The time is almost here for our first chance to try out Black Ops 6 multiplayer. As you might expect from Call of Duty every year, the game will be hosting a beta so everyone can try out the action before launch and provide some feedback to the developers.
In this guide, we’ll go over all the details that Treyarch and Raven Software have revealed about the Black Ops 6 beta. The list includes the release date, start times, who can access the beta, how the Black Ops 6 beta works with Game Pass, what platforms it’s available on, what content the beta will contain, and more.
Read on for a summary of everything we know.
Manage your cookie settings
Black Ops 6 beta release date
The Black Ops 6 Multiplayer Beta follows a similar rollout schedule as previous Call of Duty game betas. That said, there are a few differences this year that will make the beta more accessible to more players.
The Black Ops 6 beta is taking place in two sessions, with the first scheduled for this weekend. Call of Duty no longer has an exclusivity deal with Sony, so PlayStation players can no longer play early, but not everyone will be able to play at the same time. Here’s how it all breaks down:
Black Ops 6 Beta Weekend One Release Date:
- PS5:August 30 – September 4 (pre-order only).
- PS4:August 30 – September 4 (pre-order only).
- Xbox X/S Series:August 30 – September 4 (pre-order or Game Pass).
- Xbox One:August 30 – September 4 (pre-order or Game Pass).
- Computer:August 30 – September 4 (pre-order or Game Pass).
Black Ops 6 Beta Weekend Two Release Date:
- PS5:September 6 – September 9 (no prior booking required).
- PS4:September 6 – September 9 (no prior booking required).
- Xbox X/S Series:September 6 – September 9 (no prior booking required).
- Xbox One:September 6 – September 9 (no prior booking required).
- Computer:September 6 – September 9 (no prior booking required).
Black Ops 6 Beta Start Times – First Weekend Schedule (PC, Xbox, PlayStation Cross-Play)
Black Ops 6 First Beta Session Starts Today Friday, August 30. This first option will be available until Wednesday, September 4making it one of the longest Call of Duty beta sessions we’ve ever seen.
Servers are started at 10:00 AM PST, 1:00 PM EST, 6:00 PM UK time simultaneously on all platforms, with cross-platform play supported from the start.
The good news is that all platforms are welcome for both sessions. This includes PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. However, this first session is available to players who pre-ordered the full game, either digitally or through a retailer.
The twist this year is that PC and Xbox players don’t even need to pre-order to get access to the first weekend, as long as they’re a Game Pass subscriber. All Ultimate, Game Pass PC, and Game Pass Console members are invited, no pre-orders required.
If you’re not currently a Game Pass member, you may find that a monthly subscription is the easiest and cheapest way to play the Black Ops 6 beta this weekend. Keep in mind, though, that Microsoft recently complicated the Game Pass tiers and their benefits, and raised the prices of most of them – so read the description of the tier you’re opting for carefully before you spend any money.
Black Ops 6 Beta Start Times – Weekend 2 Schedule (PC, Xbox, PlayStation Cross-Play)
After a tiny break, the second session of the Black Ops 6 beta will be live, providing the last chance to play the game before its October release. It will begin Friday, September 6 and stay online until Monday, September 9.
Like the first weekend, this one is also available on all platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Unlike the first one, however, this session is truly open on all platforms, with no pre-order or Game Pass membership required. Just download it and start playing.
In this second and final session, the servers will also go live: 10:00 AM PST, 1:00 PM EST, 6:00 PM UK timeCross-platform play is also supported.
Black Ops 6 Beta Content
Treyarch has yet to provide details on the full content players will have access to in the Black Ops 6 beta. That information will likely be revealed during Call of Duty: Next on August 28, just a few days before the beta begins.
However, the years we’ve covered Call of Duty betas have shown us that developers like to add content halfway through the first weekend and again as the second weekend begins. Typically, the tier cap starts low and then increases overnight.
The same goes for maps and modes, so don’t be surprised if you see a novel map or mode in a playlist update. This is almost certain to happen on the second weekend as well, as it makes it easier to tempt players who participated in the first wave to jump back in the following weekend.
The beta will focus solely on multiplayer, so don’t expect zombies or any single-player content.
Black Ops 6 Initial Download Time and File Size
The Black Ops 6 beta rollout is a bit of a challenge this year, as it arrives alongside a major Call of Duty HQ overhaul that aims to reduce the overall file size and separate Warzone from the year-old games. Here’s what that means for you:
If you have Call of Duty installed and fully patched to the latest Modern Warfare 3/Warzone Season 5 Reloaded update, the beta will automatically be unlocked via a patch to that same installation. You do not need to manually trigger the download, and simply need to launch the Call of Duty app to play the beta.
If you belong to the above camp, the update will appear at 34GB for PS5, 15GB for PS4, 35GB for Xbox Series X/S, 17GB for Xbox One, 32GB for Steam/Battle.netAND 29 GB for Microsoft Store (PC Game Pass).
However, if you don’t have Call of Duty installed, you’ll need to manually download the Black Ops 6 beta from the PlayStation/Xbox Store or from Steam and Battle.net on PC. The pre-load will be available from Wednesday, August 28As a result, your download will be much larger.
You are looking at 80GB for PS5, 67GB for PS4, 75GB for Xbox Series X/S, 52GB for Xbox One, 74GB for Battle.net, 66GB for SteamAND 68 GB for Microsoft Store (PC Game Pass).
Black Ops 6 Beta Rewards
Like every Call of Duty beta, Black Ops 6 also has a few rewards for players who show up and join in. You don’t have to do anything special; simply reach the required character level for each reward to earn it. All of the rewards will be available at Black Ops 6’s launch for those who purchase the full game. Here’s what you can expect:
- Level 2:Animated Beta Tester emblem.
- Level 6:Beta Tag Spray.
- Level 11:No Bugs weapon amulet.
- Level 15:”Quick draw” emote.
- Level 20:Squish Westpoint Operator Skin (Can only be unlocked during the first weekend).
- Level 20:Squash Westpoint Operator Skin (Unlocked on any weekend).
- Level 23:The Truth Lies loading screen.
- Level 27:Animated Beta Expert business card.
- Level 30:Bug Smasher weapon schematic.
Black Ops 6 beta pc specs
Considering that Black Ops 6 will be available on two generations of consoles, we don’t expect the system requirements for PC to be high. For the beta, Treyarch and Raven have released the hardware specs you’ll need if you want to play on PC. Keep in mind that the system requirements for the launch version may differ slightly. Until then, here’s what your PC needs to play the beta.
Black Ops 6 PC Minimum System Requirements
- Operating system:Windows 10 64Bit (latest update).
- Processor:AMD Ryzen 5 1400 or Intel Core i5-6600.
- ARIES: 12GB.
- Graphics Processor: AMD Radeon RX 470 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or Intel Arc A750.
- Video memory: 3GB.
- Storage: SSD required.
- Recommended drivers: 560.70 (Nvidia), 24.8.1 (AMD), 32.0.101.5768 (Intel).
Black Ops 6 Recommended PC System Requirements
- Operating system: Windows 10 64Bit (latest update) or Windows 11 64Bit (latest update).
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 1600X or Intel Core i7-6700K.
- ARIES: 16GB.
- Graphics Processor: AMD Radeon RX 6600XT or Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060.
- Video memory: 8GB.
- Storage: SSD required.
- Recommended drivers: 560.70 (Nvidia), 24.8.1 (AMD), 32.0.101.5768 (Intel).
