Call of Duty Black Ops and Warzone Season 1 (Image: ACTIVISION)
Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War and Warzone publisher Activision is gearing up to launch Season 1 of the Battle Pass.
The new Call of Duty season has a release date of December 16 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One and PC.
Season 1 of Cold War and Warzone will launch alongside an update and a brand new Battle Pass at 7:00 GMT UK time – meaning US players can get in on December 15th at 11:00 PM PT.
In terms of new content, the new Call of Duty update is absolutely massive. It includes everything from new maps and operators to new weapons, items and many new rewards. There is even a brand new Warzone map called Rebirth Island.
Let’s start with the new content from Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War to spice things up a bit.
First of all, there’s the news that Black Ops Cold War is adding three new operators to multiplayer, starting with Vikhor ‘Stitch’ Kuzmin.
Available at the launch of Season 1, Stitch is described as a former KGB chemical weapons expert overseeing the production of bioweapons on Rebirth Island.
After being picked up and interrogated by Russell Adler, Stitch was sent to the Gulag, where he was radicalized and recruited by Perseus.
Stitch will be joined by fellow operators Wyatt ‘Bulldozer’ Jones and Zeyna Ossou throughout the season.
Call of Duty Black Ops and Warzone Season 1 roadmap (Image: ACTIVISION)
The following is the news that Black Ops Cold War Season 1 will be adding five new weapons to multiplayer.
This includes the MAC 10 SMG and Groza Assault Rifle during launch week, followed by the Streetsweeper Shotgun, Sledgehammer, and Wakizashi Sword later in the season.
Available at level 15, the MAC 10 has a fully automatic rate of fire with light vertical recoil and moderate damage. The Groza Assault Rifle, meanwhile, is said to have excellent ground speeds and deal solid damage.
Three new game modes will also be available during the launch week, including Prop Hunt, Gunfight and Combined Arms: Hardpoint.
Fans may remember Modern Warfare’s 2v2 Gunfight mode, where the goal is to be the last duo in a fast-paced action lap. Prop Hunt, on the other hand, is a 6v6 game mode where one team disguises itself as props while the other chases them.
The 12v12 Combined Arms: Hardpoint mode is arguably the most exciting of the bunch as two teams battle for control of the Hardpoint as it revolves around the map.
After criticism of the multiplayer offering at launch, fans will be pleased to hear that more than eight new maps will be available throughout the season.
The Pines, Raid and Nuketown ’84 Holiday are new 6v6 maps available from December 16.
Set in a neon-drenched shopping center in New Jersey, The Pines is a medium-sized, multi-level map with several stores for fans to fight in. Raid is a remake of the classic map from Black Ops 2, while Nuketown ’84 Vacation is the same map we’ve come to know and love, just with a new festive theme.
The remaining cards to be launched on December 16 include Game Show, ICBM, KGB, and U-Bahn. They are all playable in 2v2 Gunfight mode.
The festivities continue with the launch of the Sanatorium Fireteam card later in the season.
Needless to say, Season 1 also features two new Scorestreaks, new challenges, and a few new Zombies modes, starting with Jingle Hells.
New Call of Duty Season 1 map (Image: ACTIVISION)
On Warzone, the big new addition is the launch of the brand new Rebirth Island map, as well as a new Gulag experience.
“An illegal Soviet base that was raided and closed by the CIA in 1968, during which operator Russell Adler captured and forcibly interrogated base commander Vikhor” Stitch “Kuzmin,” is the description of Rebirth Island.
“The facility was rebuilt and re-commissioned by Stitch in 1984 with one purpose: to create and test the deadly Nova 6 gas.
“Part prison, part chemical bioweapons manufacturing and testing facility, the entire island has dozens of locations to explore, including laboratories, barracks, decontamination areas and a hillside prison block where unspeakable acts have been committed.”
With the launch of the new season, Black Ops Cold War content – including weapons and operators – will be added to Warzone.
In addition to a new attack helicopter, Warzone fans can also check out the Resurgence game mode.
To get the most out of the season, it’s best to buy a Battle Pass, which costs 1,000 COD points. The Battle Pass contains 100 levels of rewards, including Warzone and Cold War double bonuses.