The next mainline Call of Duty game looks set to be called Call of Duty Black Ops 6, not Black Ops 5 as previously thought, after developer Treyarch acknowledged the recent discovery of the Sally pistols in Warzone.
The Sally is a variant of the Akimbo version of the 9mm Daemon Pistol, and rekindles memories of 2010 Black Ops’ iconic cover art.
To unlock the gun in-game you must first find the Sally as ground loot in battle royale Warzone and get just one kill with it. This unlocks the Sally for use in Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone.
Treyarch responded to the discovery of the Sally pistols, which feature six scratched tally marks, in a series of tweets.
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— Treyarch Studios (@Treyarch) May 15, 2024
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— Treyarch Studios (@Treyarch) May 15, 2024
Fans have speculated about the name of the next Call of Duty for years now, with everything from Black Ops Gulf War to Black Ops 5 mooted. But it now seems clear Activison has decided on Black Ops 6, which makes sense given Call of Duty 2024 is the sixth main Black Ops game, but that does also mean we’re skipping Black Ops 5 (2020's Black Ops Cold War looks set to be considered Black Ops 5 in the run).
Reports from last year indicated Black Ops 6 will take place during the Gulf War, additionally touching on the global political fallout after the Cold War. Additionally, the reports suggest the new game will lean back into more traditional military combat tech and Black Ops gadgets, rather than focusing on the futuristic tech some of the more recent Call of Duty games have embraced.
Currently, Black Ops 6 is planned for a launch in 2024 around roughly the usual time in late fall/early winter. Activision owner Microsoft has announced an Xbox showcase for June, with a Call of Duty Direct to follow afterwards. Fans are expected to get a first look at the game then.
We’re going to be talking about games of course
— Xbox (@Xbox) April 30, 2024
Tune in to the Xbox Games Showcase followed by [REDACTED] Direct on Sunday, June 9 @ 10am PT: https://t.co/z78G8h75r2 | #XboxShowcase pic.twitter.com/XgOGJy2gLv
Microsoft is in the process of laying off 1,900 staff across its gaming business, including people at Activision Blizzard and Bethesda owner ZeniMax. This month, Microsoft shocked the gaming world by closing down Hi-Fi Rush maker Tango Gameworks and Redfall developer Arkane Austin, with fears more cuts are to come.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.