Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season Two Impressions – A Promising Future For A Struggling Title

On January 28, 2025, Call of Duty players were met with a new season of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The release of the game saw record purchases for the title, but as season one progressed, fewer and fewer players were returning. With the release of season two, players have begun to return with a concurrent count reaching above 100,000 on good days. From new guns and maps to a complex Origins-style zombie mission, this season has seemed promising so far in terms of content. Where Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 struggles is behind the scenes in latency issues and unsuccessful anti-cheat software, as well as in the public eye thanks to their insistent use of AI for graphic designing.

Unlike any game before in the series, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has become known for using AI, and players certainly notice this. Within the shop, players can see animations of six-fingered skins. In the new season, AI is still heavily being used, but in a less flamboyant manner. Around every corner, players see blatant use of imaging AI rather than the human touch they have come to love. 

Given these complications, season two seems to bring a welcome stream of content to the sandbox, and it also seems to distract players from some of the more glaring problems in the current state of the game. 

With the three core maps released in season two, players are able to experience a range of playstyles. These maps openly allow for long-range combat, but at the same time, the maps also come with corridors that make for excellent SMG and shotgun engagements. The fan favorite so far is Lifeline, a map that resembles everybody’s favorite battleground from Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Highjacked. This map, while smaller than most, consistently wins votes from players thanks to its head-to-head, single-lane style. 

What takes away from these maps, except Lifeline, is the rampant camping encouraged by vantage points and easy head glitches. Time and time again, players charge from their spawn, are killed by somebody they are not able to see and respawn just to repeat the same action until they can counter their camping by sliding into danger. Players who enjoy the new movement system may find themselves at odds with these new maps, especially when it comes to Bounty. 

Where this season seems to thrive is with its addition of three new weapons in the battle pass. These weapons are all around powerhouses. Starting with the PPSh-41, players are able to unleash a volley of bullets at close range to obliterate their target with a low accuracy. In the Feng 82, we see extremely high damage at all ranges and extremely fast reloads for an LMG. Even with the new assault rifle, the Cypher 091, players can experience a modest fire rate with high damage and light recoil. Given the sheer amount of assault rifles in the game, the Cypher holds up well to its competition. It seems that all of these weapons have found their place in the sandbox so far, as nearly every single lobby has several Cypher users. In a way, each of these weapons also work in tandem with the new maps. The Feng 82 performs exceptionally well on Bounty, given its high damage range. The PPSh-41 feels as if it belongs on lifeline, as it is rare to run into an opponent over 15 meters away. On Dealership, the Cypher is able to effectively clear out targets on the move at a moderate range thanks to its fire rate, so it definitely has its place across the several rooms within the dealership.

So far, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is becoming known as one of the most successful Call of Duty titles to date. This does not by any means define a good game. While it is undoubtably enjoyable, there are flaws ranging from minor to major. As far as bugs go, players continuously encounter a locked spectator mode when joining a game in progress. While this isn’t game breaking, it certainly can prove annoying when it is repetitive. 

Along with this, Activision has failed to create a successful anti-cheat program for the game. Every other lobby, players run into an opponent whose aim is unnaturally accurate and at times impossible given the use of cover. In one game, I even butted heads with an invisible player with a floating gun. If this goes unaddressed for too much longer, players will undoubtedly drop the game out of frustration. 

It is abundantly clear that the developers have tried very hard to put out a slew of great additions in terms of content. For many gamers, the enjoyability of the game is certainly alive and well and season two will indefinitely have players returning to try out the new weapons and maps, but for many, this is too little too late. The use of AI and the refusal for adequate anti-cheating software has diminished confidence in the franchise as a legitimate multiplayer shooter. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 stands as solidified proof that automation isn’t always a better option, especially when it comes to creative choices. 

Nate played Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on PlayStation 5 with his own bought copy.