Essential Change Needed for Black Ops 6 Season 2 Events

The latest season of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has officially launched, introducing an array of content for players to explore and level up. Much of the fresh arsenal and cosmetic upgrades can be discovered in the Season 2 battle pass. However, some standout features, such as the highly anticipated Slipstream perk, will be available through specific in-game events.

Throughout its course, Black Ops 6 has rolled out significant mid-season events. Among these, the Squid Game 2 crossover has been particularly noteworthy, showcasing new operator skins, game modes, melee weapons, and a somewhat controversial paid event pass. Looking ahead, one of the upcoming Season 2 events will be a revival of the Terminator crossover; still, it will need to deliver a unique experience to captivate the player base effectively.

Analyzing Black Ops 6’s Event Engagement

Event Formats: A Formula Waiting for Innovation

Contestant skins from Black Ops 6's Squid Game collaboration — Credit: Activision

Black Ops 6’s events have generally adhered to a simplistic structure, whether they’re prestigious crossovers or seasonal festivities like CODMAS. Players typically engage by accumulating XP or fulfilling basic challenges. Take, for example, December’s Archie’s Festival Frenzy, which featured an advent calendar-style sequence. Players collected “Archies” by eliminating foes in multiplayer or Warzone — an activity they were already pursuing. The Squid Game 2 event offered even less complexity, simply encouraging XP accumulation during its timeframe.

This lack of depth in event design means that players can achieve the limited-time rewards without engaging with newly introduced modes or maps. Consequently, these events feel less substantial and more like a mechanism to artificially extend gameplay through locked content rather than offering genuine engagement.

Future Directions for Season 2 Events

Redefining Event Engagement: A Call for Innovation

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 two players in Couples Dance Off limited-time Valentine's Day Season 2 mode

While straightforward challenges are user-friendly and facilitate quick rewards, they inherently lack the capacity to engage the player in meaningful activities. For larger events like CODMAS, the missions can remain simple, yet they should stimulate players to take part in themed maps or partake in lighthearted tasks, such as throwing snowballs, to enhance their experience.

The impending Terminator crossover, scheduled from February 6 to February 20, ought to raise the bar for player interaction by requiring active participation to unlock exclusive rewards. So far, it appears the event will mirror the Festival Frenzy, with players collecting skulls post-elimination — though additional skulls may be earned through fire or explosive eliminations, the challenge still falls short of pushing boundaries into novel gameplay territories.

For Black Ops 6 to elevate its event experiences, developers should consider introducing a system that accelerates progression when players engage with specific limited-time maps and modes. As it stands, the current format of events does not effectively enrich the player’s journey, potentially hindering overall excitement and engagement.

Source & Images