Black Ops 6 beta start time in early access, and how to get a beta code

The Black Ops 6 beta runs over two weekends in August and Sept., including an open beta for all players.

Unlike previous Call of Duty games, the early access beta period will be available to all platforms, and not just PlayStation owners. Then, for those without a beta code, the second weekend will see access fully available as part of an open period.

In short, if you have beta access, you can start playing as soon as Aug. 30. Otherwise, you’re looking to wait one week before you can jump in on Sept. 6.

This page explains when Black Ops 6’s beta releases, how to get access during the early access period with a beta code, and what to expect from both beta weekends.

Black Ops 6’s beta takes place across two weekends, the first being early access only. Unlike previous Call of Duty betas, both weekends are available on all platforms — provided you have a beta code, have pre-ordered, or are playing on Xbox Game Pass.

The Black Ops 6 beta dates are:

Note that for those wanting all beta rewards — see the final section of this page for specifics — you have to start playing during the first weekend to claim everything.

The first Black Ops 6 beta weekend starts Friday, Aug. 30, at the following times:

The early access beta weekend will also end at the same times on Wednesday, Sept. 4. In short, every new phase will sync with 10 a.m. PDT, meaning an evening start in Europe and the late morning or early afternoon in the Americas.

While you wait, you can get a taste of Black Ops 6 multiplayer via the official trailer, released in the days leading up to the first beta weekend.

Unlike previous Call of Duty betas, Black Ops 6’s early access period is available to players across all platforms, and not just those on PlayStation.

As well as access through acquiring a beta code or pre-order, for those on Xbox and PC, there is now an additional method through having an Xbox Game Pass subscription.

To get Black Ops 6 beta in early access, you can either:

In summary, the only guaranteed way of getting a code is by pre-ordering or being a Xbox Game Pass subscriber, but as shown, there are a few extra ways to get codes if you prefer not to.

Ultimately, remember you can still access the beta without pre-ordering — you’ll just have to wait for the second weekend’s open beta period starting Friday, Sept. 6.

If you have a beta code, you can redeem the code on the official Call of Duty website. Log into your Call of Duty/Activision account (or create one if you haven’t already), enter the code, and select your platform and region.

From there, a code will be emailed to the email address registered to your account soon before the beta period begins.

As mentioned above, if you digitally pre-ordered Black Ops 6 (through PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Steam, or Battle.net) or have a qualifying Xbox Game Pass subscription, then you’ll have automatic access — there’s no beta code required.

Here’s everything we can expect from the Black Ops 6 beta in the first early access weekend:

As with previous Call of Duty betas, progress will not carry over to the full game. That said, you can unlock a series of rewards based on how much you play over the two weekends…

You can unlock a number of rewards to take through to the full release of Black Ops 6 by reaching specific ranks. Note that some rewards can only be unlocked during the first or second weekend, so to unlock everything, you have to reach Level 20 during the first weekend, then progress until Level 30 before the beta wraps at the end of the second weekend.