11. Call of Duty: Black Ops – Zombies (Original Game Soundtrack)

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Available through Amazon Music, the Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies soundtrack is a must-have for fans of the franchise. The album includes 17 tracks, including the iconic main menu theme “Damned”, and several iconic Easter Egg songs like “Beauty of Annihilation”, “115” and more. It also has some nostalgic deep cuts you may have forgotten, like the songs that appear in the Dead Ops Arcade mode.

Whether you’re grinding for Camos, going for high rounds, or simply racing to Prestige, the Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies Soundtrack makes for excellent background music when playing the glorious return of Round-Based Zombies in Black Ops 6.

10. Ray Gun Comic Art Gaming T-Shirt

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While most Call of Duty Zombies clothing nowadays finds itself on the Call of Duty Shop, there are still some great options from Ripple Junction available on Amazon. This standout depicting the iconic Ray Gun Wonder Weapon in a classic Comic Art style is one of our favorites.

The shirt has a really cool throwback art style, with a design harkening back to the mid-century, retro-future aesthetic that inspired the Ray Gun’s initial design all the way back in 2008’s Call of Duty: World at War. This design is available on several different colored shirts, so there are options for everybody. These include Grey, White, Blue, Pink, and Orange.

9. Perk-A-Cola Can T-Shirt

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Our next pick is another great T-shirt from Ripple Junction. This one pays tribute to the iconic Juggernog Perk-a-Cola. This one has a bit more of an 80s/90s aesthetic and showcases the Perk in a Can as it appears in Black Ops Cold War and Black Ops 6.

The Ripple Junction Juggernog Perk-A-Cola Can T-Shirt is available in a wide variety of fit types and sizes, meaning most Call of Duty fans should be able to find the most comfortable fit for themselves.

8. Call of Duty: Monkeybomb

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Exquisite Gaming is known for their figurines which are designed to hold gaming accessories. These controller/phone holders – sometimes referred to as “Cable Guys” – are a great way to declutter your gaming setup while adding some decor. This 8.5″ Monkeybomb figure does just that. The figure has a great sculpt with colorful detail, depicting the iconic exploding cymbal monkey which was first introduced in the Der Riese Zombies map.

7. KontrolFreek Call of Duty Deadshot Edition Performance Thumbsticks

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KontrolFreek is one of the true OG gaming accessory brands. If you haven’t tried them yourself, you’re likely still familiar with them from the sponsorships and partner deals they used to do with classic Call of Duty content creators.

KontrolFreek Performance Thumbsticks are an attachment for the thumbsticks of a controller. This raises their overall height, this providing the potential for increased accuracy and precision. In Call of Duty Zombies, the Deadshot Daiquiri Perk also helps with aim. Thus, it’s only fitting that KontrolFreek would pattern a limited edition of their Performance Thumbsticks after that specific Perk-A-Cola. If you’re looking to up your accuracy while grinding for Critical Kills and Headshots to complete Black Ops 6 Camo Challenges, this KontrolFreek accessory is a must have.

The KontrolFreek Call of Duty Deadshot Edition Performance Thumbsticks are available for PlayStation and Xbox.

6. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – Zombie Key Art Wall Poster, 22.375″ x 34″, Unframed Version

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Looking to add some more Call of Duty Zombies decor to your bedroom, dorm, game room or home office? Look no further than this awesome poster from Trends International. This poster shows off some epic art of the Chaos Crew from Black Ops 4 Zombies. While it’s been a few years now since they were the face of the franchise, the exciting ending cutscene for Terminus in Black Ops 6 Zombies promises the return of several elements from the Chaos storyline.

If you played Black Ops 4 and have some nostalgia for its underrated Zombies maps, show some love for the Chaos Crew with this poster with amazing art featuring Diego, Scarlett, Shaw, and Bruno.

5. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies Key Art Poster

• View at Call of Duty Shop

If you’re loving Black Ops 6 Zombies, this high-quality poster from the Call of Duty Shop is a great buy. Showcasing the key art of the mode, the poster features Carver, Grey, Maya and Weaver at the ready, surrounded by Zombies and other undead enemy types.

The poster is 11 x 17 inches in size, and digitally printed on glossy paper. As an added bonus, any purchase from the Call of Duty Shop comes with the Call of Duty Fire Safety Weapon Charm, available in Black Ops 6 for U.S. customers.

4. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies Black Hoodie

• View at Call of Duty Shop

With the latest Call of Duty here, the coldest and darkest months of the year are unfortunately upon us. Whether you’re looking to brave the elements between matches or cozy up in gameplay sessions, this Black Ops 6 Zombies Hoodie has you covered.

This Hoodie has a simple design, boasting the main logo for the mode. This item is 80% cotton, 20% polyester and Regular Fit available in a variety of sizes. Do note that the Black Ops 6 Zombies Hoodie is printed to order, so it may take up to 14 days to ship from the time ordered.

3. Call of Duty Mister Peeks Youtooz Vinyl Figure

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This next item is a pre-order that won’t ship until June 2025, but its worth the wait. Youtooz has been killing it with their ever-expanding collection of Call of Duty figures, statues and more. This one features Mister Peeks, the creepy stuffed bunny who moves the mystery box and sells fans Gobblegums in Black Ops 6.

This 4.6 inch tall figure depicts Mister Peeks with concert equipment, referencing the Mauer Der Toten Easter Egg where players visit his club in Black Ops Cold War Zombies. As an added bonus, Zombies fans who purchase this figure will get a code to redeem the Mystery Box Weapon Charm for use in Black Ops 6.

2. Wunderwaffe DG-2 1/2 Scale Replica Statue

• View at Call of Duty Shop

Our final two picks for the best Call of Duty Zombies merch out there are replicas of iconic Wonder Weapons. They often sell out fast, but its worth getting on the Call of Duty Shop mailing list for updates on their availability.

The Wunderwaffe DG-2 is an iconic Wonder Weapon, which debuted back in Call of Duty: World at War Zombies, and has appeared as recently as in Modern Warfare Zombies in MW3.

This half-scale replica of the DG-2 is incredibly detailed. It’s made of ABS, PVC and Rubber. However, the surfaces are textured to invoke the feeling of realistic metal and wood surfaces. It also comes with a stand to proudly display.

The Wunderwaffe DG-2 1/2 Scale Replica Statue also comes with bonus in-game content. Fans who order the replica can use the Gold Lightning Weapon Camo in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

1. Call of Duty Ray Gun Replica Statue

• View at Call of Duty Shop

Without a doubt, the best merch money can buy for Call of Duty Zombies fans is the official Ray Gun Replica. The Ray Gun is an absolute staple of the mode, appearing in nearly every Treyarch Zombies map since 2008. This incredible replica allows you to wield the weapon yourself.

This impressive replica is 1:1 scale, and weighs just over 13lbs with its iconic Mystery Box stand. It is made of PU and Resin, and features LED Lights in the Mystery Box and Ray Gun itself. The surface is also treated with some realistic ware, making this Ray Gun replica look incredibly authentic, and as realistic as a Ray Gun can be.

The new docuseries explores how some of the most iconic video games have influenced pop culture and beyond. It dives into the backstories of how video games that we all know and love, including Call of Duty, Minecraft, and Sonic, were created and more. You’ll hear from the inventors of the games, journalists, authors, and video game enthusiasts about little-known facts that brought these adoring games to the public eye.

One thing that was discovered in the documentary was that E.T. creator Steven Spielberg actually has a big influence on war games because of his 1998 cinematic masterpiece, Saving Private Ryan. After the release of the film, Spielberg sparked an idea through DreamWorks Interactive to create a video game that captured a similar intensity to the movie, and with that, the game Medal of Honor was created. The game essentially set new standards for first-person shooters and war games and ultimately inspired the creators of Call of Duty. Both Medal of Honor and Call of Duty encapsulate the attention to historical accuracy and share an intensity behind the cinematic sets of the games. The more you know!

Not only did he inspire the game, but Spielberg is actually a big fan of Call of Duty himself. Earlier this month, his son Max Spielberg, who also has his own successful career in the world of gaming, told MinnMax that his father was a huge gaming nerd.

“He loves gaming. He’s the one that got me into it. He plays games. He’s a big PC gamer and so that’s kind of our bonding point as well,” Max said about his father. “He’s like, ‘Hey what’s good’, ‘What are the new (shooters?)’, ‘Which Call of Duty should I be playing?’ You know, like ‘Just send me a list of the top five shooters and I’ll get ‘em downloaded and we can play them together when you come over to the house.’”

“He loves Call of Duty. He plays the campaign,” Max added, noting that he only plays games on his keyboard and mouse. “He’s big into story games and I’m always trying to get him to play Uncharted, I’m like it’s Indiana Jones, you’d appreciate this. And he’s like ‘I can’t do controllers. I can only do keyboard and mouse.’”

When and Where to Watch Game Changers

Game Changers premiered on November 5, 2024, on Discovery at 9 PM ET/PT. You can watch the documentary on Sling.

I’ve stated in the past my relationship with Call of Duty as a whole is an odd one; by and large, it’s very much US military-backed propaganda, and most of its story beats and core premises (if you ever step out of the multiplayer side of things) are eyebrow-raising at best. On the other hand, they’re consistently well-produced blockbuster flicks in which you’re the one pulling the trigger, and this also applies to the MP. At the very least, the latest CoD will fill your belly and feel like a proper AAA release. You know what you’re getting each year, and the fact the mechanics have been refined over two decades helps seal the deal.

Spoilers ahead for Call of Duty: Black Ops’ story campaign.

Playing the Black Ops games in chronological order has only become more confusing over the years due to the larger franchise constantly switching the overall direction and shifting its priorities around. After Black Ops 6 launches, you’ll need to play BO1, then Cold War (technically BO5), move on to BO2, and after all that, finally hit BO6, which uses that number because it’ll probably help sell more copies. You could also move on to play the (underrated, IMO) third game in release order, but make sure to ignore BO4, which somehow takes place before BO3 and is just trash (the fact it was MP-only was the least of its problems).

You might have noticed this timeline is a mess after Cold War refused to start a new continuity and instead served as a direct sequel to BO1 before the ‘80s events depicted in BO2 (most of the game takes place in the distant future of… 2025) while also making a straight connection to the rebooted Modern Warfare timeline. The problem? Treyarch and Raven are saying BO2 is canon to BO6, which picks up after its ‘past’ sections. It makes nigh impossible to reconcile the current MW events with the second Black Ops’ take on 2025, so now we have to pretend only half of that game is canon.

This is all important to half-understand the Black Ops series’ complicated but admirable commitment to interconnected, non-linear narratives, which started with the first one all the way back in 2010. Call of Duty was at the height of its first golden era, as no other FPS series (not even Battlefield at its best) was achieving that degree of success both as single-player blockbusters nor competitive MP packages full of PvP and co-op modes, progression mechanics, and unlocks.

“The numbers, Mason. What do they mean?!” It’s hard to argue against Black Ops as perhaps the most iconic (or at least quotable) Call of Duty campaign of all time, since it certainly earns that honor from the get-go. It was unlike anything the franchise had tried before and, even today, feels – on a surface level – playful in a way its siblings simply aren’t. Is it good though? Eh, not really.

We can go back and forth all day about Call of Duty and its narrative merits, but looking back at two decades’ worth of “America, hell yeah” storylines and how they’ve impacted fans and the entire military FPS genre, we can’t deny there’s some good stuff in there. The production values are always top-notch, but more importantly, Call of Duty reasonably imitates well what has historically worked in war movies, and that includes creating sets of memorable characters.

In the case of Black Ops, Alex Mason and Frank Woods were at the center of the story, delightfully played by Sam Worthington and James C. Burns respectively. The actors understood the assignment of hamming it up as much as possible without losing the touch of self-seriousness that covers the entire thing. BO1 is Call of Duty at its goofiest, and what once seemed extremely cool… now feels like a parody of modern Call of Duty. In a way, replaying the older games reminds you the narrative quality has actually gone upward in recent times.

Plot-wise, I’m tempted to say it remains all killer, no filler. The jumpy and relentless pacing, added on top of the non-linear narrative structure, works in its favor a lot. It’s a rollercoaster ride through and through. It holds up as a top tier spectacle if you can get over the rusty bits that come with a 2010 shooter. So, what’s the issue? Well, even by CoD standards back in the day, it feels like fanfiction written by a teenager who picked up two history books about the Cold War and played tons of Modern Warfare.

The OG MW1 (2007) and MW2 (2009) were both criticized and praised for their commitment to fully realizing a ‘Michael Bay on crack’ vision of the franchise in a modern setting. On the other hand, World at War (2008) was meaner and tried to be more adult, which kind of worked almost automatically thanks to the WW2 setting. BO1 kept that Treyarch-led vision going, but when mixed with predictable needle drops and all-American hardasses doing all sorts of awful stuff to “protect America’s way of life” without ever second-guessing their part in the USA and the Soviet Union’s power plays and 3D chess game, the end result isn’t as cohesive once you grow up a little.

Sure, the big plot twist was neat, and Mason kind of rocks as a protagonist that’s gone through a lot for his country, but spy stories and thrillers are built on healthy amounts of nuance and carefully calculated tension. BO1 has none of that, constantly being every bit as puerile as its predecessors while desperately trying to cobble together a more complex story that people could take seriously. It hasn’t aged gracefully, and I was trying not to wake up the entire household with loud laughs when the main bad guy was dead, the Cuban Missile Crisis was averted, and the grim tone suddenly turned into a Fourth of July celebration in the middle of the sea. “It is over, we won,” Weaver says with a smile on his face as rock music kicks in and you get a US Navy money shot for no reason before we go back to conspiracy photos of JFK’s assassination.

Thankfully, Cold War fixed most of those problems, ‘updating’ the entire Cold War narrative to be slightly less USA-centric and adding much-needed nuance to the roster of characters and their relationship with the mysterious lead. It’s also the rare Call of Duty campaign that allowed itself to have proper downtimes and even add light role-playing elements to the tried-and-tested formula.

With Black Ops 6 now looming near, one has to wonder whether it’ll stick to that sweet balance or go back to the old ways to appease 30-somethings that refuse to grow up. I must admit I’m also worried about how it’ll incorporate story elements from BO2. On the other hand, it should be a fantastic product given its (very rare) four-year dev cycle. For better or worse, we’re back in black, baby.

13 Great Games Like Destiny You Should Try in 2024

13. Destiny 2

• Destiny 2 at Amazon

Let’s get the most obvious answer out of the way first by saying, if you really enjoy Destiny, you should definitely check out its 2017 direct sequel Destiny 2. Launched in 2014, Destiny was the first franchise developer Bungie completed since its ground-breaking Halo franchise over a decade prior. Destiny is set in a vision of Earth where the last free human city is defended by soldiers from various hostile extraterrestrial races, taking the fight to other planets across the cosmos.

Destiny 2 ups the ante from its predecessor, significantly refining the gameplay mechanics and online components, while expanding the world and features that the original game provided. Since its launch, Bungie has constantly provided updates for the game, adding new content and events while tightening the gameplay and overall presentation. The first Destiny pioneered the looter shooter and live service genres while Destiny 2 took that foundation and elevated it to a whole other level.

12. Anthem

• Anthem at Amazon

BioWare, the creators of the Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises, took their own leap into the looter shooter genre with their 2019 game Anthem. The title refers to a science fiction force found in mysterious relics that galvanizes technology and other scientific advancements in the game, sought after by different deadly factions. Players take on the role of soldiers, armed in powerful exosuits, who traverse the cosmos preventing these relics from falling into the wrong hands.

After a shaky start, Anthem began to solidify into a solid live service experience after several updates produced by BioWare since its launch. BioWare has plenty of experience in building sci-fi worlds and Anthem is just as immersive as its counterparts while the combat mechanics are relatively smooth. While BioWare announced it would cease providing content updates for Anthem in 2021, the game’s online community remains active and the game itself is still available for purchase.

11. Remnant II

• Remnant II at Amazon

Developer Gunfire Games teamed up with Gearbox Publishing for a shooter perfectly suited for the Soulslike generation with its 2023 game Remnant II. The game has players take on a race of sentient plants out to destroy all of reality, battling these enemies across a variety of planets throughout the cosmos. True to its Soulslike influences, Remnant II unfolds from a third-person perspective and has players use a variety of guns and melee weapons to battle through waves of enemies.

Like its predecessor, 2019’s Remnant: From the Ashes, Remnant II uses a system to randomly generate level layouts and enemy spawn points, though it feels more intuitively designed this time around. While players can progress through the game solo, Remnant II also offers cooperative multiplayer so players can team up with their friends in the campaign. With an array of player classes and skills to choose from, Remnant II is a strong sequel that takes advantage of modern gaming platforms’ technical capacities.

10. Borderlands 3

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While Borderlands may still be recovering from the hit its cinematic adaptation inflicted on the brand, it still remains one of the most influential looter shooter franchises around. This is especially apparent with 2019’s Borderlands 3, which expanded the scope of the story for next-generation platforms while retaining what made Borderlands such a fan-favorite franchise to begin with. Set on the chaotic planet of Pandora, the game follows four Vault Hunters who rally to stop a devious cult intent on using alien technology from vaults around the planet for their own twisted ends. 

Borderlands 3 doesn’t reinvent its own wheel and it’s frankly all the better for it, focusing on the chaotic gunfights and wacky characters while refining the core gameplay mechanics. Players still blast through waves of enemies and the occasional boss fight in its rugged open-world map while upgrading their skills and weapons. While players who didn’t enjoy the first several Borderlands games may not be won over by Borderlands 3, the 2019 game leans into what the franchise does best with solid results.

9. Titanfall 2

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After going Xbox exclusive for its inaugural title, the Electronic Arts and Respawn Entertainment shooter franchise Titanfall went multi-platform for its 2016 sequel Titanfall 2. Like its predecessor, Titanfall 2 takes place in a science fiction world where human soldiers interact with lumbering robotic Titans on various battlefields. In contrast to the first game, Titanfall 2 has a single-player campaign mode, in addition to the usual online multiplayer modes that made the first installment a success.

While the single-player campaign isn’t all that long, its addition shows the length that the developers went to distinguish Titanfall 2 from its predecessor and expand the in-game mythos. What Titanfall 2 really improves on is the versatility and fluidity of its gameplay, providing an all-around rewarding experience no matter how players choose to approach a given skirmish. Polished up and with a significantly heightened scope, Titanfall 2 remains one of Respawn’s best titles.

8. Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

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The late best-selling author Tom Clancy has been associated with tactical shooters for decades and one of the more recent series to launch under the Tom Clancy banner is The Division, which began in 2016. The game received an ambitious sequel in 2019 with Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, a third-person shooter that features cooperative and competitive game modes while incorporating roleplaying game elements. Set in a ravaged, near-future Washington, D.C., The Division 2 has teams of soldiers fighting to retake the city after it falls into complete disorder following the release of a deadly pathogen.

Operating in teams of up to four, players fight across the American capital, which has been divided into multiple zones, each ruled by a different faction. As players complete missions, they gain experience points to level up and upgrade themselves and their gear while navigating the open-world map. In addition to more traditional online multiplayer modes, The Division 2 also allows players to interact across the main map, either working together or launching raids on each other’s bases to create a dynamic gameplay experience.

7. Killzone Shadow Fall

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As hard as it is to believe, it’s been over a decade since Sony did anything with its popular shooter franchise Killzone. The PlayStation’s answer to Halo, the most recent title in the series to date is Killzone Shadow Fall for the PlayStation 4, released in 2013. Set 30 years after the events of Killzone 3, Shadow Fall places a greater emphasis on stealth across a more open-ended map as players battle the merciless Helghast.

While the single-player campaign, unfortunately, remains the weakest part of the overall game, a recurring trait of the Killzone games, the online multiplayer modes are as sharp as ever. One of the best looking games on the PS4, Shadow Fall is a stunning achievement and its multiplayer modes unfold fast and furiously, leaving players catching their breath and ready to jump into the next match. Hopefully, Sony will eventually revisit the Killzone franchise in earnest but until then, Shadow Fall is the franchise at its peak.

6. Outriders

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Publisher Square Enix took a big step into the live service cooperative shooter space with its 2021 title Outriders. The sci-fi shooter has humanity relocate to a different planet after Earth becomes uninhabitable, only to find this new world is far more hostile than they anticipated. To make matters worse, the colonists quickly descend into a bloody civil war, bringing humanity even closer to the brink in this unfamiliar environment.

Played from a third-person perspective and incorporating RPG elements, Outriders can either be experienced alone or alongside up to two additional players. As the difficulty scales up, so too does the loot, rewarding players for their hard work in dispatching waves of enemies. As far as looter shooters go, Outriders doesn’t turn the genre on its head but it does provide a solidly delivered online gaming experience.

5. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

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Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six has become a franchise in itself, with 2015’s Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege serving as something of a soft reboot to the classic tactical shooter. In the face of a global terrorist syndicate known as the White Masks causing violent chaos worldwide, the international counter-terrorism force Rainbow Six is reactivated under new leadership to dismantle this new enemy. Playing out from a first-person perspective, counter-terrorist teams attack strongholds held by terrorist groups leading to fierce firefights with different gear loadouts and careful coordination.

With a variety of maps and game modes, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege has only continued to gain momentum online in the years since its launch. True to its title, the game revolves around an attacker-versus-defender premise, and features destructible environments to make the gameplay more engaging and entertainingly chaotic. Placing a strong emphasis on teamwork and tactics like the original Rainbow Six games, Rainbow Six Siege really excels at providing quick combat and rewarding calculated tactics rather than the going in guns blazing strategy that so many shooters rely on.

4. Halo Infinite

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When Microsoft’s tried-and-true Halo franchise arrived on the Xbox Series X|S with 2021’s Halo Infinite, it did so with the iconic first-person shooter franchise’s boldest mainline entry yet. The game has Master Chief and a contingent of UNSC forces stranded on a remote Halo ring linked to the malevolent artificial intelligence program Cortana. Master Chief battles through waves of Banished, rogue Covenant forces, as he seeks to learn what happened to Cortana and stop Harbinger, an entity unleashed from the inner recesses of the Halo ring.

Halo Infinite retools its campaign mode to be a guided open-world experience rather than divide the campaign into clear levels, while also allowing for cooperative multiplayer. Halo Infinite’s competitive multiplayer is divided into a whole array of game modes that fans will recognize, from battle royales to team-based games. A return to form for the franchise after the divisive Halo 5: Guardians, Halo Infinite is an accessible and fun installment of the long-running series.

3. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

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Call of Duty has been a gaming institution for decades, evolving from its World War II shooter roots to cover everything from blockbuster, globe-spanning action to even science fiction and horror. The shooter franchise takes its next step into the future with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which brings the international clandestine action to the turbulent 1990s. As with the past several Call of Duty games, Black Ops 6 comes with an updated version of Call of Duty: Warzone, its free-to-play online multiplayer experience.

It’s in Warzone that the similarities between Call of Duty and Destiny become more visibly apparent and more than just both games being online multiplayer titles. With a set of missions set within the Black Ops timeline, Warzone is sure to get its own overhaul with the release of Black Ops 6. After the bitter aftertaste of 2023’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 remake, Black Ops 6 is ready to restore luster to the shooter series.

2. Apex Legends

• Apex Legends at Amazon

Ever since 2019, gamers have battled in team-based battle royales on a variety of platforms in Electronic Arts’ popular shooter Apex Legends. Players can take each other on in teams of three or two in a science world set in the same universe as Respawn Entertainment’s popular Titanfall games. As with many battle royales, the arena steadily shrinks as a given match progresses, leaving the surviving players increasingly limited real estate space to emerge victorious from the fight.

Since its launch, EA and Respawn have consistently supported Apex Legends with new seasons’ worth of content and events to keep the community thriving and vibrant. The game is a fantastic example of sticking by a live service title years after its debut, with the developers working hard to refine the overall experience. With its memorable playable characters and frenetic combat, Apex Legends has only gotten stronger since it first hit the scene.

1. Helldivers II

• Helldivers 2 at Amazon

Forget the shaky Sony revision in its approach to offering the game on PC because Helldivers II is still one of the best online experiences launched in 2024. The game takes place in a sci-fi world where planets colonized by humans are becoming overrun by insectoid monsters and malevolent sentient robots, prompting shock troops being deployed to wipe out these enemies. Players work together online, dropped into a variety of planets and mission types as they face hordes of enemies from a range of difficulties.

Helldivers II is just a lot of fun and its online matchmaking and mission structure make it easy to pick up and play rather than having to dedicate your time to an entire prolonged campaign. Developer Arrowhead Game Studios has provided a steady stream of post-launch support keeping the game experience feeling fresh and engaging while maintaining smooth online gameplay. A masterclass in third-person online shooter gameplay, Helldivers II is one of the best PlayStation 5/PC exclusive online games in recent memory.

1. Connection Issues

The beta weekends for BO6 were mainly about getting the Multiplayer experience into the hands of the community. However, they were also about gathering feedback and data so that Treyarch could make adjustments for the launch and beyond. One major issue that the developers should be trying to rectify immediately based on player feedback is the rough connection.

From packet bursting to stutters to lag spikes to high latency, there was no shortage of connection problems during the BO6 beta. Regardless of your system or internet speeds, you likely saw some form of lag or the dreaded packet burst icon on your screen. While a Call of Duty title will never have perfect connection, Treyarch needs to figure out why so many players had such a difficult time maintaining a stable connection to the servers in BO6. If not, players won’t get to enjoy all the shiny new features the game has to offer.

2. Map Spawns

Speaking of gathering data from the beta, we sincerely hope that Treyarch got plenty of data regarding spawns in BO6. During the first weekend of the beta, the spawns on every map were absolutely abysmal. You couldn’t walk ten feet after spawning without seeing an enemy, regardless of the map or game mode. While this is to be expected on the Strike maps, that should rarely be the case on a 6v6 map such as Skyline or Derelict.

The second weekend of the beta saw improved spawns after Treyarch was able to gather data. However, the spawns across the board still weren’t great, especially in Hardpoint. Too many times, I would spawn directly near a Hardpoint an enemy was occupying or an enemy would spawn behind me when our team had full control of that side of the map. We won’t even mention the spawns on Babylon, which need some serious work. Hopefully, since that map was only available during the second weekend, Treyarch got enough data to make changes for launch.

3. PC Optimization

If you played the BO6 beta on PC, you likely experienced fewer frames than you are used to on other Call of Duty titles. For some reason, it appears as though BO6 is massively unoptimized for PC, regardless of what hardware you have in your rig. Personally, I’m used to a consistent 300 fps on MW3 using low-medium settings, but in BO6, I could barely crack 200 on most maps.

Related: Is Black Ops 6 Vault Edition Worth It?

It seemed like whatever graphics settings you used or changed, they wouldn’t make a difference in your overall fps. This could either be a bug or a sign of unoptimization. In any case, there needs to be some changes made to how BO6 runs on PC, especially for systems that just meet the recommended requirements.

4. Weapon Balance

I know, I know, talking about weapon balance before a game has even been released yet can be seen as premature. However, putting aside the Jackal PDW and all of its dominance, I feel the weapon categories outside of SMGs could use more love. The three assault rifles we got to use in the BO6 beta didn’t feel as smooth to use as the SMGs, even at longer ranges, and the snipers were extremely difficult to operate. The lone shotgun we had access to also felt underpowered and clunky.

While I certainly don’t want Treyarch to go overboard with the weapon balancing, I think some adjustments could be made to entice players to use something besides an SMG. Given the smaller map direction the developers are going for, giving the longer-range weapons faster mobility or slightly improved accuracy will make them a more viable option.

Of course, we haven’t seen the full weapon slate in BO6, so this isn’t a major issue yet. If the beta is anything to go by, though, your lobbies are going to be filled with dominant SMGs unless Treyarch makes some balancing changes.

5. Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM)

If you follow the Call of Duty franchise at all, you had to know this was coming. Skill-based matchmaking has been talked about to death over the past several years, so there’s little point in harping on it. For posterity’s sake, though, I’ll mention that the SBMM in the beta felt cranked up to a new level. While this likely has to do with the fact that only a limited number of players took part in the beta, lobbies still felt “sweatier” than usual.

Activision has made it clear that a majority of the player base benefits from SBMM. However, this doesn’t mean the developers can’t institute some ways for players to relive the glory days in public matches. Making lobbies no longer disband would be a huge win for the community, for example. Also, perhaps a playlist that features no SBMM, which Activision has theorized in the past, could work for a limited time.

There’s no way Activision is getting rid of SBMM, but providing some ways for players to look slightly past it would be extremely welcome.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launches on Oct. 25 for PC, PlayStation 4+5, and Xbox One/Series X|S.

Black Ops 6 Beta Felt Like “Small Map Moshpit”

Since the integration of Warzone into the Call of Duty franchise, it seems as though the series has focused more and more on small maps. Playlists featuring maps like Shipment have become exceedingly popular, as players want to get into action fast to grind weapons to unlock their attachments and camos.

For some players, this has led to fatigue. Due to how much more time-consuming it is to grind outside of playlists like Shipment 24/7 or Small Map Moshpit, many players are begrudgingly spending most of their time in these playlists.

Fans were hoping to get more map variety in Black Ops 6 and its beta. However, many were left disappointed by the size (or lack thereof) of the maps on offer across the game’s two beta weekends. Thankfully, Treyarch has assured fans that the maps on offer in the Black Ops 6 beta are among its smallest.

Black Ops 6 Will Feature Mostly Medium-Size Maps

While it seems Treyarch may have focused on close quarters maps to gather more data on the game before launch, the full release is said to feature maps mostly comparable to Summit and Raid from Black Ops and Black Ops 2, respectively.

To further put these concerns to rest, Treyarch shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) and confirmed the map size for every map coming to launch for Black Ops 6 Multiplayer. The list goes as follows:

• Vault – Medium
• Protocol – Medium
• Lowtown – Medium
• Red Card – Medium
• Vorkuta – Medium
• Skyline – Medium
• Rewind – Medium
• Scud – Medium
• Subsonic – Small
• Payback – Small
• Babylon – Small
• Derelict – Small
• Warhead – Strike
• Pit – Strike
• Gala – Strike
• Stakeout – Strike

Of BO6‘s multiplayer’s 12 core launch maps, eight of them are medium-sized. The four Strike maps were built for the 2v2 Gunfight mode but can also feature 6v6 matches in the Face Off Playlist.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is available on October 25th.

What is a Point Blank Kill in Black Ops 6? Asnwered

The easiest way to think of a Point Blank Kill in Call Of Duty is as the inverse of a Longshot. Whereas the latter rewards players for killing enemy Operators at an extreme distance, Point Blank kills are preformed at extremely close range. While this sounds fairly straightforward, it can be more complicated than one would think.

How to Get a Point Blank Kill in Black Ops 6

Again, a Point Blank Kill Medal will only be awarded for kills made at extremely close range. While one might think most kills at SMGs’ and Shotguns’ effective ranges would count, players will need to get even closer to enemies to score this kind of kill. To get a Point Blank Kill, you’ll practically need to be making contact between the barrel of your weapon and the body of your enemy. While no official number has been given as of yet, in Black Ops 6 it seems as though players will need to be practically barrel stuffing an enemy to earn a Point Blank Kill.

Another reason that Point Blank Kills are tougher to get in Black Ops 6 is due to the game’s new Aim Assist system. While Aim Assist has seemingly been nerfed across the board, it practically turns off at Point Blank range, meaning players will need to be more accurate than ever before to get Point Blank Kills.

As such, Stealth is truly the best way to go after Point Blank Kills in Black Ops 6. Using perks like Ninja and Ghost, as well as equipping Suppressors on your weapons, will help keep a low profile so you can sneak up on enemies and get Point Blank Kills from behind. Using the weapon in your dedicated Melee slot in Black Ops 6 will also help tremendously. All Melee kills are considered Point Blank Kills in Black Ops 6, so using weapons like the Combat Knife or Baseball Bat will guarantee this type of Medal is earned.

10. Call of Duty

Coming in at the number 10 spot is Call of Duty. This application houses every Call Of Duty entry since Modern Warfare II, including Warzone. The all-time player peak for this iteration of the iconic FPS Franchise is 491,760. The most recent 24 Hour Peak (as of August 28th) is 74,559. Since Black Ops 6 will also launch within the Call of Duty App this fall, its entirely possible that this number will surge again, if not even beat its current all-time peak.

9. Valheim

Coming in at number 9 is Valheim. This massive survival game had a huge moment, even surpassing the all-time player peak of Call of Duty. Valheim, which released back in 2021, has an all-time player peak of just over a half million players with 502,387. As time has passed and lockdown has lifted, the game lost much of its initial hype but still retains a healthy community. Within the last 24 hours, Valheim has a peak concurrent player count of 22,750.

8. Apex Legends

Apex Legends has a lot to love for FPS fans, so its no surprise its on this list. Apex Legends is a free-to-play battle royale game, with hero shooter elements. As an added bonus, it exists within the Titanfall universe and comes to us from Respawn, a world class studio with veterans from the Golden Age of Call of Duty. With all that considered, Apex Legends appeals to a lot of fans, which is why its reached an all-time player peak of 624,473.

7. Goose Goose Duck

Goose Goose Duck is a silly strategy game, where players compete against eachother in various competitive mini-games. This title also had a massive moment during the pandemic, and hit an all-time player peak of 702,845 after releasing back in 2021. Unfortunately, this moment has long since passed, with only 17,733 players in the last 24-hour peak.

6. New World

This MMORPG from Amazon Games had an absolutely massive launch. Prospective fans were so excited to check out the game and see if it could be the next big thing. While it had a massive player base around launch, players quickly begun to see the issues with the title and its content, and New World fell off pretty hard. New World had its all-time player peak come up just shy of a million with 913,634 players. The most recent 24-hour peak is a far cry from that, at 4,109 players.

5. Dota 2

Dota 2 was and still is one of the most popular multiplayer titles on PC, and its Steam numbers back that up. This massive MOBA released all the way back in 2013, and in the decade since has reached an all-time player peak of 1,295,114 players. The game has also retained a big chunk of its playerbase, with a peak of 595,514 players in the last 24 hours.

4. Lost Ark

Lost Ark is a free-to-play action MMORPG, and like New World is published by Amazon Games. While this title had a massive player peak of well over a million players -with 1,325,305 to be exact- the game unfortunately has a far lower player peak count now. Within the last 24 hours, that peak is 22,968 Players. However, the game is still receiving regular updates, so it is possible that some new content down the line could give Lost Ark another big resurgence.

3. Counter Strike 2

Counter Strike is one of, if not the, most popular competitive shooter in the world. Popular on PC for over a decade, this tactical, high-stakes FPS got a complete overhaul a few years ago, turning CS:GO into Counter Strike 2. Due in no small part to its compelling cosmetics grind and in-game economy, Counter Strike 2 is still massively popular. With an all-time player peak of 1,818,773 players, the game is still going strong retaining the majority of its massive community with 1,354,604 players at its Peak in the last 24 hours.

2. Palworld

Coming in as the runner-up is Palworld. This game went extremely viral when it launched in Early Access at the beginning of the year, and drew lots of attention for its “Pokemon with guns” elevator pitch. The game was a blast to play and explore for the first time and there’s plenty of content still to come on the road to launch. When the hype was high, Palworld reached an all-time player peak of 2,101,867 players. Unfortunately, only 28,552 were online concurrently at its most recent 24 hour peak.

1. PUBG: Battlegrounds

With how massive the battle royale craze has been in the last half decade, its no surprise that the OG is at the top of the list for the highest all-time player peaks for multiplayer games on Steam. PUBG absolutely dominated with fans and content creators by getting into the battle royale market ahead of successors like Fortnite and Warzone. PUGB peaked with an incredible all-time player peak of 3,257,248. The title is still going strong and pulling great numbers, with a peak of 607,749 in the last 24 hours.

And those are the top 10 multiplayer titles with the highest all-time player peak counts on Steam. For now.

Season 5 Reloaded of MW3 & Warzone Reorganizes Call Of Duty HQ

Aside from beginning new weapons, events and other playable content, Call of Duty Season 5 Reloaded also seeks to fix some backend issues. As revealed in a new Roadmap and Blog Post, August 21st will bring in a new “Call of Duty Tech Update” to reorganize data to prepare for Black Ops 6 launch this Fall.

In news that is sure to bring relief to fans, this will be the first of many updates to bring new optimizations, which will decrease the download size of Call of Duty in the future. With these optimizations and updates, Black Ops 6 is said to launch with a smaller download size than Modern Warfare 3 had at its launch last November.

The August 21st update will implement Game file reorganization, implement new texture streaming tech, and make Call of Duty: Warzone a separate download from the franchise’s annual premium titles. This means, for example, that this fall Black Ops 6 Zombies fans who are only interested in playing that mode will not have Warzone needlessly taking up precious space on their hard drives. By default, downloading an annual COD installment will only download that game.

Call of Duty Season 5 Reloaded also adds Expanded Texture Streaming Technologies. In an effort to further reduce file size, this technology will allow high quality versions of textures which players see less often to stream from the internet, rather than needing to be installed locally onto their console or PC. Players will be able to choose to use this feature at an optimized or minimal setting, with high-fidelity or reduced graphical quality respectively.

The File Size for the Season 5 Reloaded Update will be larger than standard updates, but will not add that size to the game’s file size. This large update serves to re-organize COD HQ, and will lead to smaller downloaded sizes overall as we head toward Black Ops 6 launch.

Carentan (Call of Duty 2)

Starting off the list is a map that debuted all the way back in the early days of Call of Duty. This fast-paced multiplayer map was one of the franchise’s earliest depictions of online urban combat. Inspired by a rural town that saw combat in World War II, this map turns a quaint town in Northern France into a frenzy of fast action. Carentan is the perfect place to use some of history’s most iconic SMGs, like the MP-40.

Carentan features narrow streets, close-quarters buildings, and some power positions to lock down lanes and secure objectives. While players are used to CQC in Call of Duty today, thanks to modes like Modern Warfare 3’s Small Map Moshpit, it’s hard to overstate how iconic this map was in Call of Duty 2.

Unfortunately, Carentan has been lost to time for many fans, as it hasn’t appeared in a Call of Duty game since 2017’s WWII and was absent for over a decade before that. However, the map has been immortalized by birthing one of the best bits in The Office.

Combine (Black Ops 3)

From the complete opposite end of the CoD spectrum comes Combine. This futuristic map features a high-tech research facility in the middle of the Sahara.

When players first got their hands on Combine in the Black Ops 3 beta, it became an instant classic. This map showcases Treyarch’s iconic three-lane map design, affinity for vibrant colors, and excellent object placement, making it a blast to play from Domination to Search & Destroy.

Combine also perfectly highlighted that game’s advanced movement mechanic, with wall running and boost jumping providing flanking opportunities. While the Jetpack Era of CoD proved controversial, most folks could agree Combine was one of the game’s best maps.

Das Haus (Vanguard)

While most CoD fans consider Vanguard underwhelming (to put it nicely), there’s no denying Das Haus housed some of its best matches. This original map featured a recreation of the White House’s West Wing in a remote German Forest. The setting lends itself extremely well to Vanguard’s WWII Special Ops theme.

Das Haus, aside from its excellent setting, played incredibly well. This is masterclass three-lane map design, with a long lane down the middle and close quarters on either side. Das Haus became the home for Camo Grinders, as there was no better place to get into fast action in Vanguard than here.

For a title with lots of flaws, Das Haus was a welcome bit of Call of Duty chaos, and was well suited to classic modes like TDM and Domination, as well as new additions like Patrol. With the constantly moving objective in Patrol, this map proved that every inch of it could become a chokepoint.

Dome (World at War)

Dome is another classic map which features an iconic World War II location. Set atop the Reichstag Building, this tiny map has players fight on a Rooftop with views of the Battle of Berlin. Dome is extremely close-quarters, which was dialed up to 11 in its Vanguard Remaster with Blitz Combat Pacing.

Still, the World at War original remains the best. Matches on this map were an absolute bloodbath, due to the titles grit and gore. World at War had simplified Killstreaks, with Artillery and Attack Dogs able to absolutely decimate enemies on Dome. A well-placed airstrike could take out players on a large chunk of the map, and packs of dogs would become quickly overwhelming on such a small arena.

Dome plays great regardless of mode. 1v1 matches played great here before Rust and Nuketown made them skyrocket in popularity. Search & Destroy is tense. The real standout, though is War, which saw players fight to be King of the Hill in a linear order, pushing through the map to gain momentum and capture it fully.

Firing Range (Black Ops)

Firing Range is rightfully iconic. This medium-sized map saw players fighting over a military base, with every sort of engagement you can imagine. Firing Range housed close quarters buildings for SMGs and shotguns, long lanes for assault rifles, and the best power position in Call of Duty history.

The tall tower in the middle leaves prospective snipers vulnerable as they slowly climb this several story ladder. However, players who made it to the top were rewarded with an overpowered overwatch position with excellent views of key chokepoints like Domination’s B Flag.

If you manage to find a slow moment on Firing Range (likely in a private match), you’ll find plenty of easter eggs. There’s all sorts of discarded beer bottles, graffiti, and even references to Zombies mode.

Hijacked (Black Ops 2)

Hijacked is the ultimate vacation gone wrong. Wishing players a “Vahn Boyage” as a tribute to developer David Vonderhaar, this map turns a gorgeous super yacht into a slaughterhouse. Hijacked is a near-symmetrical map, with every power position having an equal counter. The map is incredibly well balanced and has perfect objective placement in every mode. Even in modes like TDM and Free-for-All, players are still naturally funneled to each other, which prevented those games from being too campy.

Hijacked was the perfect map to serve as introduction to the Hardpoint mode, and is still among its best. Rotating from room to room, experiencing Cabins, Kitchens, and Below Deck Maintenance Tunnels all in one session made for unforgettable matches.

Nuketown 2025 (Black Ops 2)

With several iterations to pick from, picking a favorite Nuketown is no easy task. Still, the Black Ops 2 version reigns supreme. Nuketown 2025 depicts a Retro Future, showcasing what people from the 1960s might’ve expected from the 2020s. The map improves on the vibe of the iconic Nuketown from Black Ops with a new, mid-century-modern aesthetic.

Nuketown 2025 plays the best of any iteration of the iconic map too. Black Ops 2’s excellent arsenal of weapons and Score Streaks make for an even more fast paced map than the original. The near-future tech of Black Ops 2 created new combat opportunities, with more powerful Air Support and a wider array of equipment than in the original. This somehow improved on what was already a perfect map. Nuketown’s iconic cul-de-sac and evenly matched twin houses provided for an evenly balanced combat experience. Just about every spot has a counter, so matches on Nuketown 2025 are frenetic but fair.

Raid (Black Ops 2)

Raid is yet another iconic map Treyarch introduced in Black Ops 2. This mansion on the outskirts of LA provides a unique setting which players still pine for after several remasters. Raid, like Hijacked, has its action set in and around the peaks of luxury. There’s some interesting world building on the map, with drugs and massive wads of cash stashed around the map.

Raid is more of a medium sized map, but it still sees plenty of action. Players are able to take combat at their own pace based on which lane they choose. The middle courtyard, Pool Deck, and Fountain each provide unique gunfights. Excellent objective placement ensures each sees use throughout the match. Raid does a great job of creating smaller gunfights, which can all funnel into all out brawls around Domination point B or certain Hardpoints.

Rust (Modern Warfare 2)

Rust is more than just a map, it was a moment. While Rust still plays great in the current MW3 today, its appearance in the original Modern Warfare 2 is iconic.

Rust bore a whole new culture of trick shotting, quickscoping, and 1v1s. This map, centered around a singular giant structure, is remembered most fondly for settling scores in private matches. However, Rust plays excellent in public matches too. Having two teams of six here creates extremely fast paced matches. The open air of Rust also makes it the best place to try out MW2‘s overpowered Killstreaks. Between that and the camper’s paradise at the very top of the tower, Rust is the best place to grind for Nukes.

Terminal (Modern Warfare 2)

Terminal truly does it all, and it’s our choice for the best Call of Duty map of all time. As a medium-large map, it has much better pacing than a lot of our favorites. It offers close quarters combat, but can provide some downtime between engagements.

Terminal offers players lots of options as to how they want to approach combat. Depending on the mode, there are lots of viable spots that will see action. Some folks will try and fight over the airplane cockpit to get a vantage point of the bridge. Others will do trick shots off Terminal’s heights. You’ll even find players who hold out at Burger Town.

Terminal still stands the test of time, as evidenced in Sledgehammer’s Modern Warfare 3. The map plays great even in modes that were introduced after its original appearance in MW2. Even though it’s still a blast to play Terminal on these newer modes like Infected and Hardpoint today, the original still holds up the best with MW2‘s delightfully overpowered arsenal.

Call of Duty is available to play now.

Black Ops 6 Zombies Story and Characters

Black Ops 6 Zombies will continue the Dark Aether storyline from where it left off in Black Ops Cold War. At the end of that game, the heads of Requiem were incarcerated as Edward Richtofen was revealed to be the director of Requiem. Black Ops 6 Zombies re-introduces us to these characters years later in 1991, on the brand-new map Terminus.

For the first time since Black Ops 4 Zombies, Black Ops 6 has a set crew of characters fans will play as. This new crew includes three familiar faces from Requiem: Weaver, Dr. Grey, and Major Carver. These characters spoke to the player via radio in Black Ops: Cold War Zombies but are now playable in Black Ops 6. This crew is rounded out by a fourth brand-new character named Maya.

Additional familiar faces will also support the playable cast. Re-introduced in the Terminus Cinematic Trailer, an additional trio from Black Ops: Cold War joins the roster in Black Ops 6. Raptor One will help the crew Exfil from Terminus, and Oskar Strauss and Dr. William Peck will talk to the playable crew throughout the map as they attempt to track down Richtofen’s location.

It has been confirmed that players will also be able to play as their Operators on Terminus in Black Ops 6 Zombies, should they so choose. This means that characters from the Black Ops story, such as Adler, Park, and Woods, will be playable in Zombies. There are also some Zombies characters available as Operators from the Vault Edition of Black Ops 6. The Brutus and Klaus Operators, who fans will remember as NPCs from Mob of the Dead and Mauer Der Toten respectively, will be playable as well.

Since both Black Ops 6 Zombies launch maps take place concurrently, the main playable crew from Terminus will not be playable on Liberty Falls. Instead, players will have to choose from their list of Operators on that map.

Black Ops 6 Zombies Maps

Black Ops 6 Zombies will have two Round-Based maps at launch. The one we’ve seen the most of so far is called Terminus. Terminus is set in and around a Prison-Island Blacksite. Along with the Terminus Gameplay Trailer, Treyarch shared 17 minutes of official Gameplay with press. In addition, the developer held a press event for media and influencers to play 45 minutes of Black Ops 6 Zombies on Terminus early and share their impressions.

From what we’ve seen, Terminus is a massive and detailed map. Not only does Terminus take place on its titular island but players will be able to explore research facilities beneath its surface, and other islands around it. This is said to be one of the largest Round-Based Zombies Maps of all time, and Treyarch has introduced a Tactical Raft to get around it faster and with more ease.

Terminus will provide lots of location variety to Black Ops 6 Zombies. The map features the main Prison, Research Facilities that house twisted experiments, an abandoned ship, and several small islands.

The second map arriving at launch is called Liberty Falls. Liberty Falls has been referenced before through Intel in Modern Warfare Zombies. This map is set at the same time as Terminus, as a Dark Aether Incursion creates an Outbreak in a small town in West Virginia, and it seems to be modeled after the real-world town of Harper’s Ferry, as well as incorporating aspects of Black Ops 2 Zombies’ Tranzit.

Having been described as less complex, Liberty Falls has a vastly different atmosphere compared to Terminus. And of the two launch maps, Liberty Falls will likely provide the more straightforward survival experience.

In a rare move for CoD Zombies, Liberty Falls is set during the day. It will feature several recognizable buildings, including a Blockbuster-esque video store, motel, gas station, bowling alley, and church.

Treyarch included a short teaser for this Black Ops 6 Zombies map at the end of the Terminus trailer and promised gameplay will be shown at the COD Next event on August 28th. While much of the map still remains to be seen, it seems like it will have plenty for Zombies fans. The short teaser showcased vehicles bearing the name “Project Janus,” the title of Richtofen’s grand scheme. In addition, it seems players will be able to explore the Dark Aether in a major way for the first time since Die Maschine in Black Ops Cold War.

Black Ops 6 Zombies Gameplay

Treyarch says they took inspiration from Black Ops 3 and Black Ops Cold War when developing Black Ops 6 Zombies. This is welcome news to fans, as these two entries are the most revered in the franchise.

Zombies will also benefit from the innovations made in Black Ops 6. Fans can look forward to progressing through classic Prestige in Zombies, with shared progression for Player XP and Weapon Level across Zombies, Multiplayer, and Warzone. The Omnimovement feature is also fully present here, giving players more options for movement in and around the hordes than ever before, with the ability to sprint, slide, and dive in any direction.

As expected, many of the features signature to Zombies will return, as well as some newer inclusions from Black Ops Cold War. Players can get better weapons (including Wonder Weapons) through Wall Buys and the Mystery Box, which again feature Cold War’s Weapon Rarity system. Perks and Traps also return to aid player survivability. At launch, Black Ops 6 Zombies will feature Jugger-Nog, Quick Revive, Speed Cola, Stamin-Up, Deadshot Daiquiri, Elemental Pop, and the all-new Melee Macchiato

The return of the iconic Black Ops Dolphin Dive makes way for the return of the iconic PhD Flopper as well. This perk negates self-inflicted explosive damage, and diving to prone triggers an explosion that is more powerful the further you fall. Players will also suffer no fall damage when diving to prone. While this perk is currently available in Modern Warfare 3 Zombies, Black Ops 6 marks its return to Treyarch’s Round-Based Zombies for the first time in over a decade.

Weapon and Armor upgrades return as well, albeit a bit differently this time. The Pack-A-Punch Machine has been simplified since Cold War Zombies, and using it will no longer launch players into a menu in Black Ops 6. Instead, spending the appropriate amount of points will spout out the upgraded weapons immediately. Ammo mods can be crafted with Salvage at the new Arsenal Machine, which now uses only one simplified form of Salvage. Armor is now a Wall Buy, with players able to purchase Higher-Tier Vests, with room for additional armor plates.

We also know that GobbleGums will return in Black Ops 6. This system allows players to bring in a pack of several Gumballs, selectable before each match, which players can dispense through Gumball machines found around the map. This system was a major part of Call Of Duty Black Ops 3 but hasn’t appeared since. This time around, the Blue Bunny Rabbit “Mister Peeks” is the owner of the Gobblegum Machine. The Machine is adorned with his iconography, complete with a new, creepy jingle and animations. Black Ops 6 allows players to store three GobbleGums at a time, which can be activated and consumed at a time of their choosing.

Players will want to utilize all these upgrades, as Black Ops 6 Zombies includes several powerful enemy types. These include armored Zombies, Parasites, Manglers, and more.

Black Ops 6 Zombies Introduces New Quality-of-Life Features

Lastly, Treyarch shared intel on new quality-of-life features that will improve player experiences in Black Ops 6 Zombies. The new QoL improvements are as follows:

• Join a friend’s match in progress, even if you disconnect
• Toggle Pack-a-Punch camos in Settings
• Change your Field Upgrade mid-match
• Switch GobbleGum packs at any time
• Option to keep playing after completing the Main Quest
• HUD Customization
• Third Person toggle in Settings
• Rampage Inducer available at launch + more

It seems apparent that Zombies fans are in for a treat when Black Ops 6 launches. On top of the two brand-new maps and added depth to gameplay, players will have lots to keep them coming back. Look forward to unlocking unique Zombies Mastery Camos, Reticles, Calling Cards, Dark Ops Challenges, Daily Challenges, and Unique Main Quest Rewards at launch. For players who prefer to complete Easter Eggs with a guide, Treyarch will be releasing a Guided Playlist for the Main Quest after players discover all of its steps after release.

Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 Releases on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Game Pass on October 25th.

The above article was updated on 8/11/24 by Haiden Lovely to include all the most up-to-date info about Black Ops 6 Zombies.

The Fallout Bundle Might Be Pay to Win

By this point, Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone players are familiar with Weapon Blueprints. These variants include a new themed skin for the weapon, and usually come pre-equipped with some attachments. The weapons on offer in the Fallout Vault Dweller bundle do just that. The issue lies in the HRM-9 Blueprint, called the Atomic Disintegrator. This weapon is fairly standard, long-range SMG build players might expect to see in Warzone. However, there is one attachment that gives players a clear competitive advantage.

Vault Dwellers Get Access to Exclusive Optic

With the Vault Dwellers Bundle, players gain access to a new variant of the FSS Spectre Microtherm. This low zoom optic brings the heat-seeking target acquisition seen in thermal scopes to an attachment smaller than a standard Holographic Sight. However, the attachment usually doesn’t see much use in MW3 and Warzone. This is because the ADS picture is black and white and a little blurry. Enemies are highlighted in a brighter white than anything else, but it is still fairly subtle.

The version of this optic that comes with the Atomic Disintegrator Blueprint changes that. Colors are not muted nearly as much with this iteration attachment, and enemies stand out with a green glow. As the comparison above shows, this makes it far easier to spot targets. Players who purchase this bundle are also able to use this specific version of the attachment on any weapon where the FSS Spectre Microtherm is available. Let’s hope Sledgehammer Games gives this attachment a nerf before the Fallout bundle does too much damage to the META in MW3.