Activision has unveiled a bold free trial for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, a move that conspicuously coincides with the highly anticipated launch week of its direct competitor, Battlefield 6.
This extensive week-long trial for Black Ops 6 grants players unprecedented full access to its campaign, along with all Multiplayer modes (Ranked Play excluded) and Zombies. It’s scheduled to begin at 9 AM PT on October 9th, a mere day before Battlefield 6 hits stores on October 10th, and will conclude at 10 AM PT on October 16th.
Adding even more value, the Black Ops 6 trial incorporates fresh content from ‘The Haunting’ update, featuring new Multiplayer maps such as Gravity, Rig, and Mothball, alongside the limited-time ‘Haunted Havoc’ Zombies mode, and other exciting additions.
Image: The Black Ops 6 free trial. Image credit: Activision Publishing.
Though Activision hasn’t openly declared this trial a direct challenge to EA’s Battlefield 6, the timing speaks volumes to fans. While Black Ops 6 is already available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, this new trial significantly broadens access for Xbox Essential and Premium users, as well as PlayStation and Steam players.
This move marks the latest engagement in a growing rivalry between Activision and EA, as both industry giants aggressively compete for dominance in the first-person shooter market this holiday season.
Adding to the drama, Activision made a surprising announcement in August, confirming that purchased Operators, Skins, and Weapons from Black Ops 6 would not transfer to Black Ops 7. This decision disappointed many players accustomed to content carrying over in previous titles. Activision justified the change by stating that Black Ops 7 needed to maintain an ‘authentic’ feel to its Call of Duty setting.
(Related: A slideshow featuring “The Best Battlefield Games” was included here.)
Many speculate that Activision’s decisions are a direct response to Battlefield 6’s commitment to a more realistic and grounded aesthetic. Developer DICE has explicitly stated their intention to avoid crossover skins that might compromise Battlefield 6’s artistic direction, assuring fans that their feedback is being heard.
During a recent interview with DBLTAP, Battlefield 6 design director Shashank Uchil reiterated EA’s dedication to grounded realism, even using Call of Duty’s controversial Nicki Minaj skin as an example of what Battlefield 6 aims to avoid.
Uchil emphasized, “It has to be grounded. That is what BF3 and BF4 was — it was all soldiers, on the ground. It’s going to be like this,” gesturing towards key art depicting soldiers in military attire overlooking a war-torn New York City.
He concluded, “I don’t think it needs Nicki Minaj. Let’s keep it real, keep it grounded.”
(Video: Battlefield 6 official launch live-action trailer)
Last month, EA intensified its Battlefield 6 marketing with a live-action trailer that directly targeted Call of Duty. In a clear counter-move, Activision then extended the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 open beta by an additional 24 hours, ensuring it would conclude precisely on Battlefield 6’s launch date, October 9th.
These two titles represent pivotal releases for their respective publishers. Battlefield 6 makes its debut on October 10th, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launching its counter-offensive on November 14th. The gaming community eagerly awaits to see which of these powerhouse franchises will emerge victorious in this intense holiday season showdown.
Wesley is Director of News at IGN. You can follow him on Twitter or contact him via email for news tips.