Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War – Full Game Overview

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is a first-person shooter video game developed by Treyarch and Raven Software. Released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows, the game is set in the early 1980s and serves as a direct sequel to the original Call of Duty: Black Ops.

This is the seventeenth installment in the Call of Duty franchise and the sixth entry in the Black Ops series. It was officially announced on August 26, 2020, and released on November 13, 2020. Later, it was made available on Steam on March 8, 2023.

Development

Background and Studio Collaboration

In May 2019, Treyarch took over the development after reported tensions between Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software. On August 4, 2020, Activision confirmed that Treyarch and Raven Software were co-developing Black Ops Cold War.

• Raven Software led the Campaign mode.

• Treyarch handled Multiplayer and Zombies modes.

Game Engine and Visuals

Though it shares tech with Modern Warfare’s engine, Black Ops Cold War uses a modified IW Engine originally built for Black Ops III. Key graphical features include:

• Real-Time Lighting

• Global Illumination

• Ray-Tracing

• Volumetric Fog

• 4K resolution and 120 FPS support on next-gen consoles

Campaign

Overview

“Black Ops Cold War drops fans into the depths of the Cold War’s volatile geopolitical battle of the early 1980s… battle across iconic locations like East Berlin, Vietnam, Turkey, and Soviet KGB headquarters.” — Battle.net

Design and Narrative

• Campaign designed by Raven Software

• Direct sequel to Call of Duty: Black Ops

• Returns characters: Alex Mason, Frank Woods, Jason Hudson

• New character: Russell Adler

Customizable Main Character

Players can create their character “Bell” by choosing:

• Name

• Race

• Gender (Male, Female, Non-Binary)

• Backstory

• One of 15 psychological profiles (e.g., “Paranoid,” “Lone Wolf,” “Violent Tendencies”)

Dialogue choices and decisions throughout the campaign affect mission paths and endings.

Writers

• Murray Kraft – Lead Narrative Designer

• David S. Goyer – Story Consultant (also co-writer of Black Ops II)

Plot Summary

In 1981, U.S. President Ronald Reagan tasks CIA operative Russell Adler with stopping Soviet agent Perseus. With help from Mason, Woods, Hudson, and Bell, the team unravels Perseus’ plan to shift the balance of global power.

Players can experience different outcomes depending on Bell’s choices:

• Betray the team and embrace a hidden identity

• Stay loyal and help prevent catastrophe in Europe

Missions

There are 16 main missions in the game. Based on the player’s choice in “Identity Crisis”, the final mission branches into:

1. Nowhere Left to Run
2. CIA Safehouse E9
3. Fracture Jaw
4. East Berlin Briefing
5. Brick in the Wall
6. Redlight, Greenlight
7. Echoes of a Cold War
8. Lubyanka Briefing
9. Desperate Measures
10. Cuba Briefing
11. End of the Line
12. Interrogation
13. Break on Through
14. Identity Crisis
15. The Final Countdown
16. Ashes to Ashes

Characters

• Russell Adler

• Alex Mason

• Frank Woods

• Jason Hudson

• Bell (Customizable Protagonist)

• Perseus (Main Antagonist)

Locations

• East Berlin

• Vietnam

• Turkey

• Soviet KGB Headquarters

• Ukraine

• Cuba

Factions

• CIA

• Soviet KGB

• Perseus’s Network

• NATO Forces

Vehicles

• Helicopters

• Motorcycles

• Tanks

• Jeeps

• Aircrafts (in select missions)

Weapons

Features a wide range of Cold War-era weapons including:

• M16

• AK-47

• MP5

• Sniper Rifles

• Pistols

• Shotguns

• Explosives

Multiplayer

Maps

• Miami

• Moscow

• Satellite

• Cartel

• Armada

Game Modes

• Team Deathmatch

• Domination

• Search and Destroy

• Combined Arms

• Fireteam

Perks and Scorestreaks

Players can equip perks and earn scorestreaks such as:

• UAV

• Artillery

• Attack Helicopter

• Spy Plane

• War Machine

PS4 Alpha

The PS4-exclusive Alpha gave early access to Multiplayer from September 18–20, 2020.

Beta

Open Beta was available for multiple platforms in October 2020, allowing players to test core modes and maps.

Zombies Mode

A fan-favorite return, featuring:

• Classic round-based gameplay

• New storyline: Requiem vs Omega Group

• Maps like Die Maschine and Firebase Z

• Weapon upgrades and loadouts

Warzone Integration

Black Ops Cold War content was integrated into Call of Duty: Warzone, bringing new weapons, operators, and progression systems.

Seasons

Seasonal content updates introduced:

• New maps

• Operators

• Weapons

• Limited-time events

Marketing

Teasers

The first teaser campaign titled Pawn Takes Pawn sent players on an ARG-style trail across the internet.

“Know Your History” Warzone Event

This interactive Warzone event revealed the game officially, engaging millions of players worldwide.

Editions

Standard Edition

Includes base game and next-gen upgrade options.

Cross-Gen Bundle

Supports both current and next-gen consoles.

Ultimate Edition

Includes:

• Land, Sea & Air Pack

• Battle Pass Bundle

• Three Operator Skins, Vehicles, and Weapon Blueprints

Soundtrack

Composed to reflect the 1980s Cold War tension with cinematic orchestration and synth elements.

Gallery

Promotional Images

Campaign

Visuals highlighting cinematic missions and Cold War era detail.

Multiplayer

Screenshots of map layouts, operators, and weaponry.

Zombies

Terrifying imagery and concept art from the undead mode.

Editions Covers

All official box art and special edition covers.

Videos

Official trailers, gameplay walkthroughs, and behind-the-scenes documentaries.

Trivia

• David S. Goyer also worked on The Dark Knight trilogy.

• Bell’s gender affects how NPCs interact with them.

• The campaign has multiple endings depending on player choices.

References

Citations from developer interviews, Activision updates, and official documentation.