In the lead-up to the release of the latest Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Microsoft announced the company would bring the new game and two other Call of Duty titles to its Xbox Cloud Gaming platform later in the month. The news meant the latest Call of Duty title would be playable on the cloud streaming platform from launch, with Warzone and Modern Warfare III cloud support enabled on the same day.
This is the first time a Call of Duty title will be available at launch on Xbox’s cloud streaming platform following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year. Meanwhile, Microsoft also teased an all-new update to the six-year-old platform, allowing players to finally stream games they own that aren’t part of the existing Xbox Game Pass library in November.
If you’re interested in playing the new Call of Duty titles on Xbox Cloud Gaming, this post will take a deeper look at the Call of Duty franchise, how Xbox Cloud Gaming works, and how you can start shooting up CoD lobbies using the platform:
Call of Duty Games on Xbox Cloud Key Takeaways
Microsoft is enhancing its Xbox Cloud Gaming library with three major Call of Duty games: Black Ops 6, Warzone, and Modern Warfare III. These games will be available for streaming from the day they launch, making them accessible across any compatible device. Key details include:
- Subscription Cost & Requirements: To play via Xbox Cloud Gaming, you need an active subscription priced at $14.99/month. A reliable and stable Wi-Fi connection is also required for smooth gameplay.
- Black Ops 6 Features: Black Ops 6 introduces exciting upgrades like omnimovement, revamped perks for better strategy, and an optimized XP system designed to streamline multiplayer progression.
- Why This Matters: This addition allows gamers more flexibility, giving them the option to stream high-quality games on the go without requiring a console or PC setup. It’s a big win for accessibility!
What is the Call of Duty franchise about?
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The latest Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the twenty-first installment in the long-time first-person shooter franchise from Activision Blizzard. Like most other CoD titles before it, the game features a single-player campaign mode, where players follow rogue operatives hunting down a paramilitary group in the early 1990s. With the introduction of Xbox Cloud, players can now enjoy seamless gameplay across devices, taking the action anywhere.
Aside from the solo gameplay, players have also quickly jumped into the infamous multiplayer lobbies, grinding weapon upgrades, and prestige rank-ups.
The new CoD game will also replace its predecessor as the main game played in the Call of Duty League, CoD‘s official esports circuit. The CDL recently announced the new Call of Duty League schedule for the 2025 season, including four LAN Major events, online qualifiers, new Minor tournaments, and the culminating Call of Duty League Championship. For the first time since 2020, European CDL fans can expect the first Major of the season to occur in Madrid early next year, hosted by Toronto Ultra.
In addition to attending CDL games in person, many CoD esports fans also bet on esports. The game’s fans bet on Call of Duty through reputable esports betting platforms. Crypto betting site Thunderpick offers a variety of Call of Duty odds and betting lines, where fans can use their in-game and team knowledge to predict Match Winner, Map Winner, and other possible outcomes of CoD esports events. CoD enthusiasts can also level up their game with exclusive platform bonuses, including a welcome bonus for beginner bettors and loyalty rewards for veteran esports fans.
As you can see, the game franchise’s lengthy history offers fans and players a variety of aspects and events to enjoy, whether playing the campaign modes solo through the years, proving their dominance in multiplayer lobbies, or keeping up with their favorite esports teams and players through each CDL season.
Below, we’ll take a closer look at how Xbox Cloud Gaming works and how you can play CoD using the platform:
How does Xbox Cloud Gaming work, and how can you play CoD on it?
As mentioned above, Xbox Cloud Gaming is Microsoft’s cloud-based game streaming platform that allows players to stream games from the Xbox Game Pass library on multiple devices. In a previous post explaining Xbox Cloud Gaming cost and streaming options, we highlighted how signing up for Xbox’s Game Pass Ultimate will allow you to play popular games like Fortnite — and Call of Duty — without having to download them on each of your gaming devices.
The Game Pass Ultimate membership costs $14.99 monthly as of writing time, although you can always watch out for seasonal discounts. With the Game Pass, you’ll have access to the Xbox Cloud Gaming platform and start streaming hundreds of games.
Due to the cloud-based nature of the platform, you’ll need stable WiFi for optimal performance, as high latency can cause poor gaming performance, lags, and buffers. Today, the service is compatible with Android, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung TVs, and other controller-compatible supported devices, like the Xbox Series X|S.
If you’re excited to play Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 without being bound to your Xbox console or PC at home, this is where your Xbox Cloud Gaming membership comes into play. As mentioned, any device that recognizes a controller and supports modern web browsing standards will be able to load and play Call of Duty easily, whether an iPhone, Android smartphone, or laptop.
All controllers are supported as long as the amount of face buttons matches that of an Xbox controller, including Sony’s DualShock and DualSense controllers.
Call of Duty Tips for Xbox Gamers
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Finally, we’ll share a few crucial tips below to help you succeed in Black Ops 6 multiplayer lobbies. While typical shooter mechanics like aim and reaction speed are undoubtedly important, many new features introduced in the latest CoD title can help elevate your multiplayer experience.
How can I master the omnimovement system?
Notably, it would be best if you took some time to practice and master the new omnimovement system. Many pro and casual Call of Duty players recommend disabling settings like Trigger Effect and Controller Vibration to reduce resistance in your triggers and ensure your aim and movement remain steady at all times.
Some players also recommend switching to the Tactical controller layout to swap the inputs for crouching and melee, which means you can slide or go prone more efficiently. If you find the adjustment to omnimovement challenging, you may also want to toggle sprint assist, mantle assist, crouch assist, and more settings for a more seamless experience.
What are the best Perks for multiplayer?
While perks aren’t new to Black Ops 6, the latest title divides the Perks feature into three categories: Enforcer, Recon, and Strategist. Choosing all three perks from one category gives your character a Combat Speciality, so you can experiment with different perk categories according to your favored playstyle.
For example, the Enforcer bonus grants a temporary buff to movement speed and health regen rate, making it an ideal combo of perks for aggressive players who enjoy running around lobbies with shotguns and SMGs.
Meanwhile, the Recon bonus allows you to see enemies through walls for a short time after respawn and flashes the edge of your HUD when an enemy is outside your view, which is good for players who rely on intel to optimize scorestreak usage.
How do I maximize my XP and rank up?
XP is an often overlooked currency in the Call of Duty world. For one, XP is essential for getting through all the Prestige and Master ranks. Even if you don’t care about grinding for Prestige or flexing your ranks, leveling up via XP is the only way to access weapon and equipment upgrades to make better and more dominant loadouts.
While playing the game is a straightforward enough way to earn XP, there are some things you can do to maximize your XP earnings.
This includes daily and weekly challenges that award bonus XP payouts, as well as Calling Card and Mastery challenges. Meanwhile, double XP tokens can help you build your XP bank more quickly. Avid CoD players also recommend grinding the returning Zombies mode for XP, which is more efficient than regular multiplayer.
Conclusion
The addition of the latest Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and two other CoD titles to Xbox Cloud’s library is a game-changer for Microsoft gamers who want cross-progression and accessibility.
Instead of having to repurchase the games for console and other platforms, Xbox Cloud’s features allow CoD gamers to stream and access the games from whichever devices they choose, making mowing down multiplayer lobbies and chasing achievements for solo campaigns easier and more convenient.
