Summary
A huge amount of information has now been released regarding the upcomingCall of Duty: Black Ops 6, with the game recently being given its own dedicated Direct presentation on June 9. This reveal went in great detail to shed more light on the campaign and Zombies experiences for the project, with more multiplayer information being expected to be released during theCall of DutyNEXT presentation on August 28.
There were some huge takeaways from the Direct presentation forCall of Duty: Black Ops 6, with new game mechanics and core gameplay approaches being showcased for the title. A seemingly small but very important detail to come from the Direct concerned how players will have the power to customize their in-game HUDs, greatly increasing the accessibility of the game while allowing players to fine-tune their set-ups for maximum efficiency. While this is a great optional feature, Treyarch should ensure that it does not prevent the map-specific HUDs from pastBlack OpsZombies maps from re-appearing.
Map-Specific Zombies HUDs Should Be Front and Center in Black Ops 6
It is clear that Treyarch has gone to great effort to ensure thatCall of Duty: Black Ops 6feels different fromthe franchise’s recentModern Warfarereboot. In-game movement is just one example of an important feature that is being revolutionized in the upcoming game, and another is the player’s control ofCall of Duty’s HUD.
InBlack Ops 6, players will be able toalter the screen positioning of things like the in-game mini-map and ammo counter, or remove the HUD altogether for more cinematic or “hardcore” gameplay. Players can also choose to make the HUD more central on the screen for a tactical advantage, while streamers will have some stream-specific HUD presets to choose from to compliment things like face cams.
This will add a great level of personalization and give control to the player inBlack Ops 6, and it will be interesting to see how this HUD customization translates over to the title’s anticipated Zombies mode. AsTreyarch is the creator ofCall of DutyZombies, an immense amount of pressure is already being placed onBlack Ops 6Zombies, with it already being confirmed that the mode will do away with the recent open-world Zombies formula in favor of more traditional round-based maps.
Customization Could Still Work Well with Specific Zombies HUDs in Black Ops 6
In the spirit of this respect to the earlier traditions ofCall of DutyZombies, it only seems right thatmap-specific HUDs should return to Zombies inBlack Ops 6. In classic Zombies titles likeBlack Ops 2, Zombies maps had unique HUDs that matched the theme and aesthetic of a given location, giving each map a level of memorability that was lost with future titles. For example, Buried had a Western aesthetic for its HUD that increased immersion. Origins was another standout thanks to its Steampunk look.
Treyarch was met with a wave of criticism due toBlack Ops 4Zombies' HUD, showing how much the mode’s fan base cares about this feature. As such, getting HUDs right forBO6 Zombies maps will be crucial.
Black Ops 6’s return to traditional round-based Zombies, and the confirmation that it will feature two of these maps at launch, creates a perfect opportunity for map-specific HUDs to return to the franchise, and Treyarch should allow this to co-exist with HUD customization. While players should still be allowed to customize Zombies HUDs, this should not turn the HUD into a generic one akin to more recent Zombies titles, maintaining the unique flare of a map while still allowing the HUD to be moved around or stripped to more basic parts. It remains to be seen whether map-specific HUDs will return inBlack Ops 6Zombies, but allowing players to further customize unique HUDs would give them more style and personalization than ever before.
