Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 should benefit from two major betas before its launch on October 25, 2024with select players invited to test out the game’s online modes before jumping into the real game. As revealed, Early Access will begin on August 30 PT/ET, and will end on September 4 PT/ET. This will be followed by an open beta period starting in September 6 PT/ET has September 9 PT/ET.
So what’s the difference? Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 The early access period will only be available will be open to players who pre-order the game (a code will be provided to access it) or to those who have an active Xbox Game Pass subscription. This is notably the first Call of Duty game that will be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch, which is why the early access parameters have been expanded.
If you don’t want to pre-order the game, but still want to get early access, you can do so by subscribing to Xbox Game Pass (or subscribing to an existing subscription). It’s fair to say that this is part of the reason Xbox Game Pass was recently restructured: it’s to compensate for the extra perks and bigger game releases on day one.
Once the game’s early access period ends, an open beta period will invite all players to take part in skirmishes. You don’t need to have pre-ordered the game to access this test, and you don’t need an active Xbox Game Pass subscription. You will, however, need access to a console multiplayer service.
Read: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct – All announced
As of now, the exact timeline for these beta tests has not been confirmed, but players can expect to learn more soon. It is also unclear at this point what content will be available to players who jump in during the game’s Early Access or Open Beta. Typically, a game’s beta will include a handful of maps and online modes to test out, and we expect the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 the beta will be no different.
As for what to expect from the game at launch, Black Ops 6 already has a lot to offer, especially with a plot centered around espionage, after you and your team are branded as traitors to the government. So far, the game has been described as a spy action thriller in the vein of James Bond franchise or Impossible mission. This sets it apart greatly from its predecessors and should offer a unique flavor for those looking for a fresh take on the first-person shooter genre.
During a recent livestream, the Treyarch and Raven Software development teams behind the game also confirmed Black Ops 6 will feature a refreshed Zombies mode, as well as gameplay and combat improvements. We’ll see all of these changes in action when the game releases on PC and consoles on October 25, 2024.