After only a few days post-release, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has already had many purchases on all platforms, and many players also got access to the game's numerous betas. However, there have been quite a lot of changes since the last Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War beta.
Luckily, developer Treyarch has detailed exactly what changed and what was added to Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War on the full release. Some big additions including new weapons and maps are brand new to players, and the full release update also nerfed a key movement mechanic in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War - sliding.
The Black Ops series is known for its movement, and sliding is a big part of that. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare also had very sliding-based movement mechanics, so players may see a different meta emerging in Black Ops Cold War. Players will also experience multiple balancing updates to the AK-47 and the SMGs. However, these weapon changes won't be making an appearance in Call of Duty: Warzone until December of this year.
Black Ops Cold War Changes and Patch Notes
Modes added by Treyarch after beta include Search and Destroy and Free-For-All, as well as 5 different Hardcore game modes. As for weapons, new assault rifles, SMGs, LMGs, and even a new rocket launcher have been included. The AK-47 now has more recoil, while the SMGs have lower effectiveness at longer ranges. These are great balancing updates, seeing as how the AK-47 and the SMGs dominated lobbies in the Black Ops Cold War betas. More attachments were also added to the Gunsmith.
A few new scorestreaks, including the Combat Bow, have been added to the final release of Black Ops Cold War as well. The Attack Helicopter was slightly buffed, with the Chopper Gunner being slightly nerfed. A few new features that beta players may not be used to include the prestige and leveling system, challenges for Multiplayer, Zombies, and Campaign, and the Theater feature. Footsteps and hit marker sounds were also tweaked to give players a better auditory experience.
There have also been many slight tweaks to multiple items and perks throughout the game. For example, increased LMG ADS times, a nerf to the Flak Jacket's damage reduction, and even an increase in the Frag throwback speed have been added to Black Ops Cold War. Players can also now play bot lobbies, inspect their weapons, and perform finisher moves on unsuspecting opponents. Black Ops Cold War also now has a Music Player, allowing players to listen to various music tracks that are unlocked by playing the game.
Players should keep in mind that these updates won't affect Warzone until the two games merge in December. Until then, Warzone will stay as it is and keep all of Modern Warfare's mechanics and weapons. Meanwhile, though, it seems Treyarch is working hard to create a game that's balanced and fun for everyone. Whether they're a Call of Duty veteran or a complete FPS beginner, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is a new and engaging experience for all.