Black Ops 6 is the latest entry in the very long-running Black Ops wing of Activision’s Call of Duty series. Specializing more in alternate history and spy craft than other Call of Duty games, Black Ops 6 launches with a new campaign set during the height of the Gulf War. As usual, the game will offer a campaign, multiplayer, and a zombies mode.
Here’s what time Black Ops 6 releases, including a breakdown of when it’s available on which platforms, if you can play it on Game Pass or not, and a brief overview of what’s new.
What time does Black Ops 6 release on PC?
Image: Activision
Black Ops 6 releases on Windows PC (both Steam and Battle.net) at 9 p.m. PDT on Thursday, Oct. 24. Here’s when that is in your time zone, or you can check the image above:
- 9 p.m. PDT on Oct. 24 for the West Coast of North America
- 12 a.m. EDT on Oct. 25 for the East Coast of North America
- 5 a.m. BST on Oct. 25 for the U.K.
- 6 a.m. CEST on Oct. 25 for Western Europe/Paris
- 1 p.m. JST on Oct. 25 for Tokyo
Black Ops 6 is currently available to pre-load for all players on all platforms.
What time does Black Ops 6 release on PlayStation, Xbox, and Microsoft Store?
Image: Activision
For PlayStation, Xbox, and Microsoft Store PC players, things are a little weird. Activision is giving a release window for the game, from 4 a.m. – 11 p.m. PT on Oct. 24.
At the very least, Black Ops 6 should be available before midnight PT on Oct. 25, but it could also launch several hours earlier. At the moment, your best bet is to follow the Call of Duty blog or Call of Duty’s official social media accounts, though we’ll update this guide if Activision provides more clarity.
Is Black Ops 6 on Game Pass?
Yes, Black Ops 6 is the first Call of Duty game to launch on Xbox Game Pass, following Microsoft’s official acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year. However, there is a minor catch here. Game Pass Core and Game Pass Standard subscribers will not gain access to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at launch.
The game will only launch for PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. If you already have one of those tiers, you’ll be able to play on launch day alongside everyone else. If not, you’ll need to upgrade to a higher Game Pass tier or purchase the game separately.
What’s new in Black Ops 6?
Image: Activision
Black Ops 6 is the return of the subseries started more than a decade ago, and takes the alternate history and applies it to the Gulf War and early ‘90s America. The game comes with the three big Call of Duty staples, as usual: campaign, multiplayer, and zombies. Unlike last year’s title, this zombies mode returns to its classic round-based variant.
The big new feature for this game is omnimovement, which drastically improves players’ ability to maneuver the battlefield in and out of combat.