Call of Duty Brings Back Blackout
Activision announced Black Ops Royale, a new Warzone battle-royale mode inspired by Blackout from Black Ops 4, set to debut next week. The mode merges elements from Blackout with Warzone's scale and polish, promising a nostalgic-yet-fresh experience for battle royale fans.
Blackout first launched with *Call of Duty: Black Ops 4* in October 2018, marking the franchise's first foray into the battle royale genre. The game mode was a significant departure for the series, replacing a traditional single-player campaign and focusing instead on multiplayer experiences. The original Blackout map was the largest in Call of Duty history at the time, featuring iconic locations from previous *Black Ops* games. It supported up to 88 players in solo, duo, and quad formats and uniquely included AI-controlled zombies at certain map locations that would drop special loot. Unlike the later *Warzone*, Blackout required players to find all weapons and attachments on the ground, with no option for pre-set loadouts. The mode also featured a tiered armor system, a variety of land, sea, and air vehicles, and consumable perks that offered temporary buffs. Blackout introduced a wingsuit for faster traversal across the map, a feature distinct from *Warzone's* parachute-focused movement. Players also had access to equipment like the grapple hook, which allowed for greater vertical mobility and strategic plays. The original mode did not include a respawn mechanic like *Warzone's* Gulag.
