Summary
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is currently hosting its early access beta.
- The beta has so far featured four maps, with Skyline being the standout.
- Derelict and Scud get old fast, while the fourth map, Rewind, has an interesting setting but isn't as fun as Skyline.
After spending time with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's multiplayer beta test, I have come away both optimistic about the next entry in the long-running franchise, and a little concerned that the multiplayer experience won't hold my attention as long as it has in previous years. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the most-hyped Call of Duty game since 2019's Modern Warfare reboot. Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software along with various other Activision studios, Black Ops 6 has had the longest development time of any Call of Duty.
Beyond the fact that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has spent more time in the oven than other games in the series, it also seems to be going back to the series' roots in important ways, while simultaneously pushing things forward. For example, Black Ops 6 is bringing back round-based Zombies, but it's introducing a risky new movement system to the core CoD multiplayer experience.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's Omnimovement Training Has a Cruel Twist
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 players point out a mean but interesting detail about the Omnimovement training course in the multiplayer beta.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is introducing omnimovement to the franchise, giving players the ability to sprint and dive in basically any direction. Combined with Black Ops 6's speedy Time to Kill, omnimovement makes this year's Call of Duty one of the fastest to date. Some have voiced concerns about omnimovement not feeling quite "right," but personally, I have found it to be a great addition to the franchise's tried-and-true multiplayer formula. The more time I spent with the Black Ops 6 multiplayer beta, the better omnimovement felt. Going into it, I was concerned about omnimovement and the fast TTK, but in terms of the core multiplayer firefights, I don't have any complaints about what Black Ops 6 is bringing to the table.
Black Ops 6 Hasn't Sold Me on Its Maps
I think omnimovement is fun, the new proximity chat features are hilarious, and the core gameplay is a blast. But based on what I played in the beta, I'm really not sold on Black Ops 6's multiplayer maps. Four maps have been available to play in the Black Ops 6 beta so far: Derelict, Rewind, Scud, and Skyline. Initially, only Derelict, Scud, and Skyline were available in the game, with Rewind added later in the weekend.
I quickly grew tired of Derelict and Scud. Derelict is fine in short bursts, but it's basic, cramped, three-lane design gets old fast. As for Scud, I don't know if it's its size or more open map design, but it had a lot of running around and looking for fights as opposed to actual fighting. Skyline, however, is the gem of the beta. Set on a resort rooftop, Skyline features some extravagant views and impressive interior areas. It lends itself well to both close-quarters combat and medium-range fights, and has some fun Easter eggs like a secret passageway hidden behind a bookshelf. With Black Ops 6 featuring map voting, everyone was always voting for Skyline when it was an option, and for good reason. It's a fun, interesting map and a highlight of the Black Ops 6 multiplayer experience.
Rewind was added to the Black Ops 6 multiplayer beta experience later on. I was relieved to have a fourth map in rotation, and while I didn't play on Rewind as much as the other maps, my takeaway is that it lands somewhere in the middle. I certainly like it a lot more than Derelict and Scud, but it didn't hit quite the same as Skyline. A big advantage that Rewind has is its unique setting. Set at a strip mall, Rewind features a variety of storefronts that players can explore, but it also has a wide-open parking lot and a restaurant that snipers can camp out on. Rewind is fun, but I would still pick Skyline over it, and it seems that many others agree with that sentiment.
Two other maps are supposed to be added to the Black Ops 6 multiplayer beta as part of this first test, but they haven't made their debut at the time of this writing. Pit and Gala are smaller-scale "Strike" maps that will be used for Gunfight but also accommodate 6v6 matches, and both should be in the beta before it wraps up its early access availability on September 4. I have had a lot of fun playing Gunfight in previous Call of Duty games, and I am very much looking forward to trying out Black Ops 6's Strike maps.
When is the Next Black Ops 6 Beta?
- Open beta is September 6 through September 9
The current iteration of the Black Ops 6 beta is limited to those that have pre-ordered the game or those that are signed up for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The next Black Ops 6 beta test takes place from September 6 to September 9 and will be available to everyone. It will feature all the maps as the early access beta, but with a couple more thrown in for good measure. Unless plans change, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 beta testers can look forward to trying out the Babylon core map and the Stakeout Strike map starting September 6. In total, eight of the 16 Black Ops 6 multiplayer maps will be tested during the game's beta period.
With 16 maps at launch, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 multiplayer is bringing a lot of content to the table. I am a little concerned that most of the maps will fall into the Derelict or Scud category, which would keep me from investing too much time in multiplayer, but if they are similar to Skyline quality instead, the multiplayer could be a home run. Rotating between more maps will also help alleviate the repetitiveness that the beta suffered from at times, and maybe when I'm not forced to play them quite as much, Derelict and Scud will grow on me. I've come away from the Black Ops 6 beta optimistic about this year's entry, but I'll need to experience the single-player campaign and Zombies before I can decide if the new game lives up to the hype.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- October 25, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch, Raven Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Engine
- IW 9.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes - PlayStation, Xbox, PC
WHERE TO PLAY
Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, 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. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.
The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.
In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.
Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
- Franchise
- Call of Duty
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- FPS
