The next major content update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 arrives next week, bringing a massive influx of content across all game modes. Season 03 launches April 2, 2025, at 9AM PT for Multiplayer and Zombies, with Warzone's fan-favorite Verdansk map making its triumphant return on April 3 at 9AM PT.
Five New Multiplayer Maps and Classic Modes Return
Season 03 delivers an impressive lineup of five new multiplayer maps. Three will be available at launch: Barrage (a medium-sized 6v6 map set in 1968 Vietnam), Nomad (a small-sized 6v6/2v2 map set in 1986 Afghanistan), and the remastered classic Firing Range. Two additional maps will arrive mid-season: Haven (a medium-sized 6v6 map set in a 1991 KGB safehouse) and Signal (a small-sized 6v6/2v2 map in a 1968 numbers station).
Multiplayer enthusiasts will also welcome the return of two fan-favorite game modes. Sharpshooter is a free-for-all party mode where players cycle through different weapons, while Demolition has teams attacking and defending two bomb sites. A new Joint Operations limited-time mode will arrive mid-season.
The update introduces two new Perks: Close Shave (automatically use Dedicated Melee with melee button) and Vendetta (mark killer's position on respawn). The Death Machine Scorestreak also makes its return, giving players access to a devastating heavy minigun with an extremely fast fire rate.
Shattered Veil: A New Zombies Experience
Zombies fans will be treated to "Shattered Veil," a brand-new map set in a mysterious mansion in the remote wooded hills above Liberty Falls. The map introduces two new enemy types: Elder Disciples (floating enemies that empower zombies) and Toxic Zombies (which explode leaving acid pools).
Two classic Wonder Weapons make their Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 debut: the Ray Gun Mark II (with three variants: W, P, and R) and the Wunderwaffe DG-2, known for its chain-lightning blasts.
Perhaps most exciting for longtime Zombies players is the return of the Double Tap Perk-a-Cola after nearly a decade. This fan-favorite perk increases weapon fire rate and comes with three Major Augments: Double Jeopardy, Double Impact, and Double Standard.
What's New in Team Cranked Mode?
The update introduces Team Cranked, a new twist on the Cranked mode where the timer is shared across the entire team. Any kill from any team member fills the timer, creating a more collaborative experience. Players who complete the main quest will unlock the "PhDeadly" Operator Skin for Carver.
Arsenal Expansion: Six New Weapons
Season 03 adds six new weapons to the game's arsenal:
- Kilo 141 Assault Rifle (Warzone login reward)
- CR-56 AMAX Assault Rifle (Battle Pass)
- HDR Sniper Rifle (Battle Pass)
- Kali Sticks Melee Weapon (Event Reward)
- Ladra SMG (Mid-Season)
- Nail Gun Special Weapon (In-Season)
New attachments include the Monolithic Suppressor (Battle Pass), which provides sound suppression and increased range, along with the SWAT 5.56 Grau Conversion, C9 10mm Auto Mags, and Goblin Mk2 7.62 Mini-Rocket Conversion.
Verdansk Returns to Warzone
After years of player requests, the original Verdansk map returns to Call of Duty: Warzone on April 3, 2025, at 9AM PT. To prepare for this major update, Warzone will be offline for 24 hours starting April 2.
The "Return to Verdansk" event runs from April 3-15, allowing players to open safes to earn 20 rewards, including the Kali Sticks melee weapon. This will be followed by the "Black Ops Tribute" event (April 17-May 1), which offers 17 rewards including the Death Machine, Nail Gun, Close Shave Perk, and "John Black Ops" Operator.
New Quality-of-Life Features
Season 03 introduces two significant quality-of-life improvements:
- Base Blueprint Swap: Customize base weapons with unlocked skins
- Camo Hub: A new UI section for tracking weapon camo challenges
The update also includes FSR 4 support for AMD Radeon RX 9070/9070XT graphics cards, retroactive SR adjustments for Ranked Play to counter cheaters, and the ability to rejoin Ranked matches after disconnection.
Battle Pass and Store Updates
The Season 03 Battle Pass features Hudson and Mace as headline operators, while the BlackCell offering includes the R0-Z3 Operator, exclusive skins, and new daily challenges.
Store Bundles will include Jay and Silent Bob, Bluntman and Chronic, Digital Dreamin' Reactive Mastercraft Ultra, and more throughout the season.
Launch Schedule
Mark your calendars for these important Season 03 dates:
- March 28, 2025: Updates to Ricochet: Anti-Cheat and security updates
- April 2, 2025, 9AM PT: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 03 launches with 24-hour Free Trial
- April 2-3, 2025: Warzone offline for 24 hours with countdown to Verdansk
- April 3, 2025, 9AM PT: Verdansk returns to Warzone
- April 3-15, 2025: Return to Verdansk event
- April 17-May 1, 2025: Black Ops Tribute event
With this massive content drop, Season 03 looks to be one of the most substantial updates for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 yet, giving players across all modes plenty of new experiences to enjoy.