode at launch, allowing you a robust suite of viewing options, including the ability to watch, pause, slow down, speed up, and play back your previous gameplay, including the ability to take screenshots.
- Ranked Play: We’re excited to confirm that Multiplayer Ranked Play will be coming to Black Ops 6. Not only that; Ranked Play arrives at the earliest point ever in a Call of Duty title, only a few weeks after launch at the start of Season 1!
- Additional Global Gameplay Systems: Ensure you read Blog 1, which details Omnimovement, Gunsmith changes, Global Weapon Builds, Classic Prestige, Mastery Camos, and more!
**Actual launch date(s) and platform availability of Open Beta subject to change. See www.callofduty.com/beta for more details. Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required. Online multiplayer subscription may be required.
*** Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 required to redeem. Sold separately.
© 2024 Activision Publishing, Inc. ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, MODERN WARFARE, CALL OF DUTY WARZONE, and CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
For more information, please visit http://www.callofduty.com/ and http://www.youtube.com/callofduty, and follow @Activision and @CallofDuty on X, Instagram, and Facebook. For Call of Duty Updates, follow @CODUpdates on X.
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