The next Call of Duty: Black Ops map pack has been leaked

By Ryan Fleming Published April 5, 2011

Thanks to the watchful eyes of the website VG247, it appears that we have our first look at when to expect the next Black Ops map pack, as well of a hint of what it may contain. The news comes from an Australian retailer (hence the May 3 release date listed as 3/5), which quickly pulled the flyer–likely after receiving an angry phone call from Activision who has yet to officially confirm the news. It is important to note, that while the info pictured appears genuine and is in holding with the previous map pack, this is all still unconfirmed.

There isn’t much more to be said about the news that isn’t on the flyer. If true, the next DLC will feature four new competitive maps as well as one new zombie map—similar to what the previous Black Ops DLC, “First Strike”, contained.

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Regardless of whether or not it is released on May 3, when the DLC does debut it will hit Xbox Live first, as per the exclusivity contract between Activision and Microsoft. If the release follows the past releases, it will then head to PC and PS3 about a month afterwards.

The leak couldn’t have happened at a better time for Activision, as the publisher would no doubt love to take the attention off of themselves and the impending lawsuit between itself and the former heads of Infinity Ward who recently accused Activision of fraud. Regardless of the outcome of the trial—which also begins in May—if history is any indication, the upcoming DLC will make a ton of money regardless how gamers feel about the situation.

The details on this upcoming expansion may change, but assuming they are set, look for the “Escalation” map pack for Xbox 360 on May 3, with the PC and PS3 version due out roughly a month afterwards.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…

Gaming

The best Wildcards in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Kill Order gameplay in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

The concept of a Wildcard might sound like a risky endeavor in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, but this part of your loadout isn't random at all. We haven't seen this system since Cold War, and even those who remember it from that game will need to learn all the new cards there are in Black Ops 6. You can only equip a single Wildcard on your loadout, but they are powerful enough to completely redefine your playstyle. So far, there are only six to unlock while grinding through the levels with your friends, but picking just one is still a tough choice, especially if you want to use a permanent unlock on one after hitting Prestige. We've ranked all the Wildcards in Black Ops 6 so you can always have the winning hand.
All Black Ops 6 Wildcards, ranked

There is a level of personal preference in which Wildcard you will find better than others, but in most cases, the ones we've ranked as the best will help every player gain an edge in online matches. Here's our ranking of each Wildcard from best to worst, along with what level you unlock them at.
Perk Greed - Level 54
The last Wildcard you unlock is easily the most powerful. Perk Greed lets you unlock a fourth Perk to your loadout instead of being limited to three, which can borderline break the game if you choose the right set of Perks. It is also the most versatile of the Wildcards since it gives you the most options to play with instead of a specific bonus you may not find useful. It can also more easily unlock the special bonus buff you get for equipping three Perks from the same category.
Gunfighter - Level 33
Right in the middle of the unlock list, Gunfighter is one Wildcard you could easily make a case for over Perk Greed in some situations. This one increases your attachment points for your primary weapon by three. If you're rocking a top-tier weapon already, this Wildcard can let you tweak its stats even higher. We rank it second because it only applies to one weapon and thus is a bit more limiting.
Overkill - Level 24
For such an early Wildcard, Overkill is quite a powerful choice. This card lets you equip any weapon (except melee weapons) in your Primary and Secondary slots instead of the ones typically reserved for each. That means you can build a loadout with two Primary weapons and be far more versatile on the battlefield. Instead of having to trade off range, damage, rate of fire, mobility, or any other aspect of your game, you can cover almost all your bases by picking two Primary weapons that cover each other's weaknesses.
Prepper - Level 45
Field upgrades are powerful, don't get us wrong, but having two instead of one isn't always that much of a game-changer. It's a bit less useful than Gunfighter only because field upgrades are more situational and require more attention to use to their full potential. If that's you, then this is a great choice.
Danger Close - Level 38
Who doesn't want another grenade, Molotov, or combat axe? Is getting a second Lethal worth the Wildcard slot, though? Not in our opinion. Most of the time, Lethals are used in desperation or as a way to deny enemy movement for a time, and even then, they are risky because of how vulnerable you are while using them.
Tactical Expert - Level 15
The first Wildcard you get is better than nothing, but only just. It's exactly like Danger Close, only you can hold two Tacticals instead of Lethals. This is, by nature, a little worse since Tacticals don't have the ability to kill an enemy (unless you get super lucky and you directly hit an enemy with one who is on low HP). You can get some use out of them, but you're better off upgrading as soon as you have another option.

Gaming

How to become Aetherella in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies

A horde of zombies about to get slammed in Black Ops 6.

There are a lot of tips and tricks to learn just on the multiplayer side of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 but nothing can compare to how many secrets are tucked away in the Zombies mode. While there are only two maps at launch, they are both packed with Easter eggs to discover. If you've explored Liberty Falls then you've no doubt come across the statue of the supervillain known as Aetherella in the comic book shop, but did you know you can actually play as her? It's just as fun as it sounds, and will earn you a Trophy, but is not easy to do without some help.

Gaming

How to craft the Jet Gun in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies

A soldier holding a giant jet engine gun in Black Ops 6.

In the world of Call of Duty Zombies, one type of weapon has always been the most powerful, but hard to get. Wonder Weapons are back in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and that includes the old favorite known as the Jet Gun. This jet-engine-looking weapon is part of a long string of steps you can only do on the Liberty Falls map but is well worth the effort. Make sure you have your crew around to watch your back while reading through our guide on how to craft the Jet Gun, aka the Thrustodyne M23.