Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Open Beta is Here: How to Get It

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 isn’t out for another two months, but you can get access to the game now: the first of two open betas is underway now, running through Wednesday, September 4.

Participating in the beta is pretty simple. The only requirement is that you must pre-register or pre-purchase the game. For players who pre-register digitally on Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, Battle.net, and the Microsoft Store, you will be automatically enrolled in the Open Beta once you pre-register or pre-purchase the game.

People who pre-order the game from participating retailers will receive a 13-digit code from the retailer. Once you have your code, go to callofduty.com/betaredeemLog in to your Activision account, redeem your code, and follow the instructions to access the Open Beta. Activision says that if you have lost your Open Beta code, you should contact your retailer for assistance.

If you subscribe to Microsoft’s Game Pass, you’ll have immediate access to the beta on Xbox or the Microsoft Store, without having to register beforehand. Xfinity Rewards members can also preview the game through Xfinity.

The first round of the open beta closes at 10 a.m. PT on September 4. A second open beta starts on September 6 and runs until September 9, so if you miss the first one, you’ll have one more chance to try it out before launch day. Activision hopes the early betas will provide feedback on the game leading up to launch.

There are also Twitch Drops available if you’d rather watch others play the Black Ops 6 beta.

How do you get access to the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Open Beta?

How you can access the beta depends on your platform, with the game launching on Xbox Series S and X, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam, Battle.net, and the Microsoft Store.

PlayStation players can search the PlayStation Store for the Black Ops 6 Open Beta List that is separate from the main game. Download that, open it up and log in. After that you should have access to the beta.

On Xbox, you need to open the Microsoft Store and go to the Black Ops 6 List. There select the Choose edition option and select the open beta. Once the game is downloaded, open the game and log in. From there you should be fine.

PC players who use the Microsoft Store can follow PlayStation’s lead. The store has a separate entry for the open beta version from Black Ops 6. Download it, open it, log in and you can play.

You can access Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass for just $1 for 14 days.

Steam and Battle.net users have a slightly different path. For Steam, you will need: Call of Duty HQ app installed. As long as you have entered your Open Beta code or pre-ordered on Steam, you will have access to the beta once you open the COD HQ app. This process is the same on Battle.net. Players who regularly use the Call of Duty HQ app may already have the beta installed if they have automatic updates enabled.

What can you do in the Black Ops 6 Open Beta?

You can play against each other in online multiplayer. The beta includes six of the core maps that come with Black Ops 6, along with two of the strike maps. Initially, players will be limited to just a few at the launch of the beta, but more will be added over the weekend. The maps included are:

• Skyline (core)
• Rollback (core)
• Scud (core)
• Babylon (core)
• Abandoned (core)
• Turn off (core)
• Gala (strike)
• Put (strike)

Additionally, players will have access to four game modes to test out the maps and can reach level 20 in the first open beta. When the second open beta launches, the level cap will be raised to 30 and two more maps will be added. The second beta will also include the Gunfight and Face Off Kill Order game modes.

Players can also use the custom loadouts feature, but will have to wait until level 4 to unlock it. Those who pre-ordered the Vault Edition will not have access to their pre-order weapons during the Open Betas.

Players having trouble getting into the Open Beta can refer to Activision Frequently Asked Questions or the beta information webpage for troubleshooting.