CoD: Black Ops 6 Beta Test Dates Revealed

Get ready for the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 beta! Activision, during the inaugural episode of the official Call of Duty podcast, confirmed the beta testing dates. This article details how to participate.

Black Ops 6 Beta: A Two-Stage Launch

The Black Ops 6 multiplayer beta will launch in two phases. Early access begins August 30th and runs until September 4th, exclusively for those who pre-ordered Black Ops 6 or have active subscriptions to select Game Pass plans. Open beta access follows from September 6th to 9th, open to all players. Mark your calendars!

The full game releases October 25th, 2024, on PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass.

New Gameplay and Mechanics

The podcast revealed exciting new features. Treyarch's Associate Director of Design, Matt Scronce, confirmed Black Ops 6 will launch with 16 multiplayer maps: 12 standard 6v6 maps and four Strike maps playable in 6v6 or 2v2 modes. The beloved Zombies mode returns with two new maps. A new "Omnimovement" mechanic is also being introduced.

Returning fans will appreciate the comeback of the traditional scorestreak system (absent in Black Ops Cold War), where scores reset upon player elimination. A dedicated melee weapon slot is another notable addition, eliminating the need to sacrifice a secondary weapon for a knife—a feature the Treyarch team is particularly enthusiastic about.

A complete Black Ops 6 multiplayer reveal is scheduled for the Call of Duty Next event on August 28th.