Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Black Ops Cold War launched on Xbox One on November 13, 2020, simultaneously with all other platforms, and includes the complete playable content - a branching 1981 campaign about the hunt for the Soviet agent Perseus, a full-fledged multiplayer, and the Zombies mode with the Die Maschine map. The game was created by Treyarch with support from Raven Software, which was primarily responsible for the game's networking side. The pre-order bonus also included the Nuketown '84 multiplayer map, available just as on the other platforms.

Since this is a release for the older console generation, the Xbox One version runs at a lower resolution and with a lower frame rate than the Xbox Series X|S edition, and loading missions and multiplayer matches takes longer due to the hard drive. On the more powerful Xbox One X variant, the game ran at an enhanced resolution approaching 4K, while the base console stayed at a lower resolution. Thanks to the Smart Delivery program, however, the game allowed Xbox One owners a free upgrade to the Xbox Series X|S version once they got the new console, including keeping all unlocked progress, weapons, and cosmetic items. The Xbox One version also fully supported crossplay with other platforms from day one, although in large modes like Combined Arms, matches ran with a lower maximum player count than on the next-gen consoles and PC.

As with the other platforms, the Xbox One version also connected shortly after launch with the free battle royale mode Warzone, allowing players to share weapons, operators, and progress between both games under a single Activision account. In terms of content, the Xbox One release therefore doesn't lag behind the other versions at all; the only difference is weaker graphical and technical performance due to the console's older hardware.

Just like the PS4 version, the Xbox One edition also loosely continues the story of the first Black Ops from 2010 and its plot around the MKUltra program, so familiarity with the earlier games brings a deeper understanding of the relationships between the main characters. The game on Xbox One also supported offline two-player split-screen play in the campaign and in Zombies mode, just like the competing PlayStation.

Why play it: For fans of the MKUltra plot from the first Black Ops, as well as for players who want to share a screen with a friend in the campaign and in Zombies, the Xbox One version offers the same experience as the competition.