Dataminers on a jailbroken PS4 were able to install an update earlier than Activision anticipated, making the entirety of the Black Ops 6 Beta playable on that device. And while the company finally removed the Beta build from the PlayStation Database earlier today, there’s no way to stop fans from sharing early footage.
Now, after getting to play Call of Duty 2024 almost a month ahead of its scheduled Beta, some fans are taking the time to share early reviews for the game.
Black Ops 6 Early Reviews
Over on social media, fans claiming to have played Black Op 6 early (and there are certainly more than enough gameplay leaks for us to believe these reports are true) are sharing their opinions of the game.
It’s worth noting that someone who bothers to install the leak on a jailbroken PS4 is almost certainly a hardcore Call of Duty fan.
Therefore, their reviews might not reflect the opinions of a casual COD fans. What’s more, we wouldn’t take reviews of Black Ops 6 too seriously based on a Beta build, particularly given that it’s not actually ready to launch yet.
Guns
We’ve seen many users praise the guns in the Black Ops 6 Beta, claiming that they look, sound, and handle well in-game.
Time To Kill (TTK) is reportedly faster than MW3, which should mean that sniping isn’t quite as powerful as in last year’s title. It’s worth considering that this will likely only get faster when meta loadouts begin to arise, but we’re sure Treyarch will make adjustments if things get too out of hand.
The Gunsmith has also seen significant praise, with some fans claiming that the weapon customization is far less complicated than it was in MW2/MW3.
One early player, a Reddit user by the name of FIreBoyi, reports that visual recoil when firing is now ‘super smooth,’ which should help when we’re flying around the map using Omnimovement.
When it comes to maps, fan opinions appear to get a little mixed.
Reddit user FIreBoyi claims that each map feels ‘unique’ and writes that they play pretty well, but their thoughts aren’t echoed by the entire community.
Others critique the new verticality present in select maps, though we don’t feel like previous COD entries have been too lacking in vertical gameplay.
We’ve seen some leaks that showcase interactive elements with particular maps, such as a hidden passage behind a moving bookshelf, which is an interesting but seemingly minor addition.
And there certainly appear to be a fair few smaller maps to choose from, which are likely what Treyarch refers to as ‘Strike Maps.’ There are set to be four Strike Maps at launch, designed for both 6v6 and 2v2 modes – but some fans already believe that these maps are too small for standard Multiplayer lobbies.
Try telling that to the people demanding the return of Shipment every single game.
Reddit user No_Currency919, another early player, claims that the maps are at least more interesting and different from Cold War’s smaller arenas.
As for overall gameplay, that’s where Black Ops 6 reviews seem to think the game truly shines. With Treyarch’s new Omnimovement system impressing almost all early reviewers, it bodes well that performance appears to be this good on last-gen consoles.
“The movement in this game is like butter, you can fly across the map and look cool doing it,” FIreBoyi reports.
However, fans of Treyarch’s long-running series might be left wanting, as No_Currency919 reports that the game doesn’t feel much like Black Ops Cold War, nor the developer’s earlier release, Black Ops 4.
Instead, some fans suggest that this new game is more of a mix between Treyarch and Infinity Ward’s usual feel. This is likely due to the upcoming release being the first Black Ops title to be built on the unified Call of Duty engine.
Of course, the game doesn’t look too hot visually. But this should be expected, given that the current build is unfinished and is running on hardware that’s over a decade old.
Bear in mind that the leaked Black Ops 6 Beta only provided users with access to the title’s Multiplayer mode and menus. Nobody has been able to try the Campaign or Zombies modes early – though new details on the undead survival keep leaking through the Beta’s code.
