You know those launch events that sound cool on paper but end up being just another stuffy press conference? Yeah, this wasn’t one of those. On October 24th,ActivisionBlizzard teamed up with Abu Dhabi Gaming to kick off the super-anticipatedCall of Duty: Black Ops 6in what might be the most badass launch event I’ve come across this year. Spoiler altert: we’re talking about 14 of the Middle East’s biggest gaming creators strapping into actual Formula 3000 cars at the legendaryYas Marina Circuit.
That’s right, before they got their hands on the game, these brilliant people got to live out their own high-octane moments on one of F1’s most iconic tracks. (And yes, they all walked away with limited edition Black Ops 6 racing helmets that I’m definitely not jealous of.) But that was just day one. The real fireworks, though, came on October 25th, when these creators split into teams for an intense 6v6 showdown in Black Ops 6.
Speaking of fireworks, Abu Dhabi’s night sky turned into a literal canvas for what might be the coolest drone show ever. We got to witness some iconic COD elements light up above the city skyline,withthe Abu Dhabi Gaming logo floating among the stars. Not your average Thursday night, that’s for sure.
This wasn’t just another flashy launch, though. It’s part of something bigger brewing in Abu Dhabi. The city’s basically been positioning itself as the Middle East’s next big thing when it comes to gaming. A lot of the credit also goes to Abu Dhabi Gaming, a government initiative that’s actually putting its money where its mouth is.They’re building something pretty special here – aproper ecosystem where local talent, tech innovation, and gaming culture can flourish.
For Activision Blizzard, this launch feels like a love letter to their Middle Eastern fans. It’s good to see a major publisher not just acknowledging the region’s gaming community, but celebrating it with the kind of event usually reserved for LA or Tokyo. Not too surprising either, considering that we’re talking about a country where90 percent of adults are gamersand nearly a quarter of them clock in 11+ hours weekly, this kind of over-the-top launch feels right at home. And with the UAE’s gaming market set to hit $4.5 billion by 2030, Abu Dhabi Gaming isn’t just hosting epic events like the BLAST Premier World Final, they’re helping write gaming’s next chapter. If this launch is any indication,we’re just getting started.
Coming back to the extremely-cool thing we’re here to discuss, Black Ops 6 is out now across pretty much everything - Xbox One, Series X|S, PS4, PS5, Battle.net, Steam,andit’s included with Game Pass on both console and PC. Trust me, after what I’ve seen, you’re gonna want to check this one out. In case you’re interested, head on over to theirofficial websitefor more information.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
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Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
