Black Ops 6 is Going Free For a Full Week to Counter the Battlefield 6 Launch

By Karan Rathore • Updated On 8 Oct 2025

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In an aggressive move to steal the spotlight from its rival, Activision has announced a full, week-long free trial for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The trial is strategically timed to overlap directly with the launch of Battlefield 6, setting the stage for the biggest shooter showdown in years.

This is a bold, and some might say desperate, response to the massive pre-launch buzz surrounding Battlefield 6. For players, it means one thing: a chance to play the entire game for free.

Black Ops 6 Free Trial: Dates and Times

According to the official Call of Duty blog post, the free trial begins October 9 at 9 AM PT (12 PM ET / 5 PM BST / 9:30 PM IST) and runs through October 16 at 10 AM PT.

The trial will be available across all platforms: PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.

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What’s Included in the Free Trial?

This isn’t a limited demo. Activision is giving players access to almost the entire package, a rare move for a brand-new release. The free trial includes:

The full single-player Campaign
The complete co-op Zombies mode
All new Season 6 Multiplayer maps and modes

The only mode restricted during the trial is Multiplayer Ranked Play, which will remain locked.

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A Strategic Move Against Battlefield

Historically, Call of Duty free trials happen months after launch and only include a few multiplayer maps. Offering the entire game for free during a competitor’s launch week is a clear sign that Activision is feeling the pressure.

This move follows other recent changes, like reducing the game’s file size and removing skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) from a recent beta, suggesting Activision is pulling out all the stops to keep its player base engaged.

Whether the gamble pays off remains to be seen, but this October is shaping up to be an intense face-off for FPS fans.

So, where will you be dropping in? Tell us in the comments below.

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Karan Rathore

Karan Rathor is a tech reviewer at Smartprix. With an electrical engineering degree from BITS Pilani, he brings hands-on, expert analysis to his reviews of mobile hardware and automotive tech. See all of his work on his official author page.

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