During the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War multiplayer reveal, Treyarch unveiled the numerous additions and tweaks they are making to the classic COD formula. One of the major changes they are making involves the streak system: a counter that keeps track of points earned during each life and nets out rewards, like attack helicopters, for good play.
Streaks have been a fundamental part of Call of Duty ever since Call of Duty 4 launched back in 2007, and they've gone through various changes over the years. Originally, streaks were called killstreaks as they rewarded players entirely based on the kills they garnered in a single life. Modern Warfare 3 introduced a new system called pointstreaks that extended the streaks beyond kills to include other actions like capturing points and downing enemy assist units. Black Ops II refined this system and shifted the focus further away from kills to emphasize overall score, encouraging players to help their team rather than just horde kills. Ever since Black Ops II, the newly dubbed scorestreaks became the norm, but some games, like Call of Duty WW II, allowed players to utilize killstreaks through the use of a perk. Then, in last year's Modern Warfare, the series pivoted back to a killstreak focus, with scorestreaks being available only to those who unlock and equip the Pointman perk.
Treyarch has announced that Black Ops Cold War is returning to the scorestreak system, but there is a catch. Unlike any prior installment, streaks will not reset upon death, meaning players who die often but still contribute to their team can take advantage of the scorestreak's rewards. It's a radical change that aims to balance the game and make it more appealing to all players.
How Scorestreaks Balance Black Ops Cold War's Multiplayer
According to Alvan Monje, Cold War's combat designer, having streaks continue after death “gives all players a chance to engage with scorestreaks." However, Alvan is clear, they want to reward skilled players so those who avoid death and rack up kills, can earn bonuses enabling them to earn higher tier rewards, such as manning a turret on a chopper. To avoid scorestreak spamming, Treyarch has added another new feature: a cool-down. Scorestreaks go on a brief cooldown after each use, allowing opposing players a brief respite from the onslaught.
The scorestreak rewards on offer are in keeping with Call of Duty series tradition. Many classics, such as airstrikes and remote controlled explosive cars, make a return, but Treyarch promises a number of new streaks as well. All in all, scorestreaks appear to serve the same purpose as they always have by providing players with enhancements to aid their team, decimate the enemy, or neutralize an opponent's scorestreak.
Call of Duty continues to find new ways to change its multiplayer even after nearly two decades of games. While the return to scorestreaks and the decision to allow scores to carry on after death may anger some, the system appears balanced. Bonuses enable the immortally inclined to achieve the most powerful streaks while new players still get a chance to help their team out with less powerful streaks. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War boasts a refined system that makes the game enjoyable for everyone, or, at least, that is the hope.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War releases on November 13, 2020 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. A PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X launch is also confirmed.
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