With the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 just days away, it’s time to get ready for the shooter that’s sure to rule your winter.
If you’re aiming to jump into the moment of the fall, there are some real-world tasks you’ll need to perform before entering the virtual battlefield.
From choosing the right edition to making room for big downloads, here’s the ultimate Black Ops 6 checklist. Follow these steps and you’ll be up and running from day one.
Black Ops 6 release date and time
So when will it come out? No matter where you are in the world, you should be able to play Black Ops 6 on the Xbox app (Game Pass) for consoles and PC starting at midnight local time on Friday, October 25th.
Due to regional time differences, players in some countries will get the game before players in others, with New Zealand being the first to go live.
Black Ops 6 preload and boot times
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Meanwhile, PC gamers using Steam or Activision-Blizzard’s Battle.net platform will have to wait a little longer than their console counterparts. Black Ops 6 will be available in these stores on October 25th at 5am.
Black Ops 6 Zombies start time
One of the most talked about additions to Black Ops 6 is the return of round-based zombies. This forces players to team up and fight off hordes of flesh-eating undead.
To build excitement for the new mode, the game’s developer Treyarch announced that Zombies will not be immediately available at launch.
Instead, it will start a few hours later in the UK at 6pm PT (10am PT / 1pm ET) on October 25th. At that point, players will be able to begin the main quests for both Zombie Terminal and Liberty Falls.
When can I preload Black Ops 6?
Preloading games days before release has become very common these days, especially as game file sizes have gotten larger and digital games have become more popular.
Like several previous Call of Duty titles, Black Ops 6 continues this trend. Those who pre-ordered the game will be able to preload it on all platforms starting Monday, October 21st at 5pm (9am PT).
Frank Woods’ genius Troy Marshall is one of the new characters in the upcoming game.
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How to preload Black Ops 6
If you already have the Call of Duty HQ launcher installed, which plays MW3 and Warzone, Black Ops 6 should automatically preload.
If this doesn’t happen, try the following steps on your PS5. Click the options button on your controller in the Call of Duty game on the home screen, select Manage Game Content, and install the appropriate files.
Others can download Black Ops 6 from our go-to store’s games list.
Black Ops 6 features a new “omnidirectional movement” system that allows you to sprint in 360 degrees of movement, whereas previously you could only dash forward.
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How big is the download size for Black Ops 6?
If you’re on the fence about preloading games, there’s one big reason to do so.
Like other Call of Duty games in recent memory, Black Ops 6 is sure to be a beast that eats up a fair amount of system storage.
We don’t have an official download size yet, but we have a good idea of how big it will be.
Those who have already preloaded the game in other regions are sharing the Black Ops 6 file size. There are three files in total, including two campaign packs, each containing 16.45 GB and 21 GB, and 12.7 GB of multiplayer content. .
This equates to a download of just over 50GB, with more likely to be downloaded on launch day, including additional game modes and potential day one patches. After all, the total can be over 100GB.
This is also in line with the released PC specifications, which indicate that 102 GB of free space is required for downloads.
Thankfully, you no longer need to install Warzone alongside Black Ops 6 or any other Modern Warfare game, as it’s not connected. These additional features are the main reason why Call of Duty has become so bloated that it currently occupies 175 GB of space.
Which edition should I buy?
Of course, there’s still time to pre-order the game if you haven’t already. If you’re looking to purchase Black Ops 6, there are two editions to choose from.
The costs and accessories are as follows.
Standard/Cross Generation Edition (£69.99)
Base Game Woods Operator PackReflect 115 Camo Pack
Includes everything in the Standard Edition, plus:
Hunter vs. Hunted Operator Pack (4 Operator Skins: Adler, Park, Brutus, Klaus) MasterCraft Collection (5 MasterCraft Weapons) Season 1 Black Cell Battle Pass (Includes Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 1,100 CP) Gobblegum pack for zombies (12 high rarity gobblegum).
Earlier this year, Treyarch hinted that the Black Ops 6 campaign could be as long as “classic” Call of Duty, meaning it could take around six to eight hours.
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Microsoft has already confirmed that Black Ops 6 will also be available on Game Pass on launch day.
However, it is not offered in all subscription tiers. The only way to access the game on consoles and other devices (excluding PC) is through the high-end Game Pass Ultimate plan, which costs £14.99 per month.
Meanwhile, PC players can get the game through the low-cost Game Pass for PC tier, which costs £9.99 per month.
