Call of Duty’s awful user-interface is finally getting overhauled next week. As previously announced by Activision, an update is arriving to Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone to introduce the new UI and allow for preload of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Here is everything you need to know about the download process and new UI design.
How to download the UI/Black Ops 6 update
This new UI update is available to download on Monday, October 21 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET.
Players who already have Call of Duty installed will receive the Black Ops 6 preload as an automatic update to their existing install, which is similar to previous Call of Duty updates. Activision warns that the download will be larger for these players, as they’re getting the new UI and Black Ops 6 at the same time.
Anyone who preordered Black Ops 6 but doesn’t already have Call of Duty installed can initiate the preload from their platform storefront. This download will not include Warzone bundled with Black Ops 6. Warzone is now a separate and optional download.
Once this download is completed, players can check out the new UI immediately in MW3 and Warzone. They’ll also be ready to play Black Ops 6 as soon as it is released. More information about Black Ops 6 launch times can be found here.
How to manage storage space
With Black Ops 6’s arrival, Call of Duty will take up more space on devices if a player chooses to keep all of their previous content installed, as a new game is being added on top of those existing files.
However, players can uninstall content within the Call of Duty user-interface or via their platform’s install manager. After content is removed, it can still be reinstalled at a later time.
Activision says PlayStation 5 players who don’t purchase Black Ops 6 will still download Black Ops 6 multiplayer and Zombies as part of their Call of Duty install. This optimizes the Black Ops 6 download experience for PlayStation 5’s content-delivery system. Players can then choose to uninstall multiplayer and Zombies after their initial install, or keep them for easy access to free trial weekends or for a future Black Ops 6 purchase.
PlayStation 4 players who don’t purchase Black Ops 6 will still download some content that is shared between Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone. The publisher says this facilitates “content optimizations that benefit all players on PlayStation 4,” so unlike PS5 consoles, it doesn’t appear that these files can be deleted from PS4.
At launch, Call of Duty’s new interface will include three main hubs: Home, All Games, and Store. Each hub displays all of its content on one page, eliminating the need to scroll. The redesigned Home tab can be seen in the image above.
The Home tab will include only the current Call of Duty title and Warzone. This is also where players will find the featured content, a “What’s Hot” list for popular playlists and bundles, as well as a section that shows the player’s most recently played playlists.
Black Ops 6’s launch will move Modern Warfare 3 and Modern Warfare 2 to the “All Games” hub. This will include a player’s full Call of Duty library, dating all the way back to Modern Warfare 2019.
The Store hub will send players to the full Call of Duty in-game stores that will be accessible at the game-level of the UI within Black Ops 6, Warzone, and other titles.
Continued UI evolution
While the initial download should provide a more streamlined and easier-to-navigate user-interface, Call of Duty’s UI will continue to evolve over three initial phases, which the publisher says should “reach its full capabilities with the start of Season 1.”
Phase 1 leaves Modern Warfare 3 on the Home tab until Black Ops 6’s launch. Players will also still be directed to the MW3 in-game store from the Store tab.
Phase 2 moves Black Ops 6 to the forefront of the Home Store hubs, but the Store hub will direct players based on their game installs. Meaning players will only be directed to Black Ops 6 if they have the game downloaded.
Phase 3 will start directing all players to the Black Ops 6 store, and this update marks the Season 1 update with Warzone integration. This update does not have a date yet, as Activision is still keeping the Season 1 start time as “Redacted” information.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 releases on October 25 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. The game will have a campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies. Those planning on playing Black Ops 6 on PC can find all the PC-specific features and hardware requirements here.