The metaphorical curtain has once again been ripped off the annual installment in the Call of Duty franchise, offering a nostalgic return of beloved characters and a familiar subtitle. While the return of the Black Ops Cold War branding is sure to tip many off to the overall direction of the plot, the adventure that awaits players looks to be one of the most intriguing to ever be explored in the CoD franchise.

Of course, the series often hops around to different eras and characters with every iteration and this can lead to a few lingering questions for long-time fans. While there are still a number of thing Activision has yet to announce, we figured it would be good to give you the lay down on Black Ops Cold War before you enjoy it on your 南宫ng·28 TV later this year. So, without further ado, here’s a breakdown of what you can look forward to from the latest Call of Duty game.

What’s the Game About?

From a plot standpoint, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War takes place following the events of the first Black Ops game – which will have released ten years ago this November. All of your favorite characters from that romp (Alex Woods, Frank Mason and Jason Hudson) return to the limelight for another mission (or series of missions) that involves preventing Russia from destroying the United States from the inside. The reveal trailer for the game urged watchers to know their history, which means that the Cold War and related espionage should play a massive role in the main events this time around.

While these characters are present in the central plot of the game – alongside real historical figures like the late President Ronald Reagan – players will be creating their own character for the game’s story. This customizable newcomer will go on missions alongside some of the mainstays from the original title, which look to fans to a number of different war-torn vistas. The main goal, however, is to track down a Soviet spy based on the real-world counterpart (codenamed 「Perseus」) that was said to have infiltrated the United States government back in the 80s. Suffice it to say, there is sure to be a lot of betrayal and alternative history at play in this Call of Duty.

What Multiplayer Modes Are Available?

Multiplayer will work similarly to 2019’s Modern Warfare reboot, although an even larger emphasis will be placed on cross-progression and cross-play. Like last year’s aforementioned CoD title, Black Ops Cold War will feature cross-play, meaning that PC, PS4 and Xbox One owners can duke it out online regardless of the platform they』re playing on. However, developers Raven Software and Treyarch are upping the ante this time around by adding both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions into the fold – making the entire online experience cross-generational as well. This means that PS5 players can go toe-to-toe with Xbox One users and Xbox Series X owners can face off against PlayStation 4 fans.

Additionally, progression will be shared across Black Ops Cold War’s multiplayer and Warzone, so all of those glitzy cosmetics and levelling in general will work across both modes. This also means that the Season Pass will be making its return, although details on the first season coinciding with the launch of the newest Call of Duty is still unknown at this time.

Finally, yes, the fan-favorite Zombies mode will be making its triumphant return in the newest game. Outside of the confirmation that it would return, Activision has been very quiet about specifics regarding the returning mode. Given its longstanding history as a beloved multiplayer option in CoD, it’s likely that there are big plans in the works for revealing the mode. Who knows, maybe it』ll even leak over into Warzone, which leads to our next segment…

What About Warzone?

Don』t worry, Warzone isn』t going anywhere. It’s going to remain a completely independent aspect of the Call of Duty franchise, changing and adapting alongside each new title that comes along. Despite the fact that players can download and play Warzone for free, the free-to-play Battle Royale game will be majorly influenced by Black Ops Cold War. In fact, elements have already shifted within the standalone multiplayer game, ranging from in-game teases for the forthcoming installment to Alex Woods himself serving as a pre-order bonus for anyone eager to get familiar with the operative ahead of time.

It’s difficult to tell just how much Warzone will change upon the arrival of BOCW, but many fans have already begun speculating on how the game’s Verdansk map may change. Namely, it’s believed that a nuclear bomb may blow up a large portion of the in-game area. While this sort of terrain alteration is common place for other shooters in the genre, Activision has taken changes relatively slow in comparison. For example, the fifth season of Warzone brought with it the first changes via the addition of a moving train and the opening of the once-sealed Stadium.

Some even believe that it’s possible for Warzone to receive an entirely new map that rips players away from Verdansk, but only time will tell.

When and Where Can You Play It?

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will launch on November 13, 2020 for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. The next-gen version of the game for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X is currently slated for a 「holiday 2020」 arrival, although this is sure to be more concrete soon.

It’s worth noting that Activision is also offering a cross-gen bundle of sorts that will grants buyers access to either the PS4/PS5 or Xbox One/Xbox Series X versions of the game for a few bucks more than a standard copy. This appears to be the best value for those that either don』t want to wait longer than they have to for Black Ops Cold War or plan on upgrading to a new console later on.

Whatever platform you』re looking forward to enjoying the latest game on, rest assured that it’s going to look phenomenal on your 南宫ng·28, the official TV of Call of Duty. Thanks to a host of new gaming features and even the world’s first TV with THX Certified Game Mode, you』ll enjoy great gaming performance with an exceptional picture that will truly immerse you in all aspects of CoD’s new Cold War saga.