One of the hallmarks of Call of Duty for over a decade has been the Zombies mode. What was once a terrifying surprise at the end of World at War's campaign has cemented itself as one of the most influential game modes in the industry, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 looks to include one of the most ambitious iterations of Zombies yet. Developer Treyarch has offered deep dives into how Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is expanding on the undead action, while also bringing it back to basics. From round-based matches to the return of classic perks like PhD Flopper, there already looks to be something for everyone to enjoy.

Black Ops 6's Zombies mode will expand on the long-running story that Treyarch has been telling since 2008. Though many of the fan-favorite characters introduced in the early days of Zombies aren't around anymore, Black Ops 6 still provides a through-line with its cast. This next chapter in the Zombies story serves as a direct sequel to the events of Black Ops Cold War, with many of the same operatives set to return. Players will also find themselves back in control of Black Ops Zombies royalty, in what should be a welcome return for longtime fans.

Black Ops 6 Zombies' Playable Characters Explained

Black Ops 6 will have two Zombies maps at launch: Terminus and Liberty Falls. The playable characters for the former have been shown in great detail through cinematic and gameplay reveals, but those featured in the latter are still somewhat ambiguous. Though players seem to have some freedom in which operators they choose for Zombies, there are four which are essential to its narrative experience. Some of these faces will surely be familiar to gamers who have closely followed CoD's recent Zombies storyline, but one in particular introduces a new wrinkle into the perilous proceedings.

Terminus' Main Operators

  • Grigori Weaver: Commander of the Requiem squad that wiped out hordes of the undead in Black Ops Cold War, Grigori Weaver is an essential component of the overarching Black Ops storyline. After his squad succeeded in quelling an interdimensional threat, they were all arrested as part of an even bigger plot. Now having spent five years on Terminus Island, Weaver is determined to find his former director, Edward Richtofen, and survive yet another zombie outbreak.
  • Elizabeth Grey: Once an eager scientist, Elizabeth Grey has become a hardened member of Requiem after the events of Black Ops Cold War. She had a close relationship with Samantha Maxis, a squad member who became deeply intertwined in the source of the zombie outbreaks. After Maxis sacrificed herself in an attempt to end the zombie threat, Grey transformed into a less naive version of herself that's more than capable of holding her own.
  • Mac Carver: Mackenzie "Mac" Carver is a military man through-and-through. After serving in Vietnam, Carver became a member of the CIA where he worked for over a decade before joining the Office of Requiem. He proved to be a valuable member of the team and its fight against the Dark Aether, so much so that he too was arrested following its battle against the Forsaken.
  • Maya Aguinaldo: The newest addition to the recent Zombies storyline, Maya Aguinaldo is a smuggler in search of her lost brother. Her mission has brought her to Terminus Island, where she's partnered with Black Ops Cold War antagonist William Peck to free the imprisoned members of Requiem. Little else is known about her now, but she could end up playing a significant role in Black Ops 6's Zombies narrative.

Treyarch has developed an interconnected storyline more complex than some long-running television shows with its Zombies mode, and Black Ops 6 looks to keep that momentum moving. Considering how the story for Black Ops Cold War's Zombies was so concentrated, these may be some of the only playable characters that gamers encounter. If the Liberty Falls cinematic trailer was any indication, however, longtime fans may be able to play as Edward Richtofen for the first time in many years.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Tag Page Cover Art
9 /10

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
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FPS
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Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1 PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
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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
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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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
Genre(s)
FPS