Activision Working on Custom Call of Duty Download Options Ahead of Black Ops 6 to Tackle Colossal File Sizes

Activision will soon let players install different parts of Call of Duty games separately to combat colossal file sizes ahead of the release of Black Ops 6.

Call of Duty, with its various evolving modes like Multiplayer and Zombies alongside yearly releases on top of separate games like Warzone, has gotten a bit messy and, dare we say, chunky in recent years. Black Ops 6 gained attention when players thought it required around 300GB of download space to install, and while this turned out not to be true, it created such a reaction because it was somewhat believable.

File sizes for the various games can reach well above 100GB, a significant portion of some consoles' hard drives, but Activision is now determined to quell this issue.

Changes will be rolled out in a number of updates in the coming months, in anticipation of Black Ops 6's launch on October 25, 2024. They aim to offer a streamlined interface, direct access to games, more control of downloads, and expanded streaming technology to reduce file sizes.

"These changes will be rolled out in phases as a series of downloads," Activision said. "After these larger initial updates, future Call of Duty downloads will decrease in size and existing files will take up less space on your device. As a thanks for your patience, we're gifting all players with in-game consumables, which will be delivered when you first log into Call of Duty after the Season 5 Reloaded update."

Activision confirmed the immediate effect of these changes: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be a smaller download than Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III at launch.

The first big update arrives August 21 and will pave the way for these larger changes, headlined by the separation of Call of Duty: Warzone and the mainline games. "To give players more control over what they’re downloading, we are decoupling the download of Call of Duty: Warzone from other titles," Activision said.

"When you purchase an annual title, you will only download the files for that game by default. On the free to play side, players can opt-in to get Call of Duty: Warzone when they’re downloading a new annual title or simply download it separately at any point in time."

Subsequent updates will arrive August 30, in mid October, on October 25 when Black Ops 6 launches, and alongside that game's Season 1 update, whenever it may be.

Not trying to hide that this will be an awkward, somewhat confusing, and perhaps tedious time for players, Activision is giving away a pack of Battle Token Tier Skips and 2XP tokens from the beginning of Season 5 Reloaded.

Full details can be found on the Call of Duty blog.

Black Ops 6 launches on October 25, 2024. Other multiplayer mode will be available to try a bit earlier though, thanks to an early access period beginning in late August. An invite only trial takes place on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and PC from August 30 to September 4, while an open beta takes place September 6 to September 9.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.