“Call of Duty: Black Ops 6” proved to be the biggest launch in the franchise’s history, setting new records for total number of players, hours played and matches played in its first 30 days of availability. Activision attributed this extraordinary success to strong player engagement and exceptional launch performance, particularly emphasizing how the game’s inclusion in Xbox’s Game Pass facilitated access to a wide audience without the need to purchase the title at full price .
Activision through a post on
Adnkronos Tech&Games has reached Miles Leslie, Associate Creative Director, at Treyarch to analyze the Black Ops 6 phenomenon
How has the Call of Duty franchise evolved in recent years to maintain its popularity in a highly competitive video game market?
The essence of Black Ops, with its world-class gameplay experience, has captivated and engaged players for years. In Black Ops 6 we introduced Omnimovement which allows players to dash, slide and dive in any direction, improving control and mastery across all modes (Campaign, Multiplayer and Zombies). We’ve also implemented a number of new gameplay features and improvements to Multiplayer and Zombies modes, designed to provide players with engaging content, especially as seasons release – season 1 is available on November 14th with all the others coming later of 2025 live next year. Each new title represents a fun challenge for the evolution of the game, characters, maps and gameplay, which our team faces with great commitment every time.
What strategies has Activision implemented to keep the series fresh and engaging for both new players and longtime fans?
Black Ops constantly renews itself and is capable of being engaging thanks to the variety of experiences offered: the Single Player Campaign immerses players in a gripping storyline, Multiplayer offers a competitive arena, while Zombies mode offers a co-op experience ideal for playing with friends. Black Ops 6 enhances these different modes of entertainment, maintaining the interest of both our developers and millions of players around the world
Can you talk about the impact of player feedback on the development of recent Call of Duty titles?
Constructive feedback from players is essential to understanding their level of engagement. Game development is an iterative process, requiring continuous changes based on playtesting. We value every feedback to identify obstacles and new entertainment opportunities. Our team carefully reviews all feedback, aligning it with our development goals, to find the right balance between the feedback we receive and the improvements we need to make to every game we make.
Miles Leslie, Associate Creative Director, at Treyarch
How have technological advances, such as next-gen consoles and PC hardware, influenced the development and features of recent games?
Our goal is to further increase player immersion by working with the most advanced technologies available. Improvements to our photogrammetry process bring even more lifelike worlds and characters to life, while this year’s audio innovations allow players to better spot enemies thanks to advances in spatial audio and HRTF technology, to name a few. These updates deepen gamers’ immersion in the game and give our development teams new tools to push the boundaries of the gaming experience a little further every day.
How has the integration of cross-platform play and cross-progression affected the Call of Duty community and player experience?
Cross play and shared progression have given players the ability to create new communities and reconnect with long-time friends, without worrying about the gaming platform. Our goal is to minimize barriers, allowing players to have fun together and progress on the same account, regardless of the platform they play on. This is a major step forward from where the industry was ten years ago.
Can you explain what Warzone’s role is in the Call of Duty ecosystem and its impact on the direction of the franchise?
Warzone has expanded the ways players can experience Call of Duty. The combination of Black Ops 6 and Warzone offers numerous opportunities to play together and have fun, enriching the franchise’s appeal to a wider audience and allowing players to unlock and transfer content from one game to another if they wish.
How important is narrative in recent Call of Duty games, and how do you balance narrative elements with multiplayer and live-service components?
In Black Ops 6, we created a narrative with a world, characters and stories that play a vital role in engaging players across Campaign, Multiplayer and Zombies. The story that players experience in the Campaign lays the foundation for the Multiplayer universe, which evolves throughout the post-launch seasons, and intertwines with the gameplay, rooting the game in the 90s to offer a more unique narrative experience compared to past years.
What measures is Activision taking to ensure a fair and safe gaming environment, particularly regarding issues such as cheating and harassing behavior?
The teams responsible for combating cheating and toxicity recently published reports on the progress made to protect the community, highlighting ongoing efforts to ensure a fair and fun gaming environment for all.
Looking ahead, what can fans expect from the Call of Duty franchise in terms of new content, features and overall direction in the coming years?
In the future, fans can expect exciting content that will enrich the core game experience with new maps, modes, weapons, operators and gameplay. We will continue to keep Black Ops 6 updated by introducing new content and responding to community feedback to ensure a positive and fun experience in future seasons. We can’t wait to see how our players react to the new things each season brings to the game
