Despite the dizzying success thatCall of Duty: Black Ops 6garnered closer to its release in October 2024, the overall relevancy and playership of the game is seemingly stabilizing as it enters 2025. This is partially to be expected given the heavy saturation of multiplayer experiences in the modern gaming industry, butBlack Ops 6has also been at the center of some very worrying controversies in recent months that have not helped its position.
The next few months seem to be a make-or-break time forCall of Duty: Black Ops 6’s lasting reputation, and there are a few successful elements of the game’s post-launch multiplayer content that Treyarch should leverage to keep the title moving forward. In particular, the expansive in-game events ofBlack Ops 6have created some of the most engaging and unique post-launch content that the title has seen, and Treyarch should keep these events, along with their rewards and limited-time game modes, consistently present over the following months.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s Events Are a Saving Grace For the Title
A lot of hype existed aroundCall of Duty: Black Ops 6prior to launch thanks to the fresh perspective it promised to offer away from the franchise’s recent focus on theModern Warfareseries, with fans regarding the prospect of a new Treyarch-led game with great anticipation. This, combined withBlack Ops 6’s status as the firstCoDtitle to be a day-one Xbox Game Pass release, saw the title achieve the most successful launch weekend of anyCall of Dutytitle in the franchise’s history.
Alongside a return to tradition with things like round-based Zombies anda more traditional multiplayer Prestige system,Black Ops 6garnered a lot of positive sentiment in its opening weeks, although this is starting to falter. A massive controversy has recently risen in relation to Activision’s replacement of longstanding Zombies voice actors with AI, as well as the use of AI art for multiplayer customization content, with this coming at a time when a lot of playership is naturally going to be lost to other titles following the initial buzz ofBlack Ops 6wearing off.
Of course, the core multiplayer of anyCoDtitle is crucial for its longevity, and withthe multiplayer map pool ofBlack Ops 6still being criticizedfor its lack of variety, unique and fresh content is essentially only coming from one place for the title.Call of Dutyoften supplements its in-game seasons with massive events, which are usually tied to crossovers with other franchises, withBlack Ops 6finding success with its recentSquid Gameevent.
Black Ops 6’s Squid Game Event Should Set a Standard Going Forward
TheSquid Gameevent has seen a wide variety of unique game modes be addedto the game across multiplayer,Warzone, and even Zombies, with rewards tied to the event making for addictive and satisfying gameplay. This is exactly whatBlack Ops 6needs at such a crucial time, with Treyarch struggling to implement this kind of reception from regular post-launch content, and it seems the title cannot afford to revert to normality for too long after theSquid Gameevent ends on January 24.
While normal gameplay should be given some time to breathe via short breaks between events, Treyarch should strive to maintain the current pace of in-game events forBlack Ops 6going forward. Whether they’re tied to real-world holidays or serve as crossovers between two brands, keeping a focus on unique limited-time modes that offer spins on gameplay that can be applied acrossBO6’s multiplayer offerings andWarzoneis a must. As one of the major sources of positivity forBlack Ops 6in such a trying time for the title, consistent high-quality events could be the key to compounding the early success that the game has enjoyed, especially in the downtime between major map and mode releases.
