Activision is opening the gates on Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 for an entire week, 9–16 October, and yes—the full campaign is included alongside Multiplayer and Zombies (Ranked excluded). The timing? It lands right on top of Battlefield 6’s launch window. In the UAE, the free week runs 8pm Thu 9 Oct to 9pm Thu 16 Oct GST.
What’s actually free this week
It’s the whole package for seven days.
- Dates: 9–16 Oct (UAE: 8pm Thu 9 Oct → 9pm Thu 16 Oct GST)
- Modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, Zombies (no Ranked)
- Content callouts: 40+ MP maps, 6 Zombies maps incl. limited-time “Haunting” content
- Platforms: PS5/PS4, Xbox Series/One, PC
- Why now: It lines up with Battlefield 6 launching 10 Oct
Activision says you can play the entire Black Ops 6 campaign during the free-play week, a first for the series’ trials. Multiplayer opens with 40+ maps, while Zombies gets all six maps and seasonal “Haunting” modes. Ranked is the only notable omission. The window starts 9 Oct 9am PT and ends 16 Oct 10am PT, which converts to the UAE times above.
Why Activision is doing this (and why this week)
It’s a hard check on Battlefield 6’s moment.
- Battlefield 6 launches 10 Oct; CoD’s free week starts the day before
- Black Ops 7 beta was even extended to 9 Oct, brushing right up against BF6’s release
- Several outlets frame this as direct competitive pressure in the FPS space
PC Gamer notes Activision pushed the Black Ops 7 beta extension to end on 9 Oct, just 24 hours before Battlefield 6 goes live. Then came the bigger swing—Black Ops 6 going free for the entire first week of BF6’s launch. Kotaku characterises it as a very deliberate attempt to keep attention inside the CoD ecosystem while BF6 tries to claw back mindshare.
UAE timings, download notes, and what to expect
Set your alarms for 8pm, Thu 9 Oct GST.
- Start: Thu 9 Oct, 8pm GST (9am PT)
- End: Thu 16 Oct, 9pm GST (10am PT)
- Expect a hefty download; preload if available on your platform
- Campaign length: ~8 hours if you’re focused
Plan storage accordingly—recent CoD entries are large. If you only want the story, multiple trackers peg the campaign around eight hours, so a single week is more than enough. Multiplayer and Zombies will rotate limited-time modes tied to the Haunting event during the trial window.
How this affects Battlefield 6’s launch week
Both games will fight for the same weekend.
- Overlap is intentional: CoD’s free week spans BF6’s entire launch week
- BF6 has been building momentum with beta buzz and feature reveals
- Expect split parties: your friends list will be a tug of war
With Black Ops 6 free to play just as Battlefield 6 lands, players sitting on the fence may stick with CoD’s familiar loop—at least for this week. That said, EA’s shooter has its own draw, and local readers should keep an eye on cross-play specifics and mode line-ups before committing their time this weekend. For context on BF6’s rules and modes, see our pieces on Battlefield 6 cross-play clarifications and the new battle royale details on Tbreak.
Why this matters if you plan to buy Black Ops 7 next month
This is a smart warm-up.
- Free week lets you refresh muscle memory before Black Ops 7 in November
- Check your party, netcode and settings on your actual setup
- Keep an eye on Game Pass changes affecting your wallet in the UAE
Activision’s next release, Black Ops 7, lands 14 November. If you skipped last year, this week is a free tune-up. Also, Microsoft’s recent Game Pass changes could shift where you buy or play—see our breakdown of the Game Pass price hike and new tiers in AED. For multiplayer map context, our BO7 multiplayer preview covers the 18 launch maps and UAE timings.
When does the Black Ops 6 free week start in the UAE?
8pm on Thursday, 9 October (GST). It ends 9pm on Thursday, 16 October (GST).
Is the full campaign really free?
Yes. Activision confirms the entire Black Ops 6 campaign is playable during the free week—first time a CoD trial has done this.
What’s excluded from the trial?
Ranked Play. Everything else—Multiplayer, Zombies, campaign—is in.
