CoD: Black Ops 6 Lacking a Big Mode on Launch is History Repeating Itself

CoD: Black Ops 6 Lacking a Big Mode on Launch is History Repeating Itself

As a devoted fan who has grown up with the Call of Duty franchise since its early days, I must say that the upcoming launch of Black Ops 6 has me both excited and concerned. On one hand, the new features and mechanics look promising, and the return of Zombies mode is a welcome treat. However, the absence of Infected at launch feels like a missed opportunity to honor the sub-franchise’s party-game roots.


The release date for “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6” is fast approaching, and enthusiasts are eagerly preparing to delve into all that the game has in store. Not only have details about its campaign and Zombies mode been unveiled, but players also got a sneak peek at the multiplayer aspect during Beta weekends. However, it’s important to note that these events showcased just a small portion of what the complete game will offer on October 25th.

Treyarch has devoted much pre-release focus on the array of fresh features coming in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, particularly its three primary modes. However, it’s also evident that they’ve paid great care to uphold the motifs and essential gameplay elements from earlier Black Ops games and the legendary days of the broader CoD series. This new content is enticing, establishing a distinct identity for Black Ops 6. Regrettably, the classic party mode Infected won’t be available at launch, which unfortunately continues a pattern that distances Call of Duty from the more laid-back gaming experiences it was once known for.

Black Ops 6’s Lack of Infected at Launch Strays Away From the Sub-Franchise’s Party-Game Past

Black Ops 6 aspires to carve out a unique niche within the expansive Call of Duty series by implementing innovative core features, such as its fast-paced omnimovement system, which is a glimpse into how it plans to stand out. The upcoming title will debut with an impressive collection of 16 fresh multiplayer maps, including both conventional 6v6 battles and smaller-scale Strike Maps. Additionally, the original game mode Kill Order will be available right from the start.

For the debut of Black Ops 6, only a limited number of multiplayer game modes have been explicitly announced so far. These include Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Face Off, Gunfight, and Kill Order. However, it is widely anticipated that fan favorites like Search and Destroy will also be available at launch, although this has not been officially confirmed yet.

It’s been officially announced that Black Ops 6 may not meet fan expectations when it comes to multiplayer modes at launch, as Treyarch has confirmed that Infected will not be available until a week after release. Although Infected is now close at hand, there have been no recent updates about the future of other popular CoD party games like Gun Game, Sticks and Stones, Sharpshooter, and One in the Chamber.

Party Modes Should Have Been at the Heart of Black Ops 6’s Multiplayer

In contrast to recent editions of “Call of Duty”, it seems that traditional party games are increasingly being treated as post-launch extras rather than essential features. For instance, gamers might have to wait for several months after launch just to access the usual modes within the franchise, followed by more casual multiplayer experiences being introduced later on. This pattern is disappointing enough in any “Call of Duty” game, but it’s especially disheartening when considering the party game heritage of the “Black Ops” sub-franchise, which should be appreciated rather than overlooked.

2010’s “Black Ops” game introduced the innovative and popular idea of Wager Matches into the series, allowing players to wager in-game money on a variety of mini-games that added an entirely new layer to what traditional “Call of Duty” multiplayer had to offer. Although some of these original mini-games have been kept in later releases, “Black Ops 6” missed a golden opportunity to pay homage to the game that started this sub-franchise by reintroducing Wager Matches with the same level of excitement as the original. Though Infected is soon to be added to “Black Ops 6”, its absence at launch along with no updates about other popular mini-games continues a disappointing trend that future “Call of Duty” games should work on improving.

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2024-10-15 21:44