Before the highly anticipated Black Ops 6 officially launches in October, you can get a head start with the upcoming Open Beta period. You’ll be transported back to the ’90s as you embark on the newest campaign, equipped with a diverse range of robust weapons. In this guide, we’ll reveal all the Open Beta and Early Access dates for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, including the details regarding pre-load.

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When to Expect Black Ops 6 Beta and Early Access

The Call of Duty Blog confirms two distinct phases for the Black Ops 6 Open Beta, with the following specific dates and times:

• Weekend One (Early Access): Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. PT until Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. PT.
• Weekend Two (Open Beta): Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. PT to Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. PT.

To gain access to Black Ops 6 Early Access, you need to pre-order the game in order to obtain a corresponding code. Game Pass users can also secure access, although it might require having Game Pass Core in order to play the Multiplayer mode. On the other hand, the Open Beta will be available for all platforms and is a separate event from Early Access. If it follows a pattern similar to that of MW3, it’s likely that you won’t have to pre-order the game as it will be free to play for a limited time.

Pre-loads for the Black Ops 6 Beta have already commenced with the update for Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 5 Reloaded. If you’ve recently installed a new patch to your game, you’ll notice a Black Ops 6 Multiplayer file present. This patch will prepare you for the beta, so you don’t need to overly worry about storage space on the day of the launch.

Image via Activision

Despite being an Open Beta version, there will be an abundance of content for you to explore, including the ability to create your own loadout with the latest weapons and perks. You’ll also get to test out the brand new Omnimovement, which significantly alters the way an Operator moves.

It remains unclear what specific modes will be available during the beta, but it is likely to include standard ones such as Team Deathmatch and Kill Confirmed. Zombies might not be a part of this, as the Call of Duty Blog only mentions Multiplayer.

Keep in mind that the progress from the Open Beta might not carry over to the full launch of Black Ops 6. The two weekends primarily serve to give you a taste of its features, so you’ll have to start afresh in October.