The addition of a battle royale mode is a wise business tactic indeed. Battle royales, which are the video game version of the Hunger Games (only one can win) have become very popular in the past year due to games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and of course Fortnite.
Without a doubt, Fortnite is the most popular game in the world right now, even celebrities like Drake make time to play the game. Fortnite has achieved this popularity due to multiple reasons. The game is free to download. It’s on multiple platforms including PS4, Xbox One, PC and even cell phones.
Fortnite also updates a new feature to the game at a near weekly rate, consistently keeping the game refreshing for players and attracting new players. Also, for its battle royale mode, Fortnite incorporates the elements of a third-person shooter with building capabilities that resemble Minecraft.
Hopefully, Black Ops 4 intends to do more than just hop on the battle royale bandwagon because implementing a battle royale mode won’t be enough to appeal to the same community of players who love Fortnite. The battle royale mode for Black Ops 4 will have to be unique and creative if the game intends to surpass the success of Fortnite.
In a new video, Treyarch introduces “blackout” which will be its version of battle royales. The company claims that this new feature was only considered and implemented because Treyarch is confident that “blackout” will be done in a way that only Black Ops can do.
The video plants a fair, intriguing message. Blackout will rely on the fast-paced nature of Call of Duty gameplay. This battle royale mode will also be set “in the biggest map we’ve ever made,” according to Treyarch. Blackout will also use features that span Treyarch’s ten years of developing Call of Duty games, originating with 2008’s Call of Duty: World at War.
Black Ops 4 intends to rely on history for blackout to appeal to the Treyarch fanbase. This mode will utilize favorite characters from Black Ops campaigns, favorite weapons and aspects of multiplayer maps beloved by fans.
All these parts will be located on this one large map for blackout. One multiplayer map that will definitely play a role in blackout is, of course, Nuketown, a map that has been re-stylized several times for different games in the Black Ops franchise.
Players will also be allowed to transverse the blackout map using land, air and sea vehicles (currently, there aren’t any vehicles in Fortnite). To end this trailer, Treyarch reminds people that this is something new. “This is blackout.”
The Call of Duty franchise has been heavily criticized for being formulaic. Ironically, the franchise has also been critiqued lately for losing the characteristics that made Call of Duty iconic in its earlier days.
Hopefully, blackout will be a refreshing addition to the franchise that still feels like Call of Duty. This matters more than whether this game mode will surpass the Fortnite phenomenon.
Featured Image via Activision
