Activision has announced that the Multiplayer Beta for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will kick off on August 30th. The upcoming beta will give fans a chance to go hands-on with the newest installment in the blockbuster shooter franchise and experience the new Omnimovement system as well as the variety of new Core maps. Customizable loadouts, and a variety of weapons, equipment, and Perks will also be available.
Anyone who has pre-ordered Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is invited to the Early Access beta, which begins on Friday, August 30th at 10 a.m. PT and runs until Wednesday, September 4th at 10 a.m. PT. The beta will be available on console and PC and, for the first time in years, it will go live on all platforms at the same time.
In previous years, the beta was offered first on PlayStation as part of an exclusive deal between Activision and Sony. Now that Microsoft owns Activision, there is no timed exclusivity.
However, there is now the added perk that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be offered through Game Pass. Anyone with Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC or Game Pass Console can participate in the Early Access Beta. For Game Pass Console subscribers, Game Pass Core may also be required for the multiplayer beta access.
The second beta will be completely open for anyone who wants to join. There's no pre-order requirement. It begins on Friday, September 6th at 10 a.m. PT and ends on Monday, September 10th at 10 a.m. PT.
"Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 1990s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower," the game's description reads. "With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops."
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will include 16 new Multiplayer maps on Day One, including 12 Core 6v6 maps and four small-sized Strike maps. Strike maps are unique, standalone locations designed to be played i n2v2 or Face Off 6v6 matches.
Some of the core new gameplay features in this year's game are the addition of Omnimovement — allowing you to spring, slide, and dive in any direction — as well as Intelligent Movement (sprinting, mantling, and crouch assists that allow you to pull off complex maneuvers with ease so that you can focus on combat). Other improvements include increased enemy hit zones, all-new gear, HUD optimizations, and the return of Theater Mode and Classic Prestige.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is set to launch on October 25, 2024. It will be playable on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC.