The highly anticipated Season 2 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone is now live, but the launch has unfortunately been marred by technical issues, especially for PC players. Many are experiencing repeated crashes, leading to significant frustration across the community.
According to Call of Duty Updates on X, the new Zombies map, The Tomb, is at the epicenter of the problem for players using AMD GPUs. But the issues go beyond just AMD users; reports are filtering in from players with NVIDIA graphics cards and various systems, indicating these crashes are far more widespread.
Since the update rolled out on January 28, players have reported complete system crashes, often referred to as Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors. One affected player lamented, "I'm getting crash reports from Zombies, multiplayer, and Warzone. I can't even enter the game before my PC crashes." This sentiment seems to echo among many gamers who find themselves unable to play.
The launch introduced around 20GB of new content to Black Ops 6 and Warzone, including new maps and gameplay modes. Players had hoped these updates would revitalize the game, especially after grinding out the previous double XP weekend. But now, the focus has shifted to resolving these launch issues.
Notably, the BSOD error appears to link back to the newly updated Ricochet kernel-level anti-cheat system, with some users drawing connections based on the system's role after recent patches. "It's something to do with the update to Ricochet they did," theorized one community member.
To add to the frustration, users also reported issues even when their graphics settings were on stock configurations. One gamer experienced crashes even beyond the game environment, simply launching the Call of Duty launcher caused system failures.
Activision has yet to officially recognize these large-scale issues. The silence from the developer has left many players feeling disillusioned, with one frustrated user pointing out, "I just want to enjoy the game I paid for! It's unacceptable."
While the developer works toward solutions, some players have discussed potential workarounds. One workaround suggests disabling Memory Integrity within Windows Security. This method involves accessing Device Security settings and turning off Core Isolation, which could theoretically mitigate some of the crashing. Still, experts advise caution, indicating this fix may expose the system to other risks.
Richard Devine, managing editor at Windows Central, shared insights about the community's experience, noting, "It's definitely not isolated to just one type of GPU. The problem seems to touch every user, regardless of the specific hardware they have."
The Season 2 update addressed various aspects of gameplay, rolling out three new multiplayer maps, returning fan-favorite modes, and adding fresh perks. Unfortunately, the player experience has been overshadowed by these crashing issues, leading many to question whether the new content will even be playable.
Players were particularly excited about the introduction of the new Zombies map, The Tomb, which included several new surprises and nostalgic elements, such as returning perks from previous iterations. "It's disappointing to see such great content locked behind these crashes," admitted one gamer, highlighting the missed opportunities for enjoyment.
While the developers at Activision scramble to address the flaws, the input from community discussions remains invaluable. Many affected players share insights and updates on potential fixes via social media, providing the gaming community with much-needed support. The developers are likely compiling feedback and reports to diagnose the issue and implement necessary patches.
Community sentiment is currently focused on hope for swift resolution. "We want to see the game functioning as intended. The content looks great, but if we can't play it, what's the point?" commented another player, echoing the thoughts of many.
Despite the rocky start to Black Ops 6 Season 2, the community remains engaged, sharing workarounds and updates as they await resolutions from Activision. One thing is clear: players are resilient and are bound to rally together as they navigate these unexpected tech hiccups.
All eyes now turn to Activision's forthcoming communications. Will they acknowledge the BSOD issues? What support might they offer to players seeking to resolve these problems? The gaming community waits with bated breath for news and, hopefully, the repair of their beloved game.