The launch of Black Ops 6 brings good news to Call of Duty players, as their game installs are set to become significantly smaller. However, this positive change comes with a caveat – players will have to endure larger initial updates before experiencing the benefits of reduced file sizes. Activision’s plan to overhaul the Call of Duty launcher includes the option to download Warzone separately from the premium games, such as Black Ops 6. The company also aims to implement texture streaming, which will enable players to download less content initially. Additionally, the user interface (UI) is being revamped to provide easier access to games, with top content being prominently displayed on a single page without the need for scrolling.
Scheduled for August 21, the Season 5 Reloaded update marks the beginning of these changes, as outlined in a recent blog post by Activision. The update will allow players more control over their downloads by separating Warzone from other titles. When purchasing an annual title, players will only download files related to that specific game by default. Moreover, the update will introduce expanded texture streaming capabilities, enabling the cycling of less frequently used content to a streaming cache to reduce the need for direct downloads to the device’s storage. This shift will result in certain content appearing at lower quality temporarily until fully loaded into the streaming cache. Players will have the option to choose between an “optimized” setting for higher-fidelity visuals with increased bandwidth consumption or a “minimal” setting for less detailed visuals with lower bandwidth requirements.
While the process begins with a substantial initial download, it paves the way for a smoother experience leading up to the release of Black Ops 6. The restructuring of files in preparation for the new interface launch in mid-October ensures that the overall file size of the installation will not increase. As a result of these optimizations, the overall footprint of Call of Duty will decrease over time. However, for PS5 players, the process may be more cumbersome, requiring four separate downloads due to differences in file organization at the console level, within the Call of Duty launcher, with Modern Warfare 3, and within Warzone.
Recognizing the potential inconvenience of these updates, the developers are offering a free community pack as a token of appreciation for players’ patience. Players who log in after the start of Season 5 Reloaded will receive a pack containing 10 1-hour double player XP tokens, 10 1-hour double weapon XP tokens, and 10 battle pass tier skips. While these bonuses may not alleviate the frustration of large downloads, they aim to lighten the burden as players transition towards a smaller, more streamlined experience with Black Ops 6.
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