Everything we learned about Black Ops 6 Zombies at COD NEXT

Zombies made an appearance for the first time at Call of Duty: NEXT, and it was epic. While there’s still a ton unknown; we only got a few matches in on the Liberty Falls map at COD NEXT, everything looks great. The Call of Duty Blog shambled up after the show with a full breakdown of what we learned, and all of that is below. Make sure and check out the gameplay trailer above, and our live stream gameplay underneath this paragraph!

The following Blog is one of five Deep Dives into the announcements at the 2024 Call of Duty®: NEXT showcase, as well as bringing you a wealth of free, official guides to every aspect of the Black Ops 6 Multiplayer Beta that starts on August 30**. Be sure to read all the following content to ensure you’re up to date with breaking news and Beta content:

• Blog 1: Black Ops 6: Global Gameplay Systems. Detailing content – like Omnimovement, Gunsmith changes, Global Weapon Builds, Classic Prestige, and Mastery Camos – applicable to all the different games and modes, mainly focused on innovations across Multiplayer Zombies, and Call of Duty: Warzone™.

• Blog 2: Black Ops 6: Multiplayer Intel. All of the specific announcements related to Black Ops 6 Multiplayer from Call of Duty: NEXT.

• Blog 3: Black Ops 6: Zombies Intel. All of the new details regarding Round-Based Zombies in Black Ops 6, including information on Liberty Falls, Wonder Weapons, and more, straight from Call of Duty: NEXT. You’re reading this Blog now!

• Blog 4: Black Ops 6: Call of Duty: Warzone Integrations. Important information regarding the brand-new Area 99 Resurgence Map, as well as new gameplay innovations, Mastery Camos, and more.
• Blog 5: Black Ops 6 Beta: Everything You Need to Know. Ready to drop into the Multiplayer Beta? Prepare yourself with this game-winning overview and guide to leveling up to ensure you unlock all the Beta Rewards, including the two exclusive Operator skins!

Blog 3: This is Black Ops 6 Zombies

A second dimensional breach has turned a once-quaint, now-overrun West Virginian town into a bloodied fight for survival. Chaos is crawling through Liberty Falls, and the incursion has even led to the shutdown of the nearby Project Janus command center.

Taking Liberty: One of Two Zombies Launch Maps

The atmosphere of Liberty Falls, which takes place concurrently with the dimensional breach over on Terminus Island, feels a world away from the dark, stormy waters of the Philippine Sea and the massive concrete prison Grigori Weaver and his crew are fighting to escape from.

Players must explore the once-idyllic, now horrific small West Virginian town of Liberty Falls, whose residents have either fled or barricaded themselves into the settlement in a last desperate attempt to survive. By the time you arrive – assumed to be part of the Project Janus forces under the watchful eye of Security Chief John Blanchard – the town is overrun, and the battle seems well and truly lost.

A Tormented Soul

By now you may have realized that Edward Richtofen is back – seen for the first time since the ending of “Forsaken” in Black Ops Cold War – and revelations abound. Plagued by nightmares related to the death of his family, this emotional trauma has become a motivating factor in his actions.

He appears to be continuing his duties as the Director, though this time he’s heading up the clandestine Project Janus organization from an old mansion on the hillside above Liberty Falls.

With Liberty Falls playable at Call of Duty: NEXT, you’ll have witnessed a different set of characters battling their way through the barricaded streets. With Project Janus Security Chief John Blanchard acting as a handler, he assumes your team to be part of a Project Janus security clean-up operation and monitors your progress against the undead from afar.

Traversing the Liberty Falls Map

The way you traverse the town involves scouring the streets for side routes, Ascenders, and even Ziplines to navigate quickly and effectively as the rounds increase, the quest objectives become more obtuse, and the situation grows ever more overwhelming. Whether you’re holed up close to the church, or engaging in a frantic last stand atop the bank roof – aptly-named The Alamo – Liberty Falls requires a slightly different mind-set when you’re planning your survival.

Main Quest Confirmations

During the show, it was confirmed that every Zombies map coming to Black Ops 6 – which includes Terminus and Liberty Falls at launch and additional maps throughout the Seasons – will come with a multi-stage Main Quest, and the Zombies team at Treyarch have ensured these are as involved and difficult as they are entertaining. For veteran Zombies players, and those newer players dedicated enough to drop in and scour the maps to solve clues and secrets, expect to be recompensed with unique and limited-time rewards. We can’t wait to witness the launch weekend hunts to completion!

Additional Guidance: Directed Mode

For those wanting to experience the full complement of round-based Zombies action, including the completion of each map’s Main Quest and the ongoing narrative, but are intimidated at the complexity and difficulty of the game, we have you covered. Introducing Directed Mode:

Directed Mode: This is a new way to grow the Zombies community, enabling newer players – including those that didn’t follow the storyline in previous Zombies experiences – to dive into the game with a little more help than just a Loadout and a will to survive.

• Directed Mode offers direct assistance in completing the Main Quest, with objectives listed on-screen. All Side Quests, Easter Eggs. Trials, and the Rampage Inducer are disabled in this mode.

• Rounds are capped, based on completing certain steps within the progression, so the undead hordes don’t get out of hand before you have time to increase your prowess with the use of Perks and Pack-a-Punch weaponry.
  • For example, you may be asked to investigate a location and complete an objective there, during which a Round Cap is set to a certain round number. This means zombie waves will still spawn, but once the round cap is reached and all zombies in that round defeated, the same round will spawn again, until the objective is completed.
• Just as important as growing the Zombies community is allowing the biggest fans of the game enough time to explore the new maps completely unaided, just as they did in the past. Directed Mode will therefore arrive later after launch, with a Calling Card reward available for completing the Main Quest before its Directed Mode goes live.

Round-Based Zombies: Additional Intel

As we gear up for launch, the Zombies team is adjusting and putting some finishing touches to additional gameplay systems, some of which can be found across all games. Highlights include:

• Weapon Mastery Camos: As part of the game’s Global progression systems, players have a separate set of four Mastery Camos to earn in Zombies and apply to any Black Ops 6 weapon. Check out the Global Gameplay Systems Blog to see them in action!

• Dark Ops Challenges: It’s Black Ops tradition to include a set of mysterious, redacted Dark Ops Challenges for players to discover and overcome, and Zombies fans can expect to put those skills to the test once again.

• Reticle Challenges: Customizable reticles are back for any weapon with an Optic sight, and there’s a set of Challenges to unlock Zombies-specific reticles that you can use on sights in Multiplayer, Zombies, or Call of Duty: Warzone!
• Prestige for Unique Cosmetics: With the return of Classic Prestige comes a host of earnable cosmetic rewards, including Operator Skins and Weapon Blueprints, with some directly related to the history of Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies!

Perk Up: Player Power Innovations

During Call of Duty: NEXT, four of the most impactful ways to power up in Round Based Zombies were discussed in greater detail: Perks, Augments, GobbleGums, and Wonder Weapons. You can read about all of these in greater detail in our massive Zombies Intel Barrage blog here.

The Perks of Exploring Liberty Falls

Whether you’re hunting through the Liberty Lanes bowling alley for a delicious can of Stamin-Up or visiting Olley’s Comics for a Quick Revive (as well as the exciting first issue of the Aetherella graphic novel), you’ll have access to the same thirst-quenching Perks found in Terminus at launch:

• Deadshot Daiquiri: Aiming down sight moves to enemy critical location. Increase enemy critical damage.

• Elemental Pop: Every bullet you fire has a small chance to apply a random Ammo Mod effect.

• Jugger-Nog: Increase maximum health by 100.

• Melee Macchiato: Replace weapon gun butt with a deadly punch that sends enemies flying. Find out more about this Perk here.

• PhD Flopper: Immunity to all self-inflicted damage and status effects. Dive to prone triggers an explosion, which increases the higher you fall. Immunity from fall damage while diving to prone.

• Quick Revive: Reduce the health regen delay time by 50%. Reduce the time it takes to revive an ally by 50%.

• Speed Cola: Increase reload and armor replating speed bonus by 30%.
• Stamin-Up: Increase movement speed.

Call of Duty: NEXT Intel: Augments

At Call of Duty: NEXT, the Zombies team reiterated the innovations in your customization experience, courtesy of Augments. These are permanent gameplay advantages you can apply to every Perk-a-Cola, Ammo Mod, and Field Upgrade in the game, and provide a rich and innovative customization experience, allowing you to invest into research between matches. Learn all about Augments here.

• There are over 100 confirmed Augments available to unlock and equip at the game’s launch, divided as follows:
  • Perk-a-Colas: Eight, each with six Augments (48).
  • Ammo Mods: Five, each with six Augments (30).
  • Field Upgrades: Five, each with six Augments (30).

• Augments are chosen between matches as you select a single Major Augment and a single Minor Augment, for each Perk, Ammo Mod, and Field Upgrade.
  • A Major Augment offers a substantial advantage to the behavior of the item, usually during use.
  • A Minor Augment offers a limited advantage to the item, usually during use.

• The depth of the Augments customization experience becomes apparent as you learn the different effects of each Augment, and how they stack and affect other upgrades across the game. This subsequently allows you to customize your Augments for your style of play, whether solo or squad based.
• If you’ve played a particular role in your squad – as a healer for example – you already know which Augments you need to search for, unlock, and employ along with other related power-ups to optimize your team’s dynamics and survivability!

Call of Duty: NEXT Intel: GobbleGums

Liberty Falls may be a more compact map than Terminus, but it doesn’t scrimp on GobbleGum machines! Choose to chew until you die in four different locations, using confectionary to thwart the infected with the return of this sweet treat, last consumed in Black Ops 3. We revealed all the important rules for cracking your teeth on this killer candy here, and the above image shows some, but not all of the GobbleGums available in the game, but to reiterate some of the more salient points:

• You bring in five GobbleGums in a Pack as part of the Loadout you choose prior to a match. At launch, you can customize up to five packs to cater for different tactical situations. However, you don’t begin with any on your person.

• Instead, GobbleGums are granted (at no cost) from any machine on the map. The GobbleGum you receive is random, from your Loadout Pack, so it’s wise to strategize which are most beneficial to your style of play, as well as which are helpful to your team’s chances of survival.

• You can hold up to three GobbleGums you’ve obtained from the machine, and use them when you like, individually, or all at once.

• GobbleGums are single use. However, they are only “used” when you pop one into your mouth that you were holding, after retrieving it from a machine. Any that aren’t retrieved or eaten are saved for your next game.

• The Vault Edition of Black Ops 6 comes with 12 single-use GobbleGums offering unique in-game effects!

• You can also earn GobbleGums in-game, simply for playing. Expect to earn one (or more!) random GobbleGums every few rounds. You’ll know when you’ve been awarded a new GobbleGum due to a reward sequence at the start of a subsequent Round.

• GobbleGums are here to break the rules of the game, and to manipulate the world to your advantage!

• The GobbleGums available to use during the Call of Duty: NEXT presentation were simply an appetizer to the dozens of candy spheres coming to Black Ops 6 Zombies! Here’s more intel on five example GobbleGums:
  • Stock Option: Ammo is taken from the player’s stockpile instead of their weapon’s magazine.
  • Arsenal Accelerator: Charge the player’s Field Upgrade faster. Lasts five minutes.
  • Shields Up: Armor is twice as strong. Lasts three minutes.
  • Temporal Gift: Power-up lasts longer. Activates on next time-based Power-up.
  • Anywhere But Here: Instantly teleport to a random location. A concussive blast knocks away nearby zombies.

Wonder Weapons

With the Beamsmasher being put through its paces on Terminus, Liberty Falls features its own Wonder Weapon to wield. Furthermore, each Zombies map in Black Ops 6 features the ability to obtain the Ray Gun, as well as unique Wonder Weaponry specific to the map itself.

Ray Gun

Offering new visual improvements, the Ray Gun is classic zombie-killing Wonder Weapon returning in Black Ops 6, and this potency only gets more impressive as you progressively Pack-a-Punch the pistol!

Thrustodyne Model 23 (Liberty Falls)

An extremely potent – if alarmingly rickety – Wonder Weapon with a bulk that sacrifices some agility in favor of devastating damage, the Thrustodyne Aeronautics Model 23 features a plethora of critically important improvements compared to the version you last had the opportunity to wield in Black Ops 2.

Most importantly, it doesn’t tend to fall apart.

Instead, it sucks zombies into its rotors, and then shreds them out of the back of the weapon. Or, if that isn’t disgusting enough, it can blast a massive shockwave with a huge capacity to stun and maim.

• Primary Fire: After a second or so for the rotor blades to spin up to more than 40,000 RPMs (as indicated on one of the weapon gauges), it instantly pulls in any nearby zombies, mincing them through the engine, and leaving a soggy mess of innards that drops out of the exit chute. More powerful enemies are gradually torn and shredded as well as being stunned.
• Secondary Fire: Purposefully overheating the weapon causes the weapon to belch out a tremendous back blast, with a massive area-of-effect around the user, pulverizing zombies close to the epicenter, highly damaging more potent entities, and stunning any survivors. The weapon automatically overheats at this point.

Overheating: The two gauges on the weapon are more than just for show. One shows the RPMs the rotor is spinning at. The other shows the weapon’s temperature, and constantly firing the weapon eventually causes the weapon to overheat and shut down. It becomes inoperable until it cools down, after which it becomes useful again. The trick here is effective temperature management.

Additional Notes: The weapon has some additional advantages compared to its less reliable predecessor; it never breaks down when it overheats, cools down even when stowed, and can pull in nearby power-ups and salvage. The Thrustodyne M23 can be Pack-a-Punched three times, which appears to increase the maximum fire time and lessen the cooldown time. Don’t be perturbed that you’ve strapped a 40,000 RPM jet engine to your groin; focus instead on annihilating those hordes!

Wunderwaffe DG-2 Replica: Now Available for Pre-order!

While we’re on the subject, any Call of Duty collector craving their own bedside Wonder Weapon may wish to secure a highly detailed, half-scale replica of the Wunderwaffe DG-2, seen wielded in the Liberty Falls cinematic by Director Richtofen himself! A real crowd-pleaser when it comes to holding back the zombie hordes, the Wunderwaffe DG-2 Replica is now available for pre-order at Shop.callofduty.com while supplies last! The pre-order includes the exclusive in-game “Gold Lightning” Camo for Black Ops 6!

Liberty Falls: Gameplay Mechanics Confirmed

While the August 8 “big blog” went into detail on every gameplay element, this blog also goes to town – specifically, to Liberty Falls – where the following gameplay systems were also confirmed to be available:

• Rampage Inducer: The round accelerant is available if you need your zombies extra-focused on devouring you.

• Ammo Caches: Manage your Essence to ensure you can refill your ammunition at any of the Ammo Caches scattered throughout town.

• Barriers: Mow down a few rotting foes to ensure you’re building up your Essence, as it’s the only way to remove the barriers, allowing further exploration. Be a team player, share the purchase of a “door buy” with a fellow teammate. Initial barriers are laser cordons erected by Project Janus. Later into your exploration, locked doors and debris need clearing.

• Crafting Table: Ensure you find all the Crafting Tables, as they’re a great way to craft Tactical, Lethal, and Support Equipment.
  • Mutant Injection (Support Scorestreak): Can you visit one of the Crafting Tables and (with enough Salvage) construct an impressively sized syringe enabling you to temporarily transform into a Mangler, replete with arm cannon, blade, and a lax attitude towards wanton destruction? Yes, you can.

• Mystery Boxes: Feeling lucky? Pay Essence and find a random Weapon or Support Equipment here. Note any Weapon you’ve built and saved as a Zombie Build is a possible reward, with an extra Rarity value imbued into it.

• Wall Buy (Weapon): Grab a specific armament off a wall for a modest Essence spend. This is a guaranteed way to get a rarer (and therefore more powerful) version of a specific weapon, and if you learn the weapon a Wall Buy offers, you can build and save a potent Zombie Build of it prior to a match and purchase it right off the wall!

• Wall Buy (Armor): The only sure-fire way to acquire additional Armor Plate Levels is to purchase slots from a Wall Buy.
  • Level II Armor Vest (Rare)
  • Level III Armor Vest (Epic)

• Ascenders and Ziplines: Traverse Liberty Falls at more than just ground level, as there are numerous Ascenders (vertical) and Ziplines (horizontal) allowing access across the map. All lines lead to the roof of the Liberty Falls Savings & Loans Bank Building, affectionally known as “The Alamo”.

• The Arsenal: “How about you stop wasting my time and start wasting the enemy?” The new-and-improved Arsenal allows you to spend Salvage collected from fallen foes, upgrading your weapon rarity (and damage), and choosing an Ammo Mod (one equippable at a time per weapon).
  • Weapon Rarities:
    • Uncommon (Green): Tier 2 Damage
    • Rare (Blue): Tier 3 Damage
    • Epic (Purple): Tier 4 Damage
    • Legendary (Orange): Tier 5 Damage
  • Ammo Mods:
    • Napalm Burst (Fire)
    • Dead Wire (Electric)
    • Cryo Freeze (Frost)
    • Brain Rot (Toxic)
    • Shadow Rift (Shadow)

• Pack-a-Punch Machine: The Pack-a-Punch machine allows three levels of improvement to your weapon’s damage and ammo capacity. In some cases, it might even change how the weapon functions….
• Exfil: Clear a path and mow down the undead standing between you and an extraction. An exfil pilot is on-hand to rescue you or your team when the situation gets too overwhelming.

Taking Liberty: Horde-Defeating Traps

As with Terminus, your first, faltering steps into Liberty Falls come with ambient encounters specific to the route you take. Step into the bowling alley and witness a grotesque sight on the lanes. Expect carnage at the Rest E-Z Motor Lodge. And prepare to even the playing field with the following traps you can spring on multiple zombie enemies:

Dark Aether Field Generators: With enough Essence, one of the two powerful, zombie-dissolving devices is set up to pulp and pulverize.

Parked Vehicles: Most parked cars not already on fire can be used as a makeshift explosive device. Attract a horde, then detonate the vehicle to finish the job, but watch you aren’t damaged in the blast!

Aetherella Trap: Visit Olly’s Comics and marvel at the latest superhero; the incredible Aetherella! Star of her own graphic novel, the Aetherella standee also comes with a powerful laser, burning hordes of zombies to an unpleasant-smelling crisp.

The Inhabitants of Liberty Falls

Bipedal Shamblers: Zombies

The residents of Liberty Falls are out in force. Expect the remnants of humanity to still cling to the zombies seeking to devour your team, including sheriff’s deputies, cheerleaders, bikers, punks, and other townsfolk.

Grotesques: Armored and Heavy Zombies, Vermin, Manglers

As the hordes increase in size, expect ravenous, spider-like scuttlers known as Vermin to hatch in the most revolting way imaginable. They are joined by the remains of the Project Janus security forces, wearing additional armor and proving to be more of a menace to take down. Manglers soon join the fray; face down their bladed swiping and circular projectiles, and you may be able to scavenge a cannon for yourself.

Abominations

Though not nearly as big as our larger-than-life “Abby” at Call of Duty: NEXT, Abominations periodically join the rotting throngs of lurching undead during chaotic and longer-lasting matches.

Abominations more than live up to their names; these three-headed, bipedal monstrosities summon a beam of electricity to wrack targets in writhing energy, when they aren’t savagely biting, as well as charging humans and zombie alike to clear a path to non-diseased flesh!

Additional Intel

Black Ops 6 Beta Rewards

Earn cosmetic rewards by reaching Player Level milestones throughout the Multiplayer Open Beta that will persist through the launch of Black Ops 6 when it releases on October 25***.  

The rewards and required levels follow:

• Level 2: “Beta Tester” Animated Emblem
• Level 6: “Beta Tag” Spray
• Level 11: “No Bugs” Weapon Charm
• Level 15: “Quick Draw” Emote
• Level 20: “Squish” Westpoint Operator Skin (only unlockable during Weekend One)
• Level 20: “Squash” Westpoint Operator Skin (unlocked during either Weekend)
• Level 23: “The Truth Lies” Loading Screen
• Level 27: “Beta Expert” Animated Calling Card
• Level 30: “Bug Smasher” Weapon Blueprint

Pre-Order Digitally and Get the Reflect 115 Camo Pack, Vault Edition Available

Pre-order Black Ops 6 today, and you’ll receive a variety of pre-order benefits, including the brand-new Reflect 115 Camo Pack for Modern Warfare® III, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile!

Pre-order the Digital Edition on Console or PC to receive the following:

• Reflect 115 Camo Pack (New!)
• Woods Operator Pack*
• Early Access to the Open Beta**

Pre-order the Vault Edition on Console or PC and receive the previous rewards as well as the following:

• Hunters Vs. Hunted Operator Pack
• BlackCell Season 1
• Mastercraft Weapon Collection
• GobbleGum Pack

PLEASE NOTE! Those players who pre-ordered the Vault Edition will be able to gain access to the Hunters Vs. Hunted Operator Pack, as well as the Mastercraft Weapon Collection, during the Black Ops 6 Beta.

Game Pass Subscribers are set to receive all Digital Edition benefits, and those who upgrade for $30 (or local equivalent) to the Vault Edition will receive all Vault Edition benefits.

Those players who have already preordered Black Ops 6 will receive the Reflect 115 Camo Pack automatically.

The Reflect 115 Camo Pack consists of the Reflect 115 Mastery Camo for use in Modern Warfare III, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile. In addition, you receive three Flawless Aetherium Crystals, three Legendary Aether Tools, and three Ray Gun Weapon Cases for immediate use in Modern Warfare Zombies. All content does not carry forward into Black Ops 6.

Official Comms Active: Stay Informed. Not Misinformed

Misinformation is everywhere: Ensure you stay one step ahead with the latest official Black Ops 6 information by checking the Call of Duty Blog in the weeks up to launch with important comms you won’t want to miss.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is published by Activision. Development for the game is led by Treyarch, in partnership with Raven Software. Additional development support provided (in alphabetical order) by Activision Central Design, Activision Central Technology, Activision QA, Activision Shanghai, Beenox, Demonware, High Moon Studios, Infinity Ward, and Sledgehammer Games.

Stay tuned to GamingTrend for more Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 news and info!

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