Treyarch has revealed the first gameplay trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies, offering details and insight into the new Round-Based multiplayer co-op game mode. The reveal trailer focuses specifically on Terminus, one of the two Zombies maps that will launch with Black Ops 6.
While Zombies has been a staple in Call of Duty multiplayer for years now, Black Ops 6 marks the return of Round-based gameplay. In the game mode, squads of up to four players will aim to take down hordes of the undead across two maps: Terminus, set in the Philippine Sea, and Liberty Falls, set in West Virginia.
There's a lot of chaos and action happening in the trailer above, but thankfully Treyarch has offered a full deep dive that explains everything going on. The developer explains:
At its most basic level, one of the first Black Ops 6 Round-Based Zombies maps involves you (and optionally, up to three additional teammates) exploring and eventually breaking out of a maximum-security prison complex called Terminus Island, with waves (or “rounds”) of undead foes to dispatch as you discover and complete objectives.
Delve a little deeper, and you realize your chances of survival are greatly enhanced by adept avoidance of the crowds of wandering corpses as you line up your killing blows, and just as importantly, by managing the main currencies of the game: Essence and Salvage.
As players defeat zombies, they'll acquire Essence, one of two types of currency used in Zombies. Essence is used to access blocked areas — either by unlocking doors or removing obstacles — as well as strengthening your character with things like Perks and Pack-a-Punched weaponry. The key to surviving zombies is knowing when to spend Essence on unlocking new thoroughfares and when to and when to spend it on character upgrades.
The second main form of currency in Zombies is Salvage, small piles of junk with a green online that is found randomly from fallen enemies. In Black Ops 6 Zombies, Treyarch is simplifying Salvage only featuring one type (removing the normal and High-Grade Salvage). Salvage is also player-specific, so you won't have to compete with teammates to pick it up.
Salvage is used to access an Ammo Mod and apply special elemental power to your current weapon, upgrade the Rarity Tier of your weapon, and build specific Tactical Equipment, Lethal Equipment, and Support Equipment.
Each Zombies map will also have a Main Quest that you are left to your own devices to solve. Treyarch notes that this is usually after the route to the Pack-a-Punch machine has been completed. Terminus follows this similar pattern, giving players the ability to explore the full prison area, ocean, and smaller islands with Tactical Rafts.
"One of the more thrilling aspects of Round-Based Zombies is the complete freedom you’re given to investigate a variety of odd, out-of-the-way, and seemingly innocuous parts of the map," Treyarch hints. "Sometimes there’s nothing to find. Sometimes, an audio log, document, or strange artifact offers a clue to further discoveries. Occasionally an entire hidden set of objectives is unearthed."
In addition to the Main Quests, there's also an all-new guided mode that's designed to welcome more players to Zombies. Set to release later in the season after each map's launch "to protect the sanctity of the traditional Easter Egg Hunt," this mode will offer players guidance through the Main Quests with rounds capped to certain stages of their quest progression. Additionally, all Side Quests and Easter Eggs will be disabled to prioritize the narrative.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launches on October 25, 2024, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.