Black Ops 6 release times & how to preload on PC, PlayStation and Xbox

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launch is fast approaching, and for those who have preordered the game, you’ll want to preload it so it’s ready to play as soon as servers go live.

While the game officially goes live on October 25, there are different release times depending on your platform or region so you might just be able to play early. And of course, as with each new season of Call of Duty, you’ll be able to preload the upcoming CoD title ahead of launch.

When preload is available, the process is incredibly simple if you’ve already purchased the game. With that in mind, here’s when Black Ops 6 launches in every region and how to preload it.

Black Ops 6 release times in all regions

Black Ops 6 arrives on Friday, October 25, 2024, but depending on your region, you might be able to play on the 24th. Here’s a breakdown of the release times for every platform.

Xbox, PlayStation & PC Microsoft Store

Black Ops 6 releases at midnight local time on October 25 if you’re on Xbox, PlayStation, or playing through the Xbox App for PC (Game Pass).

This means no matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to play as soon as it hits the 25th. This also means the ‘New Zealand trick’ should work, where changing your Xbox’s region will let you play early at midnight New Zealand time, which is 4 AM PT / 7 AM ET on the 24th.

Battle.net & Steam

• Los Angeles: 9 PM PDT (October 24)
• Mexico City: 10 PM CST (October 24)
• Toronto: Midnight EDT (October 25)
• New York: Midnight EDT (October 25)
• Sao Paulo: 1 AM BRT (October 25)
• London: 6 AM BST (October 25)
• Paris: 6 AM CET (October 25)
• Johannesburg: 6 AM SAST (October 25)
• Helsinki: 7 AM EET (October 25)
• Riyadh: 7 AM AST (October 25)
• Dubai: 8 AM GST (October 25)
• Seoul: 1 PM KST (October 25)
• Tokyo: 1 PM JST (October 25)
• Sydney: 3 PM AEDT (October 25)
• Auckland: 5 PM NZDT (October 25)

Activision

How to preload Black Ops 6

Black Ops 6 can officially be preloaded on all platforms. Here is everything you need to know about completing the process.

PlayStation

Preloading Black Ops 6 on PlayStation 4 or 5 are different processes.

PlayStation

PS4

1. Find the Call of Duty app on your PlayStation console.
2. Press the Options button.
3. Go to ‘Manage Game Content.’
4. Find Black Ops 6.
5. Select ‘Install.’

If you don’t already have the COD app downloaded, be sure to download it from the PlayStation Store then follow the above steps, or simply download Black Ops 6 from the store.

PS5

For PlayStation 5, Black Ops 6 Multiplayer and Zombies were included in the new update.

1. Find the Call of Duty app on your PlayStation console.
2. Press the Options button.
3. Go to Manage Files to see what you want to install

Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone will need to be re-downloaded to play.

Xbox

Xbox is as easy as PlayStation, with a pretty quick process to get the game ready to go for installation.

Here’s what you’ve got to do:

1. Find the Call of Duty app.
2. Press Start.
3. Go to Manage Game & Add-Ons.
4. Find the Black Ops 6 content.
5. Select the files you want to install.

PC

Steam

Steam

The Steam process is fairly similar:

1. Find the Call of Duty app in your Library.
2. Hit the Settings wheel.
3. Select ‘Properties.’
4. Select ‘DLC.’
5. Check any files pertaining to Black Ops 6.
6. Start the update.

Battle.net

Here’s how to preload Black Ops 6 on Battle.net:

1. Select Call of Duty.
2. Select ‘Settings.’
3. Choose ‘Modify Install’ from the drop-down menu.
4. Go to the Content section and select Modify Install again.
5. Locate the BO6 content and select Install.
6. Press ‘Start Update’ to begin the download.

Battle.net players can already preload the campaign and multiplayer, but will presumably have to wait until the 21st to preinstall Zombies.

Download file size

Activision recommends you have at least 102 GB of storage space available at launch. Like any other year, you can choose the parts of the game you want installed, so if you don’t play Zombies, you don’t have to have it.

The blog also confirmed the storage space is only for Black Ops 6, so if you want to have Warzone installed, you’ll need more free space.

First thing you should do

There’s no campaign early access this year – multiplayer, Zombies, and the campaign all go live on October 25. So, it’s up to you what you want to tackle first.

Want to meet the new characters and get immersed in the world? Launch the campaign. Want to start earning the mastery camos ahead of Warzone’s integration? Jump into multiplayer. Or, head into round-based Zombies which hasn’t been seen since Black Ops Cold War.