New Call of Duty Season Brings Black Ops 6 Updates and Warzone Changes

Activision has officially confirmed that Season 05 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone will launch on Wednesday, August 7 at 9 AM PST. According to the published roadmap, this update includes new Multiplayer and Zombies content, the conclusion of the Black Ops 6 Zombies narrative, new limited-time modes in Warzone, Ranked Play rewards, new weapons, and cosmetic unlocks across the Battle Pass and BlackCell offerings.

In Multiplayer, four core maps are featured for the season. Three are available at launch: Runway, Exchange, and World Motor Dynasty (W.M.D.). 

1. Runway is a 6v6, medium-sized map set in Arzak Provincial Airport, where a Pantheon mole is pursued by the Rogue Black Ops team. Wreckage covers the tarmac, and the plane's fuselage is blasted open, with the nose lodged in a Food Court. 
2. Exchange is a 6v6/2v2, small-sized Strike map placed in an Avalon marketplace, centered around a Deli with multiple flanking paths through areas like the Seafood market and Terrace. 
3. World Motor Dynasty is a remaster of the W.M.D. map from the original Call of Duty: Black Ops, now reimagined as an Italian luxury car factory in Avalon, featuring spaces like the Paint Shop, Showroom, and the Silos. 

A fourth map, Jackpot, will be added mid-season, inspired by Black Ops 4’s Casino map and includes elements from the “High Rollers” mission in the Black Ops 6 Campaign. The updated location, Casino Luttazzi, includes a Bar, Stage, Gazebo, and Terrace.

New and returning modes are distributed across the season. Aim High is a new mode available at launch, featuring instant headshot eliminations and body armor that reduces non-headshot damage. Snipers Only and Cranked Moshpit will be accessible in-season. Mid-season additions include Cranked Demolition, Ransack, and Blueprint Gunfight.

The Combat Bow, last seen in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, returns as a mid-season Scorestreak. It fires single-shot, explosive-tipped arrows that detonate on impact, causing incendiary damage and creating a trail of fire. The Scorestreak costs 500 points and includes Mastery Badges.

Ranked Play in Multiplayer uses Call of Duty League settings. Rewards include the “Pro Reissue Jackal PDW” Blueprint (10 wins), a large decal (100 wins), and tiered rewards for Silver through Top 250 rankings. These include Calling Cards, Charms, and Weapon Camos.

Mechanics in Call of Duty titles have previously drawn comparisons to gambling. A 2022 study published in International Gambling Studies surveyed 130 players and reported that 12% had purchased loot boxes in the past month. Participants classified as medium- or high-risk for problem gambling were more likely to engage in loot box purchases. Additionally, a UK-based study found that the average monthly spend on loot boxes in Call of Duty was £26.88, with some users spending up to £100. In that sample, 19.1% of players were identified as high-risk gamblers. Researchers found that Call of Duty’s loot systems shared several core elements with gambling, including the use of real money, unknown rewards, and the potential for in-game performance benefits.

While the roadmap for Black Ops 6 Season 05 does not reference traditional loot boxes, several mechanics involving chance or randomized outcomes are present. These include Blueprint Gunfight, the Zombies Mystery Box system, and Store Bundles containing cosmetic rewards. Regulatory attention has increased globally. In Australia, a legislative change announced in 2024 requires games with purchasable random content to carry at least an M rating, and simulated gambling must be rated R18+.

The Season 05 Zombies update introduces a new round-based map called Reckoning, set in the Janus Towers of Liberty Falls. It features a vertical layout with Aether Reactors leaking unstable energy. The main goal is to stabilize the towers, though a greater threat soon emerges. The narrative continues with characters including Peck, Ravenov, Strauss, Raptor One, Dr. Pericles Panos, Security Chief John Blanchard, S.A.M., and Director Richtofen.

New enemies include the Uber Klaus, a robot in a bulky exoskeleton with melee attacks and energy-based launchers. Once damaged, it transforms into the Uber Klaus Core, gaining speed, hover capabilities, and a tesla-coil shield. Kommando Klaus suicide units are also present, preceded by red mist, and will self-destruct when near players. Additional enemies include zombified Project Janus staff, experimental mutations, and Hazmat units.

A new Wonder Weapon called the Gorgofex is introduced. It combines mycelial, floral, and insectile properties to deal direct damage and create anti-gravity effects. The weapon emits faint psychic vibrations and uses Aether-based energy slugs. Fully charged shots create gravitational anomalies, lifting enemies above ground. Players can also unlock multiple Gorgofex variants.

Mister Peeks is a new Field Upgrade—an animated rabbit that damages and distracts enemies while emitting a disco beat. Available in Reckoning and other Zombies maps, Mister Peeks can be customized with Major Augments like Dance Party, Arcane Fury, and Apex Hunter, as well as Minor Augments including Social Butterfly, Peeks’ Favor, and Party Animal.

Additional Zombies content includes Grief Mode, which pits two teams against shared undead threats in 4v4 Arenas. Directed Mode launches mid-season and adds guided progression for the Reckoning Main Quest. Team Cranked returns, featuring a shared timer and boosted Essence rewards. The Mystery Box is the sole source of weapons in this mode.

Players completing the Reckoning Main Quest at launch can unlock the “Blood, Sweat, an’ Gears” Operator Skin for Grey, a Weapon Charm, Calling Cards, and XP. A unique Calling Card variant is awarded for completion before Directed Mode releases.

In Warzone, the Stadium in Verdansk is breached as part of the Abyss Protocol event. A hidden military compound has been found inside the National Acropolis Arena. During Week One, players can access the Satellite Hijack Contract to infiltrate the Stadium and earn rewards. In Week Two, the Stadium Resurgence mode opens with 36-player matches and a seven-circle collapse. The mid-season Deadline mode involves 100 players and AI-controlled Hostile Agents. Squads earn points by completing Contracts, looting, and spending cash. The lowest-scoring teams are eliminated after each circle collapse, and scores reset each time.

Battle Royale and Resurgence Ranked Play include rewards like Emblems, Calling Cards, and a SWAT 5.56 Blueprint at 250 eliminations. Casual Solos will replace Core Solos in most regions after outperforming it by more than three to one in engagement. Core Solos remains available only in North America and Europe.

New weapons launching with the Battle Pass include:

• PML 5.56 LMG (Page 3 HVT): 100-round mag, fast rate of fire, high damage, low mobility, strong upward recoil.
• ABR A1 Assault Rifle (Page 6 HVT): Three-round burst, moderate recoil, good handling, configurable to full-auto.
• Boxing Gloves (In-Season, Event Reward): Fast attack speed, long melee range, moderate damage.
• Gravemark .357 Revolver (Mid-Season, Event Reward): Single-action, eight-round mag, high damage, segmented reload.

New attachments include the Skull Splitter Barrel for the 9mm PM Pistol (Battle Pass Page 7), which increases headshot damage and reduces fire rate. The Helical Magazine for the PPSh-41 (In-Season, Event Reward) increases ammo count and suits close-range combat.

Seasonal events include:

• ’90s Action Heroes (In-Season): Rewards include Boxing Gloves and Mister Peeks.
• Operation: Hell Ride (Mid-Season): Includes the Gravemark .357.
• Atomic Block Party (Mid-Season): Nuketown-inspired themed event.
• The Reckoning Leaderboard Event: Players earn Leaderboard Points for eliminations in Zombies. Higher placements yield greater end-of-event rewards.

The Battle Pass includes over 110 rewards. Purchasing it unlocks the Stogie Sims Operator, the Infernous Kilo 141 Blueprint, Free Fire Emote, and Venom Eye Charm. The BlackCell tier includes Solace, a golden-armored Operator with a summoned Griffin Finishing Move, along with exclusive Operator Skins, Weapon Blueprints, 1,100 COD Points, and a 10% XP bonus. A permanent XP boost is also granted to players who purchased BlackCell across prior seasons, up to 40%.

New bundles include:

• The Replacer (Commander Battleman): Includes the “Strike Force” and “Replacement Warrior” skins, weapon blueprints with Burning Tracers and Violent Explosion Death FX, Finishing Move, Calling Card, and Emblem.
• The Fisherman (I Know What You Did Last Summer): Includes Operator Skin, Harpoon and SMG Blueprints with Bloody Hook Tracers and Fish Chum Death FX, Lethal Hook Melee Weapon, Finishing Move, and themed cosmetics.

Additional store bundles mentioned are Tracer Pack: IDEAD 2 Mastercraft, Dogs of War, and Behemoth Ultra Skin.

During the Call of Duty League 2025 Championship Weekend, viewership peaked at over 353,000 during the Grand Final between OpTic Texas and Vancouver Surge. OpTic Texas won the match. The World Series of Warzone is currently ongoing.

As of July 29, Modern Warfare II and Modern Warfare III are available as standalone installs. Starting August 7, older files from these titles installed through the main Call of Duty application will be removed automatically. Players can also delete them manually to free storage space. All progress, unlocked items, and trophies will carry over. Warzone content, such as MWII/MWIII weapons and Operators, is not affected. The DMZ Beta remains available through the MWII install. PlayStation users can earn a Platinum trophy in MWIII.

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