GamesFPSCall of DutyCall of Duty: Black Ops 6Activision tackles out-of-control Call of Duty download sizes, but of course the path to “smaller downloads” starts with “a big one,” and 4 freakin' downloads on PS5When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesFPSCall of DutyCall of Duty: Black Ops 6Activision tackles out-of-control Call of Duty download sizes, but of course the path to “smaller downloads” starts with “a big one,” and 4 freakin' downloads on PS5When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Activision)
Good news, everyone: your Call of Duty installs are going to be a lot smaller following the launch ofBlack Ops 6. But there’s a bit of bad news, too, as you’re going to have to suffer some “larger initial updates” before that happens.
In short,Activisionaims to revamp the Call of Duty launcher to make sure you can download Warzone separately from the annual, premium games - including Black Ops 6. They’re also making efforts to stream more textures over the internet while you play, leading to smaller initial downloads. As part of this whole effort, the central UI is also getting a big revamp to make it easier to get to the games, as “top content will be visible on one clean page without needing to scroll.”
“The process begins with a download - a big one,” the devs warn. “But downloading now will pave the way over the next several weeks and ultimately lead to a better experience when Black Ops 6 arrives.” Your install won’t get any bigger as a result of these updates, as they’re simply restructuring the files in preparation for the ultimate rollout of the new interface in “mid-October.” Ultimately, “Call of Duty’s footprint will decrease due to these file optimizations.”
For PS5 players, the process is going to be extra annoying, as it’s going to require a full four separate downloads. One at the console level, one within the Call of Duty launcher, one with Modern Warfare 3, and one within Warzone. “The PS5 requires split downloads due to differences in file organization,” the devs say. Everybody else will get it all in a single update.
If all of this sounds like quite a hassle, the devs know it, and they’re offering a free community pack to thank everyone for their patiences. If you log in any time after the start of Season 5 Reloaded, you’ll get a free community pack featuring 10 1-hour double player XP tokens, 10 1-hour double weapon XP tokens, and 10 battle pass token tier skips. None of that will save you from the big downloads you’re gonna see on the road to a smaller, cleaner Black Ops 6, but it might ease the pain a bit.
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