Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Multiplayer Overview - New Features, Changes, and More

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A feminine soldier from Call of Duty Black Ops 6 facing to the right, wearing a cap and headphones, placed against a slightly blurred background of multiplayer gameplay.
Credit: Treyarch/Activision. Image edited by GfinityEsports.

Bringing a brand-new movement system, handy HUD customization options, and, of course, new guns and gear, Black Ops 6 multiplayer shakes up the formula. Got the competitive itch? Find out everything you need to know about Call of Duty Black Ops 6’s multiplayer offerings here, including maps, weapons, and all the important new additions so far, to be ready for launch.

On that note, Activision has confirmed the Black Ops 6 release date and what you can expect from the next title in one of the best FPS games series. From its blockbuster campaign, new multiplayer features, and the return of round-based Zombies, BO6 is shaping up strong.

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Multiplayer Overview

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 multiplayer introduces a brand-new movement system to the series, known as omni-movement, returns to the traditional Prestige system, and launches with 16 maps across its Core and Strike modes.

Alongside this, Black Ops 6 will also bring new weapons, equipment, and perks to the multiplayer side of the game to keep the loadouts system fresh. Check out all the Black Ops 6 guns to find out more.

Likewise, there will also be robust post-launch support for Black Ops 6, just like recent entries in the series. This involves new maps, modes, weapons, and events coming to the game for months after release.

Black Ops 6 Omni-Movement System

Arguably the biggest change in Black Ops 6 multiplayer - and perhaps even to the Call of Duty series since Advanced Warfare and Black Ops 3 - is the introduction of the new omni-movement system. This system is available in the campaign and Zombies as well, though it will be most impactful in multiplayer.

In BO6, the omni-movement system allows you to sprint, slide, and dive in any direction for the first time in Call of Duty history, similar to the Bullet Time system from the Max Payne series. Paired with the new Intelligent Movement system, which includes sprinting, mantling, and crouch assists, it’s never been easier to perform more complex maneuvers. The idea behind this is to let you focus more on pulling off great players.

In practice, you are able to dive in any direction while firing, as well as sprinting and crawling more freely and fluidly. This helps great with flanking and outmaneuvering your enemy, as well as dashing towards cover more easily.

A first-person image of a player aiming down their sights at an enemy running through a courtyard area in Call of Duty Black Ops 6 multiplayer.
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Credit: Treyarch/Activision.

Black Ops 6 Prestige System

Another big change with Black Ops 6 multiplayer is the return to the traditional Prestige system. While recent titles like MW3 have removed the classic account reset element of Prestiging, as well as continually adding additional ranks, BO6 looks to the past.

The Black Ops 6 Prestige system tasks you with first reaching the max level. Then, you will be given the option to Prestige, resetting your progress to start fresh with locked gear once more. There are ten basic Prestige ranks, each with rewards for reaching the next tier.

Once you’ve reached Prestige 10, you can then become Prestige Master, which has 1,000 levels and classified rewards for taking on this even more ambitious challenge.

The good news is that this new Prestige system, including the basic ten Prestige levels and 1,000 Prestige Master levels, is available at launch. They are not part of post-release updates.

Black Ops 6 Loadout System

Black Ops 6 uses the following loadout system:

  • Primary, secondary, and melee weapons
  • Lethal and Tactical equipment
  • Field Upgrade
  • Wildcards mechanic
  • Five attachment limit (eight attachments if using Wildcard)
  • Three perks per loadout
  • Equip three perks in the same category for a perk speciality

The loadout system has changed quite a lot over the years through various different entries in the series. However, BO6 should feel familiar, especially if you've played a Black Ops game before.

You can deck out your weapons with five attachments by default, letting you customize them to your play style. Likewise, you can choose three perks for your loadouts. If you choose three perks from the same category, then you'll gain a bonus perk speciality, giving you an incentive to stick with a single perk type.

The Wildcards system also returns in Black Ops 6. These add additional bonuses to your class, such as additional attachment slots, more perks, or being able to carry two primary weapons. Picking the right Wildcard for you will be incredibly important when thinking about the best Black Ops 6 loadouts.

While not necessarily part of your loadout, it's also worth pointing out that traditional scorestreaks also return, not just killstreaks.

A first-person image of the player leaning around a corner to aim and fire at an enemy in a parking lot in Call of Duty Black Ops 6 multiplayer.
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Credit: Treyarch/Activision.

Black Ops 6 Maps

Black Ops 6 will launch with 16 “all-new” maps, which include 12 Core maps (standard 6v6) and four Strike maps (6v6 or 2v2). Nuketown is also confirmed to be returning in BO6, though this is not expected to be included among the 16 launch maps revealed so far.

While this is equal to the launch offerings of the recent MW3, BO6 instead brings completely new maps to the multiplayer modes, rather than remasters of classic maps. This makes the Black Ops 6 multiplayer maps even more exciting, as even veterans will have to learn the layouts.

Given these maps are brand-new, you can expect plenty of opportunities to use the new omni-movement system to better push lanes and defend areas. See a sniper camping out in a fortified building? Dive right through the front door with a shotgun to send them a message.

A 3d model of a soldier from Call of Duty Black Ops 6, which various colors highlighting the damage zones on player models.
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Credit: Treyarch/Activision.

Black Ops 6 Hit Registration

Black Ops 6 sees major changes to the hit-box system, which will change how you play. Previous entries had only four regions on the body which would impact damage - head, torso, and then left and right lower body.

Now, in Black Ops 6, hits can register in nine different regions to alter death animations, and potentially offer more detailed damage statistics. This new hit-box system includes:

  • Head
  • Right chest
  • Left chest
  • Lower torso
  • Hip
  • Left arm
  • Right arm
  • Left leg
  • Right leg

Black Ops 6 HUD Customization

For the first time in Call of Duty, Black Ops 6 lets you customize your heads-up-display (HUD) in-depth. You can move UI elements to different parts of your screen, such as the mini-map and ammo counter, and even center it near your crosshair or remove it entirely.

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Whether you’re a content creator and need a specific layout or you’re simply looking to tailor your UI to your preferences, these new HUD tools will improve your multiplayer experience.

That’s a detailed overview of everything you can expect to see from Call of Duty Black Ops 6 multiplayer right now. Activision will be showcasing the multiplayer offerings in more detail as we get closer to launch, so we will update this guide as and when that happens. For now, check out all the Black Ops 6 Perks and grenades you can expect right now.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides , FPS , Call of Duty , and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 pages.