Like previous entries in the Call of Duty series, Black Ops 6 will be a first-person shooter,[3] featuring a single-player campaign, a multiplayer component, and the cooperative round-based Zombies mode.[2] New gameplay mechanics in Black Ops 6 include omnidirectional movement, which allows players to sprint, dive, and slide in any direction;[1] the game also offers various "Intelligent Movement" settings, which automate certain player actions, including sprinting and mantling.[4] Players will also be able to choose between a selection of established presets that alter the game's heads-up display (HUD);[2] this includes a "Legacy" preset for the Zombies HUD that more closely matches the layout for the HUD in Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015).[5]
The campaign will feature multiple ways to approach its missions and include dialogue trees for its cast of non-player characters (NPCs).[6] In-between missions, players will be able to access a safe house, where they will be able to plan out missions via an evidence board, apply player upgrades, and interact with NPCs.[1] Black Ops 6's multiplayer is set to include sixteen brand-new maps at launch;[6] twelve of these maps are designed for the game's core six-versus-six (6v6) game modes, and are supplemented by four "Strike" maps, which are designed for both the core 6v6 modes and a selection of two-versus-two (2v2) modes.[1] Returning multiplayer-specific features from previous Call of Duty games include the traditional "Prestige" leveling system, which allows players who have reached the maximum player level to reset it up to ten times,[7] and the "Theater" mode, enabling players to rewatch multiplayer matches from the perspective of any player.[8]
In Zombies, one to four players fight endless hordes of zombies, which increase in both number and difficulty with every completed round.[9] Zombies will feature two all-new maps—"Terminus" and "Liberty Falls"—at launch;[10] both maps will include a main quest that players must solve on their own, along with a number of side quests. A guided mode will also be included post-launch, allowing players to complete main quests with in-game assistance.[5] The mode features two primary currencies for players to manage: Essence and Salvage; the former is used to purchase doors in order to unlock new parts of the maps and to acquire various player upgrades, including "Perk-a-Cola" cans and upgrades for the player's weapon loadout from the "Pack-a-Punch" machine, while the latter is used to acquire ammo modifications for the player's weapons and build various pieces of lethal and tactical equipment.[5] Players are also able to obtain "GobbleGums", which are single-use consumables that grant the player various in-game effects and abilities, and unlock "Augments"—a set of minor and major upgrades to perks, field upgrades and ammo mods. Each gameplay item features up to three minor and major Augments, with one of each type being equippable at the same time, allowing players to customize and experiment with different play styles.[9]
