This article is written in partnership with Activision.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Multiplayer was finally revealed to the world during the early access and open beta weekends. Over the two weekends, players got the chance to dive in and experience a small part of what multiplayer has to offer. This included ranking up several weapons, playing eight different maps, and experiencing a variety of classic and new game modes.
This was perhaps the most unique beta we’ve ever played from a gameplay standpoint. The introduction of so many fresh features and ideas made the beta feel completely different from previous years. Many of those new features were well-received by the community, so we’re going to break down what we felt are the five best new features in BO6 based on what we’ve seen so far.
1) Omnimovement
How could we start this list with anything else? Omnimovement has been at the center of the marketing material for BO6 up to this point, and it’s lived up to the hype. Omnimovement is the biggest diversion from the traditional CoD movement system since jetpacks were introduced one decade ago.
The Omnimovement system consists of new mechanics you can pull off while moving in BO6. You’re able to slide, jump, and dive in any direction you want, which certainly takes some getting used to in Multiplayer. Not only do you have to master these movements, but you also have to combat the mechanics when an enemy tries to out-maneuver you with one of them. Omnimovement adds a completely new skill gap in BO6 that you can use to your advantage if desired. For example, instead of slowly peeking a corner with your gun up, you can dolphin-dive across a line of sight and get the jump on an unsuspecting enemy. But the game doesn’t force you to use these mechanics if you don’t want to, so you still have the freedom to move any way you want.
2) Perk Combat Specialties
Sometimes, a subtle change can make the most impact in a CoD Multiplayer. Developers have been fiddling with the perk system for years, but it finally feels like Treyarch has implemented the best version of it in BO6.
When you select your perks in BO6, you can still pick one perk from each of the three categories. You can also equip a fourth perk by selecting the Perk Greed Wildcard. When you go to select your perks, though, you’ll notice they are color-coordinated. If you pick three perks of the same color, you’ll unlock a Combat Specialty, which essentially acts as an additional perk. Each Combat Specialty comes with a unique bonus that you can only receive if you pick three perks of the same color.
One Combat Specialty offers increased movement speed and health regeneration after a kill while another lets you see enemies through walls after respawning. They’re true game-changers that incentivize building your class a certain way but are by no means mandatory to succeed in BO6.
3) Simplified Gunsmith
The Gunsmith has been a staple feature in the Multiplayer mode since Modern Warfare 2019. Over time, it has slightly evolved from title to title and grown more complicated over the past few years, with certain weapons requiring to be leveled up to unlock specific attachments. The number of attachments also grew with every passing year, making it somewhat difficult to navigate each attachment slot.
In BO6, the developers have decided to simplify the entire Gunsmith. While there are still nine attachment slots for most weapons, the number of attachments has been drastically reduced in each slot. These attachments also have one or two core positives associated with them that are consistent across weapons, making it easier for players to choose what to pick.
The only shared attachment for weapons is the optics. This means that to unlock a specific optic, you have to level up a specific weapon. However, once you unlock that optic, it’s unlocked for every single gun it’s available on in BO6. As an example, the Accu-Spot Reflex can only be unlocked by ranking up the AK-74 to level 25, but once that happens, you can use the optic on all other assault rifles.
4) Classic Prestige
For years, longtime CoD fans have longed for the classic Prestige system to return. While the seasonal Prestige system did have its benefits, the feeling of ranking up to level 55 only to start over again and unlock a new icon is something that’s unmatched in Multiplayer. Fortunately for seasoned CoD players, Treyarch has brought back classic Prestige in BO6.
At launch on Oct. 25, every player starts at level one and can rank their level up to 55. Along the way, you’ll unlock all available weapons, scorestreaks, and class items. Once you reach level 55, you can choose to remain there and keep all your items unlocked, or start back at level 1. If you start over, you enter Prestige 1, which unlocks a new icon next to your name and relocks all of your items. You will receive a Prestige Token that allows you to keep one item unlocked permanently, though. Entering Prestige also offers rewards and allows you to complete specific challenges for every Prestige level. These rewards are specifically designed for the Prestige mode and they’ll make starting over from scratch a worthwhile endeavor. The Prestige icons are all also themed after a different Treyarch title, so you’ll own a piece of history throughout your grind.
Once you reach the end of Prestige 10, you can claim the title of Prestige Master. Prestige Masters permanently unlocks everything in BO6 and you will receive an ultra-rare reward along with the special icon you see above. After reaching Prestige Master, you can grind through an additional 1,000 levels, earning more rewards along the way.
5) Compact Maps
While not technically a feature, the decision to design smaller and more action-packed maps was a conscious one on the part of Treyarch. The developers stated they wanted to move away from larger maps in BO6 and focus on small to medium-sized maps for tight gameplay that still offer room for meaningful decisions.
At the launch in BO6, there will be 12 core six-vs-six maps that are mostly medium-sized (think of Rewind, Skyline, and Scud from the Beta). While some of the core six-vs-six maps are smaller (Derelict), they won’t be as small as the four Strike maps. The Strike maps (Gala, Pit) can be played in six-vs-six, but they’re also specifically designed to be played in the Face Off mode. These modes, which consist of two-vs-two and three-vs-three player counts, are tailor-made for fans of action and strategic gunplay, but snipers and long-range players can enjoy the mode as well.
The smaller map design in BO6 has resulted in some quirks early on, such as strange spawns, but Treyarch should be able to clean up any issues for the full launch on Oct. 25. If everything goes according to plan, this map philosophy should make public matches a blast from start to finish.
You can pre-order BO6 now to ensure you’re ready to hop into release day as soon as the game launches.
