Code: BO6
Credit: Treyarch
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be released on October 25.
Users hungry for some sort of BO6 experience will have to accept this new approach to launch and wait a business week for the latest adventure.
While pre-loading began on October 21, the game’s campaign, Zombies, or multiplayer options will not be available before BO6’s launch. Many in the community have already started or completed the preloading process and have shared some details.
The pre-load UI can now also be downloaded if you have pre-ordered the game.
This update is primarily cosmetic. Functionally, this will allow users to jump into the game when it is released in their region. The live date and time is initially midnight Eastern time on October 25, 9pm Pacific time or 11pm Central time.
Aside from the preload information, some other important details shared on October 21 relate to the prestige system and rewards available at launch. In many ways, there are multiple areas in BO6 that seem designed to play as a love letter to the hardcore members of the series’ fanbase.
This begins with the return of the prestige system that many BO6 fans loved from previous editions; The sole intention was to expand on those concepts.
According to the latest Call of Duty Blog entry: “Players who reach and complete Level 55 will have the option to enter Prestige and restart their Leveling journey in exchange for a little Prestige and exclusive rewards.”
In addition to the 55 level cap system, prestige players will receive rewards and themes based on titles from Black Ops history.
The blog showed the Nacht Raider for the Prestige 1 as an example.
Call of Duty Black Ops 6
Credit: Activision
As in the past, there are elements of give and take associated with choosing prestige. Here’s what you’ll be giving up and what you can keep.
Giving
Reset to Player Level 1. All level unlocks will be re-locked and must be unlocked again, except for basic operators, emotes, and Zombies GobbleGums, as well as anything you unlock permanently (more on that later). Your uploads will be reset. Your lifetime stats will still be viewable in the Combat Log, but your stats elsewhere in the game will only display your current Prestige stats.
Preservation
Offers weapons, camouflage, and nets. Weapon Builds – Your favorite weapon may be re-unlocked, but all the builds you created for it will be waiting for you when you reach the required level to unlock it again. Challenge progress and unlock. Battle Pass storage and content. The player and emoji open. Zombie GobbleGums.
The Mastery Badge system is another new element that may encourage you to play an extra round each night. There are now Mastery Badges for every weapon, equipment, and field upgrade, and scoring points that challenge users to progress through three levels of badges for rewards.
Each weapon and piece of gear has its own mastery badge associated with multiplayer and zombies.
Here are the three layers:
Badge I (Bronze) Badge II (Silver) Mastery Badge (Gold + Stat Tracker)
Based on my history in FPS games, any mastery badge attached to a sniper rifle would take me at least a year to obtain, but I digress.
If you’re like me and are looking forward to the campaign more than the multiplayer experience, here’s a look at the trailer to update you or get you excited for the latest major budget story in the Call of Duty universe.
Be on the lookout for a full review of the campaign when it releases on or after October 25th.
