Knowing how to access the Black Ops 6 beta means you can join the action with everybody else, as the Open beta is upon us and the floodgates are about to open! Many players are keen to see what changes Treyarch are bringing to the Call of Duty series, including the fresh Omnimovement system, and with this upcoming weekend session there are no restrictions based on pre-order or subscription status so do expect the servers to be busy and prepare for potential queues or downtime. This is also your last opportunity to earn the exclusive Black Ops 6 beta rewards by levelling up your account before the Open beta ends, but don't pay any attention to the option for Black Ops 6 Zombies in the menu as that won't be available until the full launch in late October.
Unlike previous betas that had a PlayStation exclusive period, BO6 is happening at the same time on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, so it will release simultaneously across PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Furthermore, Game Pass subscribers on Xbox and PC could automatically get into the Early Access beta, with no pre-order required. For all of the details, here's how to access the Black Ops 6 beta and when the Open beta ends.
How to access the Black Ops 6 beta
To access the Black Ops 6 beta, you first need to find it by searching on the PlayStation Store, the Microsoft Store, Battle.net, or Steam. If you pre-ordered Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 digitally then you should have already been able to automatically download the Early Access beta through those platform storefronts, or if you pre-ordered a physical copy then you'll have been sent separate instructions for how to access the beta with a redemption code. If you're a Game Pass subscriber then you could also play the Black Ops 6 Early Access beta, though Game Pass Console subscribers may also need Game Pass Core to use multiplayer features.
The same process is used to access the Black Ops 6 Open beta, and if you get it installed now then you'll be ready to go as soon as it's live. If you already played in the Early Access beta then the same client will be used again, so you don't need to download anything new except any updates that get pushed out.
Black Ops 6 beta start date and times
As always, there are two tiers of access when it comes to the Black Ops 6 beta, depending on whether you've paid up front for the full game or not. For everyone who pre-ordered (and Game Pass subscribers), the Black Ops 6 Early Access beta began on Friday August 30 and ran until Wednesday September 4, which gave five whole days to get an early taste of what's to come. For everyone else, this has now been followed up by the Black Ops 6 Open beta that starts on Friday September 6 and ends on Monday September 9, providing a further three days for the wider player base to explore.
Here's a full breakdown of the planned access times, but do note that these may be affected by server errors or other issues during the course of testing:
- Black Ops 6 Early Access beta: August 30 @ 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST to September 4 @ 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST
- Black Ops 6 Open beta: September 6 @ 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST to September 9 @ 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST
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