Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII releases this fall – here's what we know about gameplay, release dates, pricing and more.
The next entry to Activision's world-renowned shooter franchise, Call of Duty, has been officially unveiled, marking the build-up for what's expected to be one of this year's biggest titles. Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII will revive the fan-favorite series, with an experience set to "revolutionize" what we know today. While details on the game are currently scarce, here's everything we know so far.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4: Reveal
Leaks surrounding Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII preceded the game's reveal, as a natural step for its developer following 2015's Call of Duty: Black Ops III. After credible details surfaced ahead of time and a peculiar teaser from NBA star James Harden, the game was formally announced on March 8, 2018.
Official word on the next Call of Duty is currently scarce – aside from a brief teaser trailer, few details have surfaced on what the game will offer. Beyond a compilation of clips from previous games and the tagline, "Forget what you know," Activision has remained tight on information. So far, the most heated discussion surrounding the game has been its title, ditching the traditional roman numeral formatting of "IV" for "IIII."
A full "community reveal" of Call of Duty Black Ops IIII is currently scheduled for May 17, 2018. As a part of this, we can expect more information on how the game has evolved beyond its predecessors.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4: Gameplay
Although recent Black Ops entries have opted for a futuristic backdrop, it's unclear how Black Ops IIII will approach its setting. With Call of Duty: WWII returning to "boots on the ground" combat in the Second World War, it's hard to predict what's next for Call of Duty titles.
Under the Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII package, players can expect a single-player campaign, competitive multiplayer and a return of the cooperative "zombies" mode. Activision has previously expressed interest in adopting the "battle royale" formula of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite too and is "keenly aware" of how other publishers have benefited. For now, we'll have to wait for more details from the full reveal to find out what's in store.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4: Release date and price
Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII is currently slated to release on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on October 12, 2018. The standard edition of the game will be priced at $59.99 on all platforms, with higher tier editions expected in the months ahead. Preorders for Xbox One copies are already being accepted at Amazon, GameStop, and Best Buy, with other retailers expected to follow.
For recent Call of Duty titles, partnerships between Activision and Sony have meant downloadable content and other aspects of the game release early PlayStation 4. While rumors of a switch to Xbox One have been circulating, the press release for the game's announcement placed an emphasis on PlayStation branding and trademarks. Once again, we'll have to wait on official word from Activision.
Counting down to Black Ops 4
Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII may be a while away, although the coming months should provide a wealth of information for fans. As always, we'll be sure to cover it, while updating this post with additional details. Are you looking forward to Call of Duty Black Ops IIII? Make sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments.