Starting from today, you can try out the Call of Duty spin on the Battle Royale genre for free until April 30th. This news came at the same time as an announcement of a new map for the Call of Duty Blackout game mode, Alcatraz [watch the trailer for the new map here].
The free trial will only work for the Blackout mode, so other multiplayer playlists and the zombies mode will not be available. In addition to this, Xbox One and PC gamers will have to wait a little longer for the Alcatraz map as it will be available for PS4 owners first and then other platforms later. Fortunately, there will be no restrictions on who you can play Blackout with whilst you are using the free trial; this means you can still play Blackout with anyone who has the full version of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
As you might suspect this is unlikely to be an act of generosity on Activision’s part. Many new competitors have entered the Battle Royale market after the launch of Black Ops 4 last year; Apex Legends and Battlefield V’s Firestorm mode are just two examples. The Call of Duty publisher is likely trying to fight for room on the marketplace. The £30 entry fee to play Blackout, when it is not available for free, will definitely hurt the game mode’s viability in the long term, especially when many other alternative Battle Royale experiences are available free of charge. Will this promotion event breath new life into Activision’s multiplayer shooter? Only time will tell.
Are you interested in playing Blackout this month? Tell us in the comments below if you’ll be checking it out, and what you make of the mode…
