For the first time in a very long time, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 felt like the complete package at launch. Rather than just rely on remastered content, Black Ops 6 shipped with 16 original 6v6 maps. Rather than deliver another bloated open-world Zombies mode, Black Ops 6 delivered the long-awaited return of classic round-based Zombies, complete with plenty of Easter eggs. And rather than deliver a disappointingly short and dull story mode, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launched with a full-length campaign packed with twists, turns, and set pieces.
But while Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 feels more complete than the last few Call of Duty entries, it doesn't quite have everything on fans' wish lists. There are still a handful of features that fans want to see in Black Ops 6, and that includes the return of a classic game mode.
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Call of Duty's Gun Game Deserves to Return in Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Has a Severe Lack of Party Modes
While they may not be played as frequently as standard game modes like Team Deathmatch, Search & Destroy, Hardpoint, and Domination, Call of Duty's party game modes still play an important role in the franchise's ecosystem, offering a more lighthearted alternative to the series' more competitive experiences. But as Call of Duty has continued to change over the years, as has its relationship with its party modes.
Aside from Prop Hunt and Infected, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has a severe lack of party game modes, at least in its current state. While there are plenty of modes for fans to enjoy in Black Ops 6, the lack of staples like One in the Chamber, Sticks and Stones, and, of course, Gun Game certainly feels like a loss for what should be the most complete Call of Duty entry to date. But it's not too late to change things.
Call of Duty's Gun Game Has a Habit of Arriving Late
A game mode that sees players switching weapons each time they defeat an enemy, Gun Game has been one of the most revered party modes in Call of Duty history. Though, strangely, Gun Game has a habit of arriving to the party late.
Though Gun Game was present on launch day for Call of Duty: Black Ops, Black Ops 2, Black Ops 3, Ghosts, and Infinite Warfare, it was added to Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare around three months after launch. For Call of Duty: WW2, Gun Game was added a month after launch with the release of the Winter Siege event. And for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Gun Game was added as a limited-time playlist a few weeks after launch.
This trend has become even more prevalent in recent years, with Gun Game making its return in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Black Ops Cold War, Vanguard, Modern Warfare 2, and Modern Warfare 3 all during their post-launch rollouts. There's a strong possibility that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 follows this pattern and adds Gun Game in one of its upcoming post-launch seasons, and that's something many fans would love.
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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.
- Cross Save
- Yes - PlayStation, Xbox, PC
- Prequel(s)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Call of Duty: World at War
- Franchise
- Call of Duty
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical or Horizontal
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- October 25, 2024
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- October 25, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- October 25, 2024
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- File Size Xbox Series
- 216 GB (October 2024)
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
