“Call of Duty” has released the first look at the core multiplayer of its next game, but fans are yet to really sink their teeth into the franchise’s 2035-set entry, which will hit a beta release on Thursday, October 2nd and a wide release on Friday, November 14.
The footage is what you would expect from a “Call of Duty” trailer, lots of running and shooting, keeping in form with the omnimovement system introduced with “Black Ops 6,” while a catchy pop tune plays over the footage, this time “FE!N” by Travis Scott and Playboi Carti. That’s about it.
There’s not much to note in the trailer aside from some futuristic new killstreaks (including the murderous quadrupedal D.A.W.G) and a brief look at a new system of ‘overclocking’ weapons and killstreaks with additional perks mid-match.
The real meat comes from a lengthy Activision blog post, which dives much deeper into what’s new, what’s returning and what players will be able to test drive during the aforementioned beta. There’s returning classic modes, namely TDM, Kill Confirmed and Domination, booked for the beta, and a new mode called Overload — a capture the flag-esque style of play that sees two teams competing to bring one device into the opponent’s area.
In terms of other new touches, the overclock system makes for some new additions to franchise-classic killstreak equipment like the UAV, which can now unlock a flare to fend off enemy missiles, plus a new take on perks. In the same way that three matching perks add a passive bonus for a player, now two matching perks offer a different bonus called Hybrid Combat Specialties to encourage players to fine-tune their playstyle further. Come launch, they’ll be able to do so on 18 maps and with over 30 weapons.
But, same as after the reveal trailer, fans have yet to take to the game — especially since it’s going up against its age-old rival “Battlefield,” which looks to be in record form with “Battlefield 6,” releasing just two days after the “Black Ops 7” open beta closes. Treyarch and Activision may have to pull a rabbit out of their hats, or just put more steam behind the recently announced feature film, to make this stick the landing.
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