Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Preseason Patch Notes – Multiplayer, Zombies, and Global Adjustments

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (BO6) kicks off its preseason with a comprehensive patch designed to refine gameplay, improve stability, and address community feedback across Multiplayer, Zombies, and Campaign modes. Here’s a detailed look at the changes players can expect as they prepare for Season 1.

Multiplayer Updates: Maps, Perks, and Weapons

Maps and Featured PlaylistsThe new patch adds Nuketown to private matches and resolves issues on Lowtown where players could access unintended areas. The patch introduces two featured playlists, Stakeout 24/7 and 10v10 Moshpit, both featuring popular game modes like Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Hardpoint on a rotation of maps, including Red Card, Rewind, and Skyline.

Perks and LoadoutsThe Recon Combat Specialty perk has been adjusted, with enemy highlight duration reduced from 1.5 to 0.5 seconds after respawn, and further monitoring is planned for Season 1. Dispatcher Perk UAV and Counter UAV score costs have been increased to balance perk usage. Adjustments have also been made to XP rates and challenge requirements to ensure fair progression, such as removing the “50 Eliminations with No Attachments” challenge.

Weapon BalancingTo address player feedback on Assault Rifles (ARs) and Submachine Guns (SMGs), damage ranges have been modified to enhance balance. Key ARs like the XM4 and AK-74 now have reduced maximum damage at close range, while SMGs like the C9 and PP-919 gain increased mid-range effectiveness. Shotguns have also received adjustments, reducing the one-hit kill potential for slug attachments.

Scorestreaks and EquipmentVarious Scorestreaks like the Napalm Strike and Strategic Bomber have been fine-tuned for more effective combat scenarios, while Flashbangs now have a shorter screen effect duration. Movement mechanics have been updated to reduce the effectiveness of rapid stance changes, commonly known as “snaking,” ensuring smoother gameplay flow.

Zombies Mode: Weapons, Stability, and Field Upgrades

In Zombies, several changes address weapon functionality, including fixes to Gunsmith and visual issues with default-scoped weapons. Field Upgrades have been adjusted to prevent exploitative use, and a vehicle exploit involving Tactical Rafts has been patched. Stability fixes aim to make Zombies more reliable and enjoyable, particularly as players explore new loadout and upgrade strategies.

Campaign and Global Updates: Stability and Progression

Campaign ImprovementsCampaign updates address critical issues such as safehouse rewards, currency balancing, and save corruption in certain missions. Enhanced stability reduces crashes during campaign gameplay, while minor fixes correct visual bugs like water flickering and incorrect item displays.

Global Enhancements and UI FixesThe Enhanced Headphone Mode returns for optimized audio on all platforms, with stability improvements for the Message of the Day and voice communications. Various UI enhancements, including fixes to operator displays, scoreboards, and Gunsmith attachments, make the interface more intuitive.

Known Issues and Ongoing Monitoring

Developers continue to track issues with Gunsmith optics in the main menu, requiring players to re-equip optics after entering the customization menu. With an eye on Season 1, the team is closely monitoring data and player feedback on weapon balance, perk effectiveness, and more, ensuring responsive changes throughout BO6’s live service.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 preseason sets the stage for an engaging experience with this robust patch, enhancing balance, stability, and gameplay depth across all modes.