Black Ops 6 beta dates and how to get access

Products You May Like

Black Ops 6 Beta start date

A soldier fires an assault rifle outside of — (Image credit: Activision)

The Black Ops 6 beta will go live on August 30 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST. You can actually preload the game now, just make sure to download the Call of Duty launcher, and the Season 5 update. This will make the Black Ops 6 download much smaller, and save you some time, meaning you can get in as early as possible on Friday.

The Call of Duty Black Ops 6 beta will allow players to jump into the game before launch, giving them a taste of the new weapons and Omnimovement mechanics later this week (commencing Friday, August 30).

There are two distinct beta periods, one week apart, with different ways to access each one. If you’re looking to play Black Ops 6 as early as possible, you’ll need to know the details on the Early Access weekend, before the game is opened up to more players the following weekend.

From what we’ve seen of Black Ops 6 so far, it’s certainly got a great chance of ending up on our best FPS games list by the end of the year, with a globe-trotting campaign, a new set of movement skills, and new Warzone integration. The upcoming beta is the best way to find out how the game feels, and whether or not you’ll be diving in fully when launch comes around.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Black Ops 6 beta start date, including how to get Early Access, and when the open beta goes live. As we approach launch day, we’ll update the page with the latest comms from developer Treyarch.

Black Ops 6 beta start date

The schedule for Black Ops 6's beta period, as an infographic: "Early Access August 30 until September 4, Open Beta is September 6 until September 9" — (Image credit: Activision)

The Black Ops 6 beta goes live on August 30 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST. This is the early access period, the first of two weekends that’ll allow players to jump into the game early. You’ll find the full schedule below:

Early Access (Weekend One): August 30 – September 4
Open Beta (Weekend Two): September 6 – September 9

As we get a bit closer to Friday, Activision is likely to reveal the exact timings per time zone. Once it does, this section will be updated.

Black Ops 6 Early Access – how to get in

A soldier on a motorcycle jumps over his enemies, with neon lcasino lights in the background — (Image credit: Activision)

To get into the Black Ops 6 Early Access beta weekend, you’ll need to have pre-ordered the game, or be an Xbox Game Pass subscriber (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, or Game Pass Console).

You can often find cheap Game Pass deals, so that’s what we’d recommend if you’re unsure about pre-ordering Black Ops 6 just yet. Note that the Early Access beta ends on Wednesday, September 4 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST.

Black Ops 6 open beta

An opulent hotel lobby — (Image credit: Activision)

The Black Ops 6 open beta weekend runs from September 6 – September 9. It’ll go live at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST on the Friday, and then end at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST on the Monday. You’ll be able to download the beta from the PlayStation, Xbox, and Battle.net storefronts.

Black Ops 6 beta maps

The list of maps available in the Black Ops 6 beta — (Image credit: Activision)

There are eight maps available as part of the Black Ops 6 beta. These include the following:

Skyline
Rewind
Scud
Babylon
Derelict
Stakeout
Gala
Pit

What to expect from the Black Ops 6 beta

Two operators dive around each other while firing their weapons — (Image credit: Activision)

The Black Ops 6 beta will include 8 maps to play across. Including Skyline, Rewind, Scud, Babylon, Derelict, Stakeout, Gala and Pit. Confirmed modes include Kill Hoarder, Team Deathmatch, and Hardpoint. We’ll be getting a full list very soon indeed. In the past, COD betas have added content in the gap between the first two weekends. This could mean that we’ll see new modes and maps once the open beta goes live.

Black Ops 6 beta FAQ

Can you preload the Black Ops 6 beta?

You can preload the Black Ops 6 beta now. This works whether you’re jumping into the Early Access weekend, or the open beta the week after. Just search for it in your respective store, and free up enough space (for estimated download sizes, head to the Call of Duty website).

What is the Black Ops 6 beta Vault Edition bonus?

If you pre-ordered the Black Ops 6 Vault Edition, you’ll be able to use some of your bonuses during the beta. Expect to play as any of the four Operators from the Hunter vs Hunted Operator Pack. These include Park, Adler, Brutus, and Klaus. You’ll also get to try five weapons from the Mastercraft Weapon Collection.

Is the Black Ops 6 Beta on Game Pass?

The Black Ops 6 beta will be available on Xbox Game Pass starting August 30 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST. Just log into your Xbox or PC subscription and it’ll appear in your collection. Game Pass Subscribers can access both beta weekends at no extra cost.