For essentially its entire life, the Call of Duty franchise has been quick to lean on multiplayer map remasters to keep nostalgic fans invested in new releases. There have been countless versions of Shipment, for example, both with drastic visual redesigns and some varied layouts. The classic airport arena of Terminal has shown up within several Infinity Ward releases, while the 1v1 quickscoper’s playground that is Rust has had its share of the spotlight. And then, of course, there’s Nuketown, which has appeared in every single Black Ops title from the original entry to Black Ops 6.
While maps like Summit, Firing Range, and Crash are part of the series’ DNA, there is something to be said about certain locations being overexposed. After all, while it is certainly fine to lean on the maps of old – especially when Call of Duty veterans always argue that nothing new has been able to live up to the classics – there were so many strong maps released during the golden age of the franchise that it’s a bit disappointing to see the same handful again and again. While Black Ops 6’s remasters could be heading into that territory, hopefully Treyatch pivots, looking instead to a Black Ops Cold War approach that worked wonders.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Struck Gold With Some Unexpected Remasters
Given its rushed development and the impact of COVID-19, it’s no surprise that Black Ops Cold War had its share of maps that had previously appeared in other Call of Duty games. However, for a majority of its selections, Treyarch was careful to go with maps that it had not remastered in Black Ops 4, its previous game. Sure, there was the ever-present Nuketown, and Standoff returned properly after being re-imagined in Black Ops 3, but Treyarch managed to lean into Black Ops 2 nostalgia and deliver fresh remasters at the same time by reviving iconic maps like Slums, Hijacked, Raid, and Express. However, it also pulled some truly surprising remasters out of its hat with Zoo and Drive-In.
To be fair, bringing back multiple base game maps from one of the most well-received Call of Duty titles of all time is still fairly safe, as launch maps tend to be the most iconic since not all players stick around for post-launch additions. It’s for this reason, though, that Zoo and Drive-In stood out from the rest, as they were originally released in Black Ops 1’s map packs. This meant that even longtime players might not have experienced them, while also guaranteeing that they were never-before-seen remasters instead of something like Nuketown and Shipment, which constantly rear their heads. By drawing attention to these two underappreciated maps, Treyarch managed to reward its most dedicated fans while giving the vast majority of the audience a map they had never seen before. It didn’t hurt that an old-timely drive-in theater and colorful zoo were bold map settings, either, with the former playing particularly well in Black Ops Cold War.
Black Ops 6 Still Has Time to Surprise With Its Multiplayer Remasters
With Black Ops 6, it initially seemed like Treyarch was following in Black Ops Cold War’s footsteps, as Black Ops 4’s Hacienda received its very first remaster in Season 1. However, with Grind receiving its second remaster in Season 2 (after already re-appearing once in 2018’s Black Ops 4), there’s reason to think that Treyarch may be going back to the usual Call of Duty approach of sticking with the more familiar favorites. This would be a shame, though, as there are countless deep cuts that deserve the Drive-In and Zoo treatment. Some standouts include:
- Kowloon (BO1)
- Radiation (BO1)
- Array (BO1)
- Discovery (BO1)
- Grid (BO1)
- Berlin Wall (BO1)
- Yemen (BO2)
- Cargo (BO2)
- Carrier (BO2)
- Plaza (BO2)
- Cove (BO2)
- Downhill (BO2)
Considering that the Modern Warfare franchise has its share of underrated classics as well, like the MW3 map Seatown, it would be great to see the entire series start embracing more niche remasters. Hopefully, Black Ops 6 can get the ball rolling on this trend, leaning more toward re-releases like Hacienda instead of repeat appearances like Grind.
Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.
The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.
In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.
Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
- Released
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October 25, 2024
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs