Call of Duty 2024: Black Ops 6, Gulf War, classic maps, and everything we know so far

Another CoD game is coming, if you can believe it.

Call of Duty operators from different eras group up.
Image via Activision

Three things in life are certain: Death, taxes, and yearly Call of Duty releases. This year is no different, and when the 2024 installment of the series releases, it will launch a new chapter of an iconic series.

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Call of Duty has confirmed that the 2024 release will be Black Ops 6, returning to the Black Ops universe for the first time since Cold War in 2020. Official info will come sooner rather than later, but for now, we have some information about what players can expect from Black Ops 6.

Here’s everything that’s been leaked, reported, and revealed so far about 2024’s release, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

New Call of Duty 2024 rumors

Call of Duty Black Ops operator
Another new era for CoD. Image via Activision

Much of CoD 2024 is unconfirmed at this point, but reports and leaks have given us an idea of what to expect. After MW3’s campaign became one of the lowest-rated in the entire franchise, gamers are hoping for something stronger from Black Ops 6, given the series’ emphasis on narrative.

Read on for more information about what’s rumored to be coming in the next CoD game.

Official reveal in June

The official reveal for the next Call of Duty game will come in a Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct showcase on Sunday, June 9, immediately following the Xbox Games Showcase beginning at 12pm CT.

The Black Ops 6 showcase was teased back at the end of April. This will mark the first time Call of Duty receives an official showcase event since the Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard was finalized.

Multiplayer alpha, campaign safehouse

A CoD data miner named @SemtexLeaks on Twitter/X found mentions of a playable alpha within a recent update for MW3. In the same leak, files mentioned a safehouse for the single-player campaign, which could be similar to the base of operations found in Black Ops Cold War.

Call of Duty’s first Gulf War setting

The first news of CoD 2024 being set in the Gulf War was reported by Windows Central in late November 2023. Since then, “Call of Duty: Gulf War” was a leading candidate for the game’s full title, before Activision confirmed the name Black Ops 6.

“From what we’ve been told, Black Ops ‘6‘ will attempt to explore a nuanced narrative of the Gulf War, with a critical focus on different participants within the conflict,” the report said. “It will dovetail into the end of the Cold War era, and explore some of the consequences therein.”

‘Traditional’ weapons and technology

Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 screenshot
1990s-era warfare could be coming. Image via Activision

The Windows Central report claims Black Ops 6 will “lean back into more traditional military combat technology and familiar Black Ops gadgetry as opposed to the current and near-future tech we’ve seen from Modern Warfare and some other recent Call of Duty titles.”

This would be a change of pace from MW2 and MW3’s “modern” take on weaponry, and could be a breath of fresh air and return to the vibe of previous Black Ops titles like BO1 and Cold War.

Open-world campaign

A February 2024 report by Tom Henderson of Insider Gaming claims that Black Ops 6 will feature “open-world” missions, but “more akin to that of Far Cry” than Modern Warfare 3’s open combat missions.

Round-based Zombies returns

MW3 soldier shooting at zombies.
MW3 Zombies has been different. Image via Activision

Windows Central’s report also had some good news for Zombies fans, claiming that classic round-based Zombies gameplay could be returning in 2024.

MW3’s Zombies mode changed up the formula with MWZ, an open-world variant of the mode that’s a mix between Treyarch’s Outbreak and Infinity Ward’s DMZ. Fans enjoyed the mode, but round-based maps will always hold a special place in players’ hearts.

Returning classic Black Ops maps

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 map Slums.
Slums could be back again. Image via Activision

In October 2023, Insider Gaming reported that, like MW3 in 2023, CoD 2024 will launch with a number of remastered classic maps, this time from the Black Ops series. MW3 began with 16 remastered maps from 2009’s Modern Warfare 2, and 2024’s CoD could be somewhat similar.

A leaker account on X that has since had their posts removed said that Black Ops 1 map WMD and Black Ops 2 DLC map Grind may be returning, so other classics are also expected to be reprised.

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 release date

While nothing has been made official yet, considering every year has had the new CoD title release in late October or early November, it’s a safe bet that Black Ops 6 title will be released sometime around then in 2024 as well.


This article will be updated with more information throughout 2024 as more news is revealed, leaked, and reported about the new CoD game coming this fall.

Author
Image of Scott Duwe
Scott Duwe
Senior Staff Writer & Call of Duty lead. Professional writer for over 10 years. Lover of all things Marvel, Destiny 2, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, and more. Previous bylines include PC Gamer, Red Bull Esports, Fanbyte, and Esports Nation. DogDad to corgis Yogi and Mickey, sports fan (NY Yankees, NY Jets, NY Rangers, NY Knicks), Paramore fanatic, cardio enthusiast.
Author
Image of Scott Robertson
Scott Robertson
VALORANT lead staff writer, also covering CS:GO, FPS games, other titles, and the wider esports industry. Watching and writing esports since 2014. Previously wrote for Dexerto, Upcomer, Splyce, and somehow MySpace. Jack of all games, master of none.