5 Reasons To Be Excited For Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Multiplayer

Over the past few weekends, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has held two beta test periods—one for Early Access players and one open to the public—allowing fans to get hands-on experience with the new systems and mechanics. I was lucky enough to participate in both betas and spent a lot of time testing out the various features and gameplay elements.

After diving into the action, I’ve gathered a lot of insights and impressions. As a result, I’ve compiled a list of five compelling reasons why players should be excited for the upcoming release of Black Ops 6 ! Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the series, there’s a lot to look forward to.

OMNIMOVEMENT

It’s not often that a tried-and-true game changes up one of the core mechanics of their game, but Black Ops 6 is doing just that with their brand-new Omnimovement feature. Players can now sprint and dive in all directions, including backwards.

This movement update means that there are whole new strategies for engaging the enemy, especially when diving backwards, as you can now lay prone on your back and crawl around that way.

Having had an abundance of time using it during the Early Access Beta and the Public Access Beta, I can say that it presents a lot more options for escaping a pursuing enemy, or diving around the corner to surprise defending players.

NEW MAPS

Maps are arguably one of the most important elements of the multiplayer experience, and Black Ops 6 is set to deliver in a big way. The game will feature a total of 16 brand-new maps for players to immerse themselves in, providing a fresh set of battlefields for intense firefights. Of these, 12 maps are specifically designed for classic 6v6 combat, ensuring a range of strategic and dynamic environments to explore.

In addition, the remaining four maps are known as Strike Maps, and are designed for smaller-scale battles in 2v2 or 4v4 modes. This variety promises a well-rounded multiplayer experience that caters to different play styles and team dynamics.

Over the years the maps on Call of Duty have progressively gotten smaller, promoting a lot of fast-paced combat and frequent encounters, and the Black Ops 6 are no exception. During the two beta periods, I was able to play on 6 different maps and they are the smallest I have played on. Think Nuketown or Rust levels of size and you’ll get the idea.

NEW GAME MODES

Black Ops 6 multiplayer will feature at least one new game mode, called Kill Order. The object of Kill Order is to eliminate the opposite team’s HVT (High Value Target) while they try to eliminate yours. You gain points for surviving as the HVT and for eliminating other players as the HVT.

Additionally, unlike other MP modes, the HVT in Kill Order doesn’t die immediately, they go into a ‘downed’ state, and you need to complete the elimination by shooting them a few more times. This mode is a lot of fun and can encourage team work if you have a good group of players, or it can be a crap shoot where everyone just runs around looking for people to shoot like it’s Team Deathmatch.

BATTLEPASS PROGRESSION

I really disliked the Battlepass progression system in Call of Duty in recent years, as there was a lot of ambiguity about what your rewards are for the next level you reach. You could choose from a group of rewards and it made me feel like there was always some way to miss out on something.

Well, in Black Ops 6 , the Battlepass progression is going back to being more simplistic, giving you a clear picture of you’ll unlock and at what level. Gone are the tokens that you’d use to unlock a group of items, now you level up and gain items along the way. Much more easy to follow, and much more organized.

ZOMBIES

It wouldn’t be Black Ops 6—or any Black Ops title for that matter—without the iconic and fan-favourite Zombies game mode making a return. Thankfully, Zombies is back, and it’s bringing with it a familiar format that fans have come to love. In this installment, Zombies will revert to the classic round-based system, where players must survive waves of increasingly difficult undead enemies.

This setup promises the same adrenaline-pumping action, where teamwork and strategy are essential to fend off relentless hordes. At launch, players will also have access to two brand-new Zombies maps, providing plenty of opportunities to get acquainted with both the returning gameplay structure and the fresh environments.

Sadly, Zombies was not available during either of the Beta periods I took part in, but I am definitely looking forward to getting the squad together to take on the undead and allow organized chaos to ensue.

With everything mentioned above and more, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the release of Black Ops 6 . I can’t wait to jump back in to see the new maps and check out the campaign.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is scheduled for release on October 25th, 2024 for PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-orders are available now as well.