Everything Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 With #CODPOD | Official Xbox Podcast

SPEAKER 1: Games in this podcast are rated "M".
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Welcome to the Official Xbox Podcast, the only podcast that comes to you from inside Xbox.
I'm Ethan, and we have a great one for you today.
Joining me is Kelly Lombardi, Product Marketing Manager and owner of wonderful jackets here at Xbox.
How are you, Kelly?
KELLY LOMBARDI: Thank you.
Oh, my gosh, I always know that I have to compete with your NetWare.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, thank you.
Yes, see, I -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Because you always bring your net game.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: I do, I do.
I try really hard.
It's the perfect season to wear baggy stuff and hide -- KELLY LOMBARDI: It is; yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- my body shape.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: We -- when was the last time we hosted?
It's been a bit, so it's been -- KELLY LOMBARDI: It's been a bit.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes; what, like Game -- not even Gamescom, it's been months and months now, so -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- I'm kind of excited to be here with you today.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes, but I swear every time that we see each other, it's like no time has passed.
And we have fun no matter -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, we have a good time.
KELLY LOMBARDI: -- when we get together.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: We have a good time for sure.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: But we're not alone here.
Joining us -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- today is Miles Ross, Host of "COD POD", and Stephanie Snowden, Senior Director of Communications.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Howdy.
MILES ROSS: Hi.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, I love that name.
KELLY LOMBARDI: How are you?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: We're so excited to be here.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Well, it's good to have you.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: I like that title, too.
We were talking about that when we were looking at the notes.
It's a cool job title.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Thank you.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: I love what I do.
I get to work with all of the studios across "Call of Duty", which there are many; and you know, all things "COD" all the time, including the POD.
MILES ROSS: All things "COD", yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Ooh.
[Laughter]
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: It seems endless right now, yes, doesn't it?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: It does, yes.
MILES ROSS: It's the only thing we ever talk about when we're together.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: A long season -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, honestly.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- is upon us.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Season ten.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It's intense.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And sweater weather, like you guys -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- crushed it with the outerwear -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Thank you.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- situation.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: We were looking for that.
We were definitely fishing coming into the show -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And [inaudible].
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- so it's appreciated, yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
And for out-of-towners you guys also brought the sweater, the fall vibes, so we thank you as well.
MILES ROSS: We checked the weather before we got on the plane, you know.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Like, "Ooh, brisk." KELLY LOMBARDI: It's almost like you've done this before.
[Laughter]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Everything I own right now is "Black Ops" orange, so -- KELLY LOMBARDI: I love that; yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- we've just fully converted how much to go -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: And is that a requirement to work there, or is that just choice?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Well, you know, not a requirement, but maybe just like nice to have.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, okay.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Why not?
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: [Laughs]
Looks good.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: That just is taking up the extra mile -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
[Laughs]
KELLY LOMBARDI: -- you know.
MILES ROSS: At Con Ex [phonetic]
there were a few staff members who had their nails done and they got the exact color code -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, we got -- MILES ROSS: "Black Ops 6" color code.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- we have the hacks code -- MILES ROSS: Yes, took it to -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- available.
If anybody wants it, I'll treat it out for you.
[Laughs]
MILES ROSS: Yes, took it to the sound set, the, "I need this now," and they all asked -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- very specific less questions.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: They're like -- MILES ROSS: Yes.
[Laughter]
[inaudible].
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, that's awesome.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Well, Miles, you also have a good title.
Stephanie has a cool one, but you do as well.
MILES ROSS: "Host" is fine.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes, "Host, 'COD POD'." ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Good secret saved.
KELLY LOMBARDI: So let's talk about it.
We're excited to have you here.
Let's talk all about "COD POD", the Official "Call of Duty" Podcast.
So what is it, who are you, what are you doing, what are you talking about -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Who are you?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: -- where can people find you -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: I ask myself that every day, but -- [Laughter]
KELLY LOMBARDI: -- all the existential questions.
Let's jump into it.
MILES ROSS: This is very "Black Ops" already.
This is already -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- thematically sound.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Can I trust them?
Who -- is it real?
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
[Laughs]
Yes, is it a simulation?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: "COD POD" is real, yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And we're super excited.
It's a new project for us, and so we've just published our third episode a few weeks ago.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, wow, congrats.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And -- thank you, yes, go check it out.
But it's really been kind of a passion project for a lot of us at Activision and across "Call of Duty" because, you know, we wanted to look at more opportunities to engage the community, like our awesome "Call of Duty" community of players and, you know, be part of the conversation with them and offer sort of a new platform to have those discussions and really, you know, share information with both -- you know, our passion with the community as well.
And so we're really excited about it, and -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- you know, Miles hasn't gotten rid of me as co-host yet.
[Laughter]
So we'll -- MILES ROSS: I haven't tried yet, but -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, we'll see -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- Episode four tune in, you know.
MILES ROSS: It won't happen.
It's not happening.
[Laughter]
You know, it has been really cool to -- as a fan myself, I mean, I've always loved "COD", but to be able to get to peek behind the curtain a little bit more than you normally would with devs and with, you know, all the storytellers and the game designers there; because typically, you know, we love the sort of showcase events and -- but they are very much a lot more manicured and almost scripted.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: For sure.
MILES ROSS: This, you know, we get to take, you know, [inaudible]
and we've got him for an hour -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- well wicker basket, but let's get him, let's find out what we can share with us.
And it's really lovely to be -- to get a sort of deeper dive into the journey of what it is to make a game and to hear their tales and their fandom.
And it's just really cool; it's really cool.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
I mean, and probably a lot like this podcast and you guys, like coming from inside -- you know, as Miles always says like, "The belly of the beast," is a different experience.
And we hope to offer people, you know, something unique and a real peek -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- at how it works, and all the good stuff.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
So if people want to check it out, where do they go, what do they search for?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: You can find us on YouTube on the official "Call of Duty" YouTube channel, if you would like to watch video.
And then we actually just made it onto audio, so you know, like and subscribe wherever you get your podcast.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Nice.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Wherever you get your podcast, yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: All the usual spots.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: You've got decades of content to work with too, because I think last year "Call of Duty" celebrated its 20th anniversary -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- which yes just ages -- just makes me feel so old.
And you know -- MILES ROSS: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: It would -- yes -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- but [inaudible]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- the 20 hit hard, you know.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Totally; totally.
MILES ROSS: Are you sure?
KELLY LOMBARDI: It's cool.
[Laughter]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: We've been doing this for a while, yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Right, really, "Oh, my goodness." KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Probably -- okay.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: I -- yes that's honestly what's more shocking to me, I started my "Call of Duty" journey just like -- my grandpa was kind of the guy that then showed me, so it must have been like -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: That's awesome.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- 2004, you know -- MILES ROSS: Hmm.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- "Call of Duty" finest hour like watching him play on a computer.
You know, and so to -- I think that is kind of what -- that's where my head goes when I think about how long this franchise has existed.
I mean, it's really -- it's been like you could -- it feels like I'm playing an action movie in every era that -- in history, honestly.
And so to kind of be here 21 years later almost, it's -- how does that make you feel?
[Laughs]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Oh, it's awesome.
I mean, it's the reflection of so much hard work across -- you know, with so many different teams and groups across all of "Call of Duty" and the franchise.
But it's so cool to work on a franchise that has so much history to draw from, and like, you know, how we take inspiration from a lot of different places.
But we consider our own, you know, war and history and the cornerstones of what makes "Call of Duty" "Call of Duty", and incorporate that, you know, balanced with new innovations.
And you know, we try to always push the envelope with new games.
And so it's really exciting, and I feel -- you know, feel really grateful to be a part of it, but it also does make me feel old.
So -- [laughter]
that, and I was like -- MILES ROSS: And wise.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- that's been a while.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Wise, that's a -- MILES ROSS: We're experienced.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Seasoned; seasoned.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Yes, come on.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, veteran -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: "I'm a seasoned vetty," of course.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Comment.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, exactly, like -- MILES ROSS: My first "COD" was "COD 2", and I just remember early 360 days -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- with friends on the couch, split screen -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- bolt action rifling each other for hours.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: For hours.
MILES ROSS: Hours and hours.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Something about -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Tales of Land parties.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
[Laughter]
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: So a hundred percent.
Something about [inaudible], right?
MILES ROSS: I can still smell it.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- like -- [laughter]
oh, man -- MILES ROSS: It was the best.
I miss it.
[Laughter]
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- yes, yes, just yes, so much BO.
But I think about like in those early days everyone using the same weapons.
Like pre loadouts was -- there was like a magic there of just like both of you firing the bolt action and missing and just be like, "No." [Laughter]
MILES ROSS: Yes.
It was almost like the most awkward -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Node scope [phonetic], here we go.
MILES ROSS: Yes, it was so wonderful, but those -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It was good.
MILES ROSS: -- I mean those games they've changed a lot.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It -- totally.
MILES ROSS: -- which is what -- I mean it's lovely and nostalgic and cool to look back -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- but experiencing it and playing it, it's like, "Wow, we've come a long way -- " KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes, absolutely.
MILES ROSS: -- twenty years," which is really cool.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Whatever -- MILES ROSS: Even in five years, you know, looking back at, you know, the last few [inaudible]
like every game makes a pretty significant jump somewhere.
And "Black Ops 6" is big in that front.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: That's awesome.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Well, and I was going to say, too, like that's what we push for, you know, every title, every year it's part of that journey.
And I think the "Call of Duty" is a whole, but also, you know, the sub-franchise as like "Black Ops" this year and "Modern Warfare" and some of the other ones, we want to, you know, keep moving the ball down the field and push ourselves, and innovate, and you know, deliver something super awesome to players, but also, you know, what they know and love about "Call of Duty".
And I think that's what makes, you know, these games so special and the reason that they resonate with the players the way that they do.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: For sure, for sure.
I love -- I mean, one of my favorite aspects of all this is obviously we've been talking about, you know, playing some of these games for 20 years, but the fact that this is coming to Game Pass, there's going to be so many new players -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- and I can't wait.
Like there's something about looking at your friends listening to you and everybody play the same game.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, so looking forward to kind of just everybody getting to jump into this one, you know?
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, I'm going to force you to play with me.
KELLY LOMBARDI: I can't -- there will be no forcing.
[Laughter]
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Right, right.
KELLY LOMBARDI: It will be voluntary.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, when you see my [inaudible]
you might feel otherwise, but the -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Oh, okay.
I thought I was going to be [inaudible]
-- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Uh-oh.
KELLY LOMBARDI: -- but this might be great.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: No.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Just a mess, squadding up day one, I like -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- what we're doing here.
MILES ROSS: Sit back and enjoy this.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
[Laughter]
KELLY LOMBARDI: And "Black Ops 6" is the first -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: -- "Call of Duty" game that launches day one in Game Pass, so we're very excited for that.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, they launch on October 25th, and so it's going to be great.
I mean, being part of the Xbox family now has been, you know, a really cool journey for us.
This is my first time at Xbox, my first time in greater Pacific Northwest area.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Oh, okay.
Really.
MILES ROSS: It's gorgeous.
It's gorgeous.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, beautiful.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It is, it's quite beautiful.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: But it also, you know, for us opens so many opportunities, and I think especially with Game Pass and the Xbox player it's like, "We're pumped to have you." If you've never played 'Call of Duty' before, it's been a long time since you've played a 'Call of Duty' game, like welcome.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Hmm.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, like, "Water's fine, come on in.
[Laughter]
KELLY LOMBARDI: "Jump on in." STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: We've got something for everybody." I think that's something that -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- if you haven't played "COD" in a while, you may not know is that we have changed it a lot, we have a lot of different modes -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- depending on what kind of player you are, what experience you're looking for, I think there's something that can appeal to you in "Black Ops 6" for sure.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: I'd love to dive into that some more because obviously like there -- to your point, there's a lot to offer different players, there's a lot of different modes and things to do.
Like we talked about obviously the campaign, very action-packed, feels like I'm playing in an action movie.
I love that you shouted out "Call of Duty 2" because I'll never forget climbing Pointe du Hoc -- MILES ROSS: Oh my God.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- and to getting that D-Day level.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Oh.
[Laughs]
MILES ROSS: Yes, it was -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It -- MILES ROSS: -- iconic.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Iconic, yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Iconic, right?
And I feel like -- MILES ROSS: Little piece of history.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- I do feel like time and time again "Call of Duty" has missions like that, you know, and so for me it's always fun to kind of dive into the campaign first.
But -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- I'd love to kind of talk about the different modes and different things "Call of Duty" has to offer.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, for sure.
I mean, I'll start with "Black Ops 6" because there -- it has -- this game has three modes with "Campaign", "Zombies", and you know, our core multiplayer experience, which I think is what a lot of people know "Call of Duty" for; but Campaign is -- you know, has an awesome narrative, it's picking up from the last -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Okay.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- "Black Ops" game, which is "Black Ops Cold War", so about four years ago, and the story there.
But also for like our OG "Black Ops" or "COD" players, it does touch on some of the 1980s events from "Black Ops 2".
So you know, "Black Ops 2" is split between 2025 and I believe 1989.
And you know, we're going to see where we last left our heroes there.
And so spy action thriller set in 1991.
So the '90s are an era which "Call of Duty" has never explored too, and for us like not dating ourselves again, [laughter]
so old but like '90s kids we love -- you know, there are some really cool touch points -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
Totally.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- in the Campaign there with the setting.
And the whole game is in the '90s, so you really get that like look and feel of the era.
MILES ROSS: It's a vibe.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: It's a vibe, yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, yes, yes.
Gosh.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Do any of the soldiers have like little butterfly clips or -- [Laughter]
No?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Well, in the live season -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- you know, who knows?
KELLY LOMBARDI: Okay.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: But I -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Write that down.
Write that down.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, like -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: That's good.
MILES ROSS: Yes, yes, yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- we need -- I can say like, you know, the flannel is strong -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- in my -- KELLY LOMBARDI: The [inaudible]; yes.
MILES ROSS: The denim is blue -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, the -- MILES ROSS: -- the flannel is strong.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Stonewashed, yes.
MILES ROSS: Yes, it's [inaudible].
KELLY LOMBARDI: The grunge is grunging.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, the grunge is grunging.
MILES ROSS: Oh, yes, grunge [inaudible], oh yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Playing Pogs in the alley.
[Laughter]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Are there -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Pogs.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: We got a lot of options.
I mean -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- we could go deep on the '90s reference.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It's true, though, like the amount of like references and things that you can kind of -- to your point, it is a vibe, and I'm very looking forward to that as a '90s kid, to just see like -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- even like the news clippings and stuff, like I always -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- love that.
It's like the "Call of Duty" because then that just -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Well -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- puts you in the setting.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- and so much of the story has to do with that, right, because "Black Ops" is -- and you know, a lot of this goes for "Call of Duty" in general, were inspired by real life events, by history.
But I think one of the things that makes "Black Ops" "Black Ops" is sort of the -- looking at the underbelly or like the what didn't happen, what might not have been in the headlines and really -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: You'll never know if -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- you'll never find out about it.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And -- or, you know, "Did it happen?" ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Ooh; yes, yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, like and kind of -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, yes, entry -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Dynamic.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- exploring, you know, from a story standpoint what can happen in that gray area.
And so I think especially with like the '90s vibe, that's going to be something that's exciting for Campaign.
MILES ROSS: So recent -- I mean, within our lifetimes especially, but just to see some of the characters, the real life, you know, historical figures who are playing roles in the game is very, very cool.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, and you've seen them in some of the trailers and stuff -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- so, you know, folks you might recognize from our childhoods.
[Laughter]
MILES ROSS: From those guys from the news.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, yes -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Those guys from the news.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- famous and infamous.
MILES ROSS: Yes, it's pretty cool.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Let's pivot maybe to "Zombies", because I do -- I am a big "Zombies" fan -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- and it is spooky season, so let's talk about "Zombies" a little bit.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Can you tell us about any; any little tidbits you can share there?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Oh, yes.
I mean, we've started to share a lot.
So there are two -- "Round-Based Zombies" is back, that's the headline, right, so like our -- you know, if you love the "Zombies" mode as it is; but also too if you're a new player and you're like, "'Call of Duty' has zombies, like what -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: "What?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- does it -- what -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: What?" [Laughter]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- I thought it was a -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- an FPS game." And it is, but -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, it sure is.
KELLY LOMBARDI: The '90s were wild.
[Laughs]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- we've also got some -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: The '90s were crazy, you guys, yes, yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And it's a hard mode and it is so fun and zany, and it brings that really kind of like wild feel that only Treyarch and like a "Black Ops" game could bring -- MILES ROSS: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- to "Call of Duty".
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And it's just -- there's so much so we have two brand new "Round-Based Zombies" in "Ops" coming at launch, Terminus, Island, and Liberty Falls.
We're going to be talking a -- like a lot more about getting into the nitty-gritty for launch in the next couple of weeks, so you guys got to stay tuned.
But we -- yes we had some folks play Liberty Falls at "Call of Duty: NEXT".
MILES ROSS: Lot of folks.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Lot of folks, yes.
MILES ROSS: Lot of folks.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Lot of content creator -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- gamers.
But we've got GobbleGums, we've got OG vents [phonetic].
They're so -- "Zombies" has so much -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, it does.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- and it's like you're just barely scratching the surface for me to, you know, rapid fire a list of cultures.
[Laughs]
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It's like its own 50 things MILES ROSS: Really.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: It really is.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: It really, really is, yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: I mean, if "Campaign" is a sort of, you know, spy thriller, narrative-driven, you know, little episodes, "Zombies" is almost the complete opposite; like while there is an amazing running story throughout the whole thing -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, the "Dark Aether" storyline, I like it a lot, yes.
[Laughs]
MILES ROSS: There is, and it's fine, yes.
And I think this is the first "Black Ops" game -- this is the first "COD" game where you're going to be able to really experience that story in a very well-directed way.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: And it's just such a different game.
Like you think you know "COD", and then you play "Zombies", like this is nuts.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Like, "What's -- I'm buying stuff off the walls?
This is funny; they keep screaming at me.
KELLY LOMBARDI: You're buying -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: "Those are peaks." MILES ROSS: There are zombies everywhere." Yes.
[Laughter]
There's a lot going on.
And it's so fun to play with friends, and it's -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It is.
MILES ROSS: -- and some of my -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: It is, yes.
MILES ROSS: -- some of my favorite memories of "Zombies" are like it's 4:00 a.m., we're running low on ammo, and, you know -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: And Mountain Dew.
MILES ROSS: -- and Mountain Dew.
And -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: You're in -- what round are you in; yes.
[Laughs]
MILES ROSS: We're in deep in the rounds, and we can -- we see the max MO -- and my -- I'm screwing my voice, like someone has to go get it, someone messes up, and it's like cool.
Well, that's like nine and a half hours of our lives.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
[Laughs]
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: You're destroyed, chaps.
[Laughter]
And you know who you are, Will.
[Laughter]
You know who you are.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, we're not still upset about that, but [inaudible].
MILES ROSS: No.
But it's just such a fun Ops experience, and -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Poor Will.
MILES ROSS: -- but yes -- no he's fine.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: He's fine.
He's fine.
He's fine.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: We'll make it, yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: The other players, on the other hand -- MILES ROSS: No, we won.
But no, there's so much to do in "Zombies", and it's so cool.
It's a really awesome Ops experience that it's got a huge amount of replayability.
And -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Totally.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- it starts off really fun and simple at round one is always -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- "Oh, this is cool and easy." By round five you're like -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- "Oh, I'm -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- just fighting for my life here." ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: I'm that guy, I'm always like, "Oh, I could do this.
MILES ROSS: Cool.
KELLY LOMBARDI: I don't know what everyone's always whining about." STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Like I feel like -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Like it's hard, and then by round three I'm like, "Whoa." ETHAN ROTHAMEL: "This is kind of hard," yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- I feel like you guys are going to have a lot of fun with that.
You were talking -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- we were talking about like the duo when we all squad up -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Ooh.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- you know, play different -- pave some things across the game.
But I think in "Zombies" you -- there's just so much too if you've never played it or you're, you know, an experienced player -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- I think especially with "Black Ops 6" we -- you know, regardless of what your experience is -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- we've got -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, something.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- something in "Zombies" that I think is going to be really exciting, including a third "Round-Based Zombies" map coming -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- later this year.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Hmm.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: So before the end of the year.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, all right.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Little wink and a nod -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Nice.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- so lots of good stuff; yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: That's exciting.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: That's great.
I might be -- I'm usually "Campaign" first when it comes to "COD".
It might -- just because of the launch window being around Halloween, like it might have to be "Zombies".
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It's like it just feels right.
MILES ROSS: Unbelievably spooky -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- this one.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, I'm in, man.
MILES ROSS: Spook factor is up.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
[Laughter]
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: I'm so in.
I'm so in.
KELLY LOMBARDI: I'm always down for a shenanigan.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Shenanigan or two -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- or two.
Yes, don't count me out.
Gosh, "Zombies", "Campaign", I guess we should probably pivot to whatever -- you know, many, many people are excited about multiplayer -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- just in general.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: What can you share with us there?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Well, I will also just as a -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Okay.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- segue for spooky season -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Please.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- I will say that we do have a Halloween mode and that the lovely folks at Treyarch have confirmed that "Infected", which is a party MP mode -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- will come to "Black Ops 6" just after launch.
So also like there's been a lot going on there, but now we're focused on, you know, the launch window and going to be super exciting.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
My wallet is never safe from Halloween coming.
[Laughter]
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It's like always what I save my money for.
MILES ROSS: We've been talking about this one as these are some of the most horrible and horrifying and really -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- deep cut like [inaudible].
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: That's awesome.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: We didn't check out season six yet.
[Laughs]
MILES ROSS: They are horrible.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It's one thing to like kill somebody in a multiplayer game, and it's another to do it with like a clown costume on -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Oh, no.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- or like jump scare before, yes.
Is that your thing?
MILES ROSS: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Is that your fear?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: I'm not -- yes we -- on the last episode of the podcast Miles tormented me with all the clowns.
MILES ROSS: And we just talked about all the very -- I mean -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, my God, that's great.
MILES ROSS: -- cool that you've seen a lot of clown skins throughout the time, and this, the "Terrifier" is the one -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, it is.
MILES ROSS: -- the one.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: I got it.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Okay, I'm bringing us -- MILES ROSS: There at the top of the mountain, we found it.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- back to -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
[Laughter]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Let's just talk about Halloween [inaudible].
MILES ROSS: Anyway.
Anyway.
KELLY LOMBARDI: No more clowns; no more clowns.
[Laughter]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Okay, so yes, multiplayer -- MILES ROSS: Okay.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, yes, right.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Right, right, right.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- cornerstone of comedy.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Of comedy, yes, yes, yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes; and "Black Ops 6" has a really awesome multiplayer offering.
So we've got 16 launch maps -- MILES ROSS: Which is -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Wow.
MILES ROSS: That's a -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Wow.
Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes, it is a lot.
MILES ROSS: -- big amount, yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: So 12 Core 6v6, and then four strike maps which can be played 2v2 up to 6v6.
We had -- we're coming out of the open multiplayer beta, few weekends of that, which was awesome.
And so the Treyarch team is super focused on, you know, making some adjustments based on a lot of that data and the experiences that were shared there.
And you know, there's just some really exciting stuff.
We've got lots of cool modes coming.
And you know, "Omni Movement" has just been the, you know, buzzword for this year.
And that if you aren't familiar, is just full 360 degrees -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- of print, slide, and dive, which just from a game play standpoint is really awesome and something that I can't wait for everyone to get their hands on and feel it.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It's going to -- it's crazy.
It's crazy.
It's -- honestly it's like what was missing to the sauce of like making it a true action movie; like in the sense like the fact that I can dive in any direction like -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- adds so much to the element -- MILES ROSS: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: The highlight clips or -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
[Laughs]
MILES ROSS: Yes, yes.
Like the -- ever -- the end of every game the best play is always -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: You got to.
MILES ROSS: -- starts in slow motion -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- and then the edge is the A factor.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Ooh, especially with -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, exactly.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- "Winners Circle" backs, and we've got "Winners Circle" back in the modes -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, nice.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- and so we've got the -- you know, like the top three out of every match.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Like and then you get best player, like -- MILES ROSS: One of -- a few of my friends [inaudible]
have made sort of like highlights of their -- all of their best plays, and it's just the most insane, absurd looks -- look at clips.
But it has been really funny.
The "Omni Movement" is the one thing I feel -- again, "Call of Duty" always tries to iterate and improve on itself, and I think "Omni Movement" feels like it almost was always there, or it could have -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, always been there.
MILES ROSS: -- always been there.
It's such a -- it fits so, so well.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Feels right.
MILES ROSS: It feels so right, yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: I mean, and for anyone who played the beta, anyone who didn't, it -- like it just turns -- you've got so much choice, so fluid as a player.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It is like unlocking something in your brain.
Like I felt even in the beta the little that I've played it was like you almost have to realize you could do it.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, it takes a -- MILES ROSS: You know, you've been trained -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- for so long to only sprint forward.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Right.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Man, if this is people's first "Call of Duty", they're going to be so good; or [laughter]
it's like so -- MILES ROSS: Well, they're going to have to be -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: When -- what comes next or like if they're going to go to like any other game and just be like, "Oh, I can't dive in any direction?" MILES ROSS: "I'm so slow." ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, exactly, like it's going to change how it feels; yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: It definitely changes -- yes how it feels.
And it does take a little bit to adjust "Omni Moving" or so -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- you're completely right.
And I think a lot of that -- first of all, "Omni Movements" across all three modes, right, so it's not just in multiplayer, it's a global system, meaning that you have it in "Campaign", you have it in "Zombies", and so you can hop into the "Campaign", get used to how "Omni Movement" feels, and then jump into MP, right, and like really -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- have a sense of how it works.
You really want to work on customizing your settings.
We have a suite of settings called "Intelligent Movement" so there's three toggles with "Sprint Assist", "Mantle Assist", and "Crouch Assist"?
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Hmm.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And kind of like, you know, honing those in and customizing them for your play style and how you want to play, this is something that's super important and so -- MILES ROSS: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- I think -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- what -- we can't wait to see like how -- just based on beta I know everyone on the MP team back and Treyarch like we can't wait to see what comes out of launch -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, it's going to be fun.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- and -- MILES ROSS: "Black Ops 6" has so many cool new features, and it's -- and they just fit, and it all feels right.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: And that's the sort of thing that I keep coming back to, I'm like I'm having to get used to it because it's slightly new, again as a 20 plus year vet now of -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- first [inaudible]
games, it just feels so right -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: That's awesome.
MILES ROSS: However -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And we've got "Warzone".
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: And you got "Warzone".
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes, and "Warzone".
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: So yes -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- coming season one all of the goodness of "Black Ops 6" will be coming to "Warzone", which is our free-to-play "Battle Royale".
MILES ROSS: Hmm.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: There's a lot of -- there's a lot in "Warzone" as well to choose from with "Resurgence" -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Right; that's my favorite.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- and yes a lot of the limited time modes that are there.
And so we're really excited.
We're going to be sharing more about all of the cool stuff that's coming to "Warzone" in season one.
But yes, there's -- yes we're very excited; very excited.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: You guys got a lot in the pipeline, a lot at launch.
Like there's going to -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: We've got options, gamers, we've got options.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
[Laughs]
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Yes, you do.
KELLY LOMBARDI: I have to tell you, I think some of my most stressful gaming moments are from "Warzone" where -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: -- like you're the last one left, everyone's counting on you -- MILES ROSS: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Like the gases got clutched.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: And you're just like -- yes.
MILES ROSS: Everyone's watching.
KELLY LOMBARDI: I'm like, "I'm not built for this, man.
[Laughter]
I'm lucky I made it this far," and like -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Calling your doctor.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes, and sometimes you clutch and sometimes you don't.
And that's life.
[Laughter]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Is that -- was that your segue like, "And it's a good allegory for life, honestly," yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: And yes, that -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: -- I just got really existential about it.
I was like, "Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't," and -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It's funny, I forgot these.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: You'll keep on keeping on -- KELLY LOMBARDI: That's what "play again" is for, you know.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- and then you go in and you load into another lobby.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, reload, exactly.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, get back in the lobby, get back in there.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh.
I forgot the eggs at groceries the other day and my wife called me, and I was like, "Sometimes you clutch and sometimes -- " [Laughter]
KELLY LOMBARDI: Sometimes you forget the eggs -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, exactly.
KELLY LOMBARDI: -- sometimes you bring them home.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: And I had to go back.
Let's talk about the -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: [inaudible]
like that; yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, it does.
It does.
Let's talk about -- you know, we talked about modes.
There's a ton there, ton of content to play.
But in your mind what -- like define the signature "Black Ops" experience; like what does it take to make a quality "Black Ops" game?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: So in our last episode of "COD POD", we had Miles, Leslie -- he's one of the Associate Creative Directors at Treyarch, come on and talk really about how the studio looks at developing a "Black Ops" game, like what's the DNA, what makes this experience so unique and special, and a lot of the different, you know, ingredients.
MILES ROSS: He gave us the ingredients.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, he gave us the ingredient.
MILES ROSS: Yes; to the point now where I feel I can go back through the "Black Ops" games like, "Oh, my God, there's that.
There's this now.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, it's awesome.
MILES ROSS: It's all lining up," right, "Oh, good." And when we mix it and, you know, preheat the oven -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Are eggs on the ingredient list?
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: We're in trouble, if so, yes.
[Laughs]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Come on.
MILES ROSS: You've going to have to listen to the episode to find out.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Tune in.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: But I think what defines "Black Ops" that you see so clearly in "Black Ops 6" is, you know, it's this spy action thriller and all of the "Black Ops" games kind of rely on, you know, this mind-bending twist and make your question, you know, who you could trust and what's real.
And I think like I said before, being set in the '90s is a new era for "Call of Duty", drawing from our -- from like the rich history of the "Black Ops" of old, especially having that direct connection with "Black Ops 2", is something that's really exciting and I think players are going to be, you know -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- be with -- MILES ROSS: I'm already -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Happy with the references and hopefully like where the story picks up.
It's always about, you know, what's next and how to deliver something that's worthy of the "Call of Duty" name, you know.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, totally.
Gosh.
KELLY LOMBARDI: And speaking of the "Call of Duty" name, I think one of the things I most frequently get when someone says, "Oh, what do you do for work," and I say, "I work in gaming," they're like, "Oh, so you're working on 'Call of Duty'?" Like it's the most recognizable -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It is, yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: It's like, "Oh, yes." So like that's everyone's kind of baseline knowledge of gaming.
And it's like a history; like as we mentioned, it goes back so far.
Let's talk some favorites.
MILES ROSS: Oh -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- oh, here we go.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Let's -- I want a round table.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: This right here [inaudible].
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Roundtable.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Want to roundtable discuss favorite "Black Ops" games.
So we'll go in a circle and you guys can tell me what your favorite "Black Ops" game is.
Ooh.
MILES ROSS: So I'm an OG "Black Ops" player.
First one was incredible -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Way back in 2010, 14 years ago.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
Yes.
I remember scrounging the pennies as a poor student to purchase, but it was worth it, it was amazing; and the multiplayer, and that was so good.
However, for me, to this day, my favorite "Black Ops" game is actually "Cold War".
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Really.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: That game has a really special place in my heart for many, many reasons.
But it was such a cool feeling; it was such a cool setting.
I love the '80s flair.
I love all of the -- you know, there were so many fun tie-ins.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: We were working on -- MILES ROSS: The literal action that you -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: "Call of Duty" league together -- MILES ROSS: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- at the time, and so like I remember, you know -- MILES ROSS: Yes, it was a good time.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, it was a great time.
MILES ROSS: It was a cool time.
And it was, again, a strange time.
We were all indoors and it was essentially the game that was almost entirely made -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- from bedrooms across the planet.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, during the pandemic.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: What a bad-ass game to be -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Seriously -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: [Laughs]
It was really good.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: A testament -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- honestly -- MILES ROSS: Yes, it really was.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- to the skill of developers.
MILES ROSS: Great missions, great soundtrack, great weapons -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Great.
MILES ROSS: -- great maps, everything was good; really cool.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, I spent a lot of time in "Cold War", but I'd have to say my favorite is "Black Ops 2".
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: I feel like I got a -- like the, you know, hotly-debated thing -- even internally we all have our favorites -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- and so it's fun to hear kind of like, you know, the devs and people who work across the franchise talk about it was well.
I feel BO3 has made a -- that's a very popular answer.
MILES ROSS: That was amazing.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- especially -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Amazing; yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- if we're -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Came at a good time, too.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- talking movement, too, you know, like a lot of people have, you know, their thoughts on BO3 and share -- MILES ROSS: That was my first time -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: It's -- MILES ROSS: -- working [inaudible]
was -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Wow, it's so hard to pick one.
But I think it's BO2 for me.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, it's a good one especially because you were talking about how it -- there are ties to the new title in that one, so it's going to be your favorite.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
And I went back and replayed it -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, you did; oh no.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- recently, yes, for the last podcast we recorded, and it -- it's wild.
Like it really brings you back, and I love -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- nothing more, especially like when there's a new campaign or a new game coming out to kind of go back and revisit.
So if you have never played "Black Ops Cold War", now is a great time to jump in or go, you know, replay BO2, watch some stories of far videos.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: We've got play-on -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Always got [inaudible]
-- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: "Call of Duty" channels, and check out our last episode of the podcast.
But -- MILES ROSS: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- it's -- narratively there's a lot of cool stuff there.
MILES ROSS: A lot happening in that one.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: And in "Cold War 2".
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And in "Cold War 2"?
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, good.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Very important; very important.
MILES ROSS: Yes, [inaudible].
KELLY LOMBARDI: Ethan, you have a favorite game?
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Well, we touched a little bit on -- like I do have a special place in my heart for the early ones because that was obviously my first foray in like some -- you know, it's always good bonding with like a family member.
So like my grandpa showing me "Call of Duty: Finest Hour", and "Opposing Fronts", and "Call of Duty 2" for the 360 was like the first -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- I got.
Just being mind-blowing because the 360 was graphically like a -- such a game changer.
But I've got to say, I probably sunk more hours into "Blackout" than anything else.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, folks at -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Awesome.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- home remember "Blackout", like oh my gosh, the zombies on the map, the guns being kind of that like pseudo futuristic, like they -- I don't know why it hits so well, but it just did.
MILES ROSS: It was so fun at the time -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It was.
MILES ROSS: -- vehicles.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: The vehicles were great.
They were so funny and like -- MILES ROSS: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- comically -- they were just comical, like in how you -- what you could do with them and -- oh it was just like the right amount of silly flair to it.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: That -- MILES ROSS: I remember getting downed once and a guy tried to run me over and I ended up just like sitting on the hood.
[Laughter]
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, yes.
MILES ROSS: And the guy was down, and I was like, "Boys, I've been abducted; like you've got to come get me." [Laughter]
And my friends are chasing this dude across the map and the guy was like, [makes sounds].
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: And I was like -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: "I've been abducted." Yes.
MILES ROSS: "This is crazy." My last blackout.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Honestly, honestly, it was special.
It really was so fun.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
Let's talk favorite missions.
And so I'll focus -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Ooh, that's hard.
KELLY LOMBARDI: -- yes, I'll focus on you guys because you've been going back and playing them so it's probably -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: -- a little bit more fresh in your mind.
So do you have a favorite mission?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: I think we have the same favorite mission.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Okay.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- which is -- MILES ROSS: Oh, it's not a copout.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- which is not a copout.
I think -- KELLY LOMBARDI: No.
MILES ROSS: It's true.
[Laughter]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Especially looking back like we talked about that signature "Black Ops", this mission to me -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- encompasses all of those things.
MILES ROSS: And that was one of those things, so we got the ingredients and it's like, "Okay, you expect all these things," and then that mission straightaway is the one that goes, "Yes, that is a thousand percent for me the 'Black Ops' experience." How would I describe that "Black Ops"?
Well, you're kind of in Vietnam.
There are crazy red doors everywhere.
You cannot trust a single voice that is telling you to do anything.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Do anything, yes.
MILES ROSS: And none of this is real.
You're like -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Or is it?
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Or is it; yes.
MILES ROSS: And then, yes, that's "Black Ops".
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
It's -- MILES ROSS: Yes; and the mission is called -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- the mission is called "Break on Through".
It's in "Black Ops Cold War".
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Doors reference [inaudible]
-- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- for Vietnam.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: There are red doors which, you know, people have seen in other places in the "Black Ops" universe as well -- [inaudible]
-- kind of a hallmark.
And yes, Russell Adler, who is sort of the fan favorite character and was introduced in "Black Ops Cold War" is doing some pretty weird and scary stuff to you -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- as the character.
And so not to spoil anything because definitely go check it out.
I would say like even at some of the studios, like this is a favorite amongst a lot of the devs and players alike.
MILES ROSS: It's true.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: It's really cool stuff.
MILES ROSS: It's true.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: So go play it.
Russell's kind of like -- he's narrating -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Ooh.
Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- parts of it and you're -- it's -- MILES ROSS: You're -- yes, you're recollecting some events, and he says, "Oh, you should -- " you know, "you left the helicopter, and you went forward, and you picked up an M60." STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Or picked up another weapon.
MILES ROSS: And if you don't, he says, "Yes, well, you picked up some -- " and then there was somebody like, "What is happening?" STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Oh.
Yes, I love those.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: I love that.
Oh, I love that.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Really fun; really fun.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: It's good.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Creepy.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: It is.
It is a little -- but it wouldn't be "Black Ops" if it wasn't a little -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, it had the weird -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- unsettling, you know, in some way, so.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Totally, totally; yes.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: What else, multiplayer maps.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Do you guys have a favorite multiplayer map?
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, yes, I [inaudible]
-- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Oh, this is a -- yes a hot button.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
I feel like this is like a litmus test of like who are you as a person [inaudible].
[Laughter]
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Ethan, Leo, Nuketown.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
Yes.
It's like, yes, you give like your astrological sign, and then also -- yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Exactly.
MILES ROSS: We used to say, "ASL," now it's like, "What's your favorite code map?" KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes, yes.
[Laughter]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: I mean, I think -- oh, man.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, seriously.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Going to put us on the spot, too, because you know, all of the people who run on TierMaker like, you know -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- coming for us in the comments.
MILES ROSS: Oh, they're ready, yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: But I'm okay with that ability.
MILES ROSS: Good.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: I think "Grind" from "Black Ops 2" for me, one that I just love; like just such a fun, colorful, different weird almost -- like a strange setting in terms of because how it compares to some of the other multiplayer maps in "Call of Duty".
That's always my favorite.
Nuketown always.
It wouldn't be a "Black Ops" game -- MILES ROSS: Always.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Without Nuketown, so excited to see it again -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- in "Black Ops 6".
And then I think "Hunted" from "Black Ops 3" -- MILES ROSS: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- specifically because I'm on record being like, "Bring 'Uplink' back." And I remember -- MILES ROSS: Oh, it's so fun -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- playing "Uplink" on -- MILES ROSS: -- like running around the trees.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: That map.
Yes like -- MILES ROSS: Running on top of the trees.
This is like not a "Black Ops " like mind-bending thing.
You can run up things.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
Yes.
It was a different time.
MILES ROSS: That was a really fun map.
I've seen some really very memorable moments there.
For me -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: What about you?
MILES ROSS: -- simple, vanilla "Raid".
I just love "Raid".
I think it's -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Who doesn't love "Raid", you know?
MILES ROSS: But I think, again, to your point of a litmus test, you can play nearly every game out on "Raid" like very, very happily, and there's never a moment where I feel like I don't know what's going on.
I've got these really great iconic places to fight, the map flows really well.
I just love it.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, same here.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Just so many good maps throughout "Call of Duty's" history.
I mean, from Nuketown to Carentan, as made famous by the office of the "Call of Duty" for the office.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, yes, yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: No one snipes [inaudible].
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: You can't -- you don't snipe at Carentan.
Anyway, there's a rich history, obviously, between Xbox and "Call of Duty".
That was my segue that I lost before I started -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Nailed it; yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- quoting comedies.
But -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
[Laughter]
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- I could quote that whole episode.
But I'd love to talk -- I didn't know -- we were kind of doing research for this episode and I didn't realize -- like I totally forgot "Call of Duty 2" was a launch setup for 360, which I bought those -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Five.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- together, so I don't know how I forgot that.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: It was in five, right?
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: "Call of Duty's" got a really -- there is a rich history, whether it's culturally, whether it's, you know, in competition-wise -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- whether it's, you know, the game, but Xbox and "Call of Duty", they go hand-in-hand -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes, and -- MILES ROSS: -- and that's really -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Totally.
MILES ROSS: -- it feels so natural.
It feels so -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: It does; yes.
MILES ROSS: -- at home.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And it -- I think too, you know, a lot of people in talking about it -- we were kind of shooting some ideas around with some coworkers and everyone's saying like, "Oh, I have these amazing memories of being at E3 and seeing "All Ghillied Up", which is from the original "Modern Warfare 2" -- MILES ROSS: Yes.
[Kissing sound]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- that mission debut on the Microsoft stage and like -- MILES ROSS: Three thousand people [inaudible].
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- having -- and what an iconic mission from "Call of Duty" -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- obviously from "Modern Warfare".
But it -- you know, just looking back at those moments, and the nostalgia, and kind of like all that shared history is something that's very special and -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- you know, excited to celebrate that.
You know, looking forward with -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: It's incredible.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- this game.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
I love that you brought up the 50,000 people because that is one hundred percent like the line -- for decades now like the line that me and my friends use.
Anytime you go to a restaurant, you got to a bar it's like, "Wow, it's empty in here," and like 50,000 people." [inaudible]
Now it's a ghost town.
MILES ROSS: We try not to do it every single event, but I'll call you to the events.
We get to come in when it's being summed and we get to leave as it's been emptied.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Everyone's looking at each other who's going to -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: "Who's going to say it this time," yes.
MILES ROSS: There's a sea of empty seats in a stadium and like, "Just do it.
Just do it." [Laughter]
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: "We can't leave until you do." It is, it's one of those lines, you know, it's like it's just -- yes it's just -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- iconic.
MILES ROSS: There are so many good lines.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: So funny.
I love that you brought that up there so.
Well, that's -- like with that in mind I think we should talk about these products that are sitting on the table today.
For the folks that are just listening to the podcast, we've got some beautiful, beautiful hardware on display.
And I'm not saying that because I'm a Hardware PM here at Xbox, but -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: I was about to ask, I was like, "Well, wait a second." ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, yes, yes, yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: But you're right, it is beautiful.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: We've got to show these off.
I -- feel free to handle them, take a look at them, everyone at the table.
But these -- you know, we're super excited to kind of introduce these collectors' edition "Call of Duty" -- KELLY LOMBARDI: So, so pretty.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, thank you.
Is this -- MILES ROSS: The listeners are loving this.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, it is a laundry list -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- of things.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: But yes, just you could reach there, yes.
It's so beautiful.
These are the "Call of Duty Black Ops 6" collections including this, you can get an Xbox Wireless Controller, an Xbox Elite Wireless Controller -- that's a Series 2, folks, and the Xbox Series X wrap.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: These wraps are really, really, really nice.
KELLY LOMBARDI: So -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: And for the wildest controller, you can actually choose from a range of inspired colors and buttons, which is cool.
You can personalize the look to fit, you know, your vibe, fit maybe your favorite character and their outfit, or match your outfit like Miles has here.
If you're watching the video, that controller matches so nicely.
Oh, my God.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: That's my favorite color.
MILES ROSS: Go close.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Is it?
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes, it sure is.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: I think he planned that to smuggle it out.
[Laughs]
MILES ROSS: So you say.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: I am going to take that jacket before you leave today.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Hot.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Where was I?
Where was I?
Yes, we were about personalization.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: People want the -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: [Laughs]
Yes, you could get rubberized grips on these bad boys.
There's a bunch of little Easter eggs; I don't know if you guys noticed any of those yet.
But you can customize all of these things.
These things -- these controllers will be available through Xbox Design Labs.
They do absolute magic over there.
Like if you haven't played around with designing your own Xbox Design Lab Controller, please do.
They're beautiful.
And these are no exception.
I need to look at one of these while I'm -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Actually, you guys got to play with them, but -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: I'm excited to make one myself.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes, yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, these are really nice.
KELLY LOMBARDI: The wrap is really cool, too.
I don't know if I've ever seen -- well, I haven't seen this one in person yet, but I love like just the ease of -- MILES ROSS: Getting to wrap that.
KELLY LOMBARDI: -- how it goes on.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: It literally -- MILES ROSS: Wrap and roll.
KELLY LOMBARDI: -- it wraps around.
For some reason I thought it was like a sticker, but this is actually -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: No, easy to swap.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: It's very easy to swap, it's high quality, and it looks really nice.
Like when I walked in I thought it was a custom console and I was like, "Ah, I didn't know we did that." And then I was like, "Well, yes." [Laughs]
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, the art style comes directly from N Game elements -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- so you're going to see a lot of that "Black Ops" aesthetic -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- especially with this game, you know, touches of the '90s.
And you mentioned Easter eggs, so with the controllers and the wrap you'll see the CIA file for Russell Adler, so -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, very [inaudible].
Oh, I see it.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
I mentioned him earlier.
But -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: I see that.
That's really nice.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- at the beginning of "Black Ops 6", Adler's in the wind, right?
We left him in a specific place at the end of "Black Ops Cold War" -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
[Laughs]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- and he's gone.
MILES ROSS: He has been canonized, by the way.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, we did canonize that.
[Laughs]
MILES ROSS: There is an actual -- I mean in that game, there -- you make countless choices across the campaign, whether it's the character name you choose, your code name is always "Bell", but there's so much going on there.
And that's great, but we have a canonized story.
We know the way it ends, and -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- it ties in directly to "Black Ops 6".
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Very cool.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- Adler's MIA, and so you're really starting at a place in this story in "Black Ops 6" where you're definitely not sure who to trust, but specifically with Adler, you know, he's been kind of either your friend, or enemy, or, you know, somewhere in between, so we'll have to see where that goes as you get into the campaign.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Very cool.
Well, these controllers are available now exclusively through the Xbox Design Labs, as I said, so you know, pick a play and make it your own, make it pretty -- make it prettier, excuse me, because these are already gorgeous.
The Xbox Series X Wrap is available exclusively at the Microsoft Store, so check that out as well.
That will be released October 23rd.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: I have to ask while I have you here, Miles, because I wager you've probably played more "Call of Duty" than anyone at this table at this point.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: First off -- it's two questions; one, are you a hair trigger guy?
Do you get -- do you lock your triggers down when you play with the controller at all?
MILES ROSS: I need maximum response at all times.
I -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Okay.
I love that.
MILES ROSS: Yes, I need -- there must be -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Not just gun controllers, either.
MILES ROSS: There is no delay here.
KELLY LOMBARDI: [inaudible]; yes.
MILES ROSS: Yes, but -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Expect a text response immediately.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, I love that.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Where are you?
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Okay.
MILES ROSS: I'm dead if I don't text you back.
[Laughter]
Next question.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Okay, yes, next question; okay so we got hair triggers down.
What are you buying in the paddles, too?
You have four paddles.
MILES ROSS: So big thing with "Black Ops 6" "Omni Movement" has changed everything.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Everything.
MILES ROSS: So I've been -- I've always been a tactical player, so my stick and button layer was slightly different to some.
But this game has forced a change in me.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: And you can't teach old dogs new tricks.
"Omni Movement" is testament to that.
But my paddles I have my right paddle I set to "Slide", because I'm one of -- I want to -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: I thought so.
MILES ROSS: -- crouch.
So when I'm running, I want to be able to slide and -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Right paddle; bottom right?
MILES ROSS: My bottom right paddle is gone.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
You've got to visualize it.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: It's something I think about.
I don't even think about it, just do it.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes, left, right, left.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
MILES ROSS: My left paddle is set to "Jump".
So you know, I used to -- I'm going deep here, but I used to claw so I would use my index finger to hit the [inaudible]
-- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Oh.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: That's how you knew a good player, though, all the best players were claw players back in like the early days.
MILES ROSS: Massive hands.
It never hurt.
KELLY LOMBARDI: I don't have big -- it's not practical for me.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: That's the thing.
MILES ROSS: Yes, that's true.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: No, I have these tiny hands.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Tiny hands.
MILES ROSS: But that's why paddles really help.
Paddles -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes -- MILES ROSS: It's -- KELLY LOMBARDI: -- so I don't have to like claw.
MILES ROSS: -- a really helpful thing for control players.
But it's wonderful to use and if you -- once you get into "Black Ops 6", the greatest recommendation I can give anyone is to use the training grounds as a sort of slight tutorial -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, training course.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Hmm.
MILES ROSS: There's a training course where you get taught how to use "Omni Movement" and the -- you know, if you play the baiter, you know you're taught to dive and try to shoot two targets at the same time.
And that sounds insane, but when you do it in gaming, you're like, "This is kind of rad.
This is very fun." And again, that's the perfect opportunity to go, "No, I'd probably like to use this button to do that instead," or -- so mess around with these things and whether it's "Intelligent Movement" or whether it's just the mapping layout you use -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: -- get cozy -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And regardless of your -- MILES ROSS: -- because you're going to be doing -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: I love it.
MILES ROSS: -- a lot of it.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- of your input device too, like the training course is definitely the place to hone in on -- MILES ROSS: Oh, gosh.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- the "Omni Movement".
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: I love it.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: You really want to get a feel.
You've accomplished the challenges.
Like I said before, dialing in your settings for "Omni Movement" will make all of the difference.
And so yes, we'll see you there.
MILES ROSS: Whatever -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, I can't wait to -- MILES ROSS: -- peripheral you're using, I mean, everything from mouse, keyboard, everyone, there is -- it feels good, it's really -- it feels really natural, feels really responsive.
But get those things right.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: That's the only thing I would say, labor, good -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Customization and -- MILES ROSS: Labor a little to get a lot out of it.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, yes.
That's a hot tip, honestly.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
So people are jumping in, getting started, doing the training courses, getting used to "Omni Movement", mapping their buttons, all of that.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Then what?
Let's look ahead -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Then -- KELLY LOMBARDI: -- for "Black Ops"?
Like what are we -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Launch is just the beginning.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Launch is just the beginning for us.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Where do we go from here?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And so there's a ton of awesome content that, you know, we started talking about in the live seasons.
We're not too far.
We're not that close to season one yet, so I'm not going to give it all away.
Be on the lookout for what's coming in season one.
But the things we have said are we revealed a brand new "Resurgence" map coming to "Warzone" in season one called the "Area 99".
And -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, nice.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- talking about like the identity of "Black Ops", Area 99 is the birthplace of Nuketown.
So it is actually like the place where they're making new towns -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh.
MILES ROSS: New towns.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- and it's been abandoned.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: It was this research facility that was abandoned.
And so even from like a narrative standpoint and the look and feel and art style is really cool.
So we're really excited about Area 99.
Speaking of Nuketown, the -- like class multiplayer map, Nuketown, the Nuketown, is coming shortly after launch and before season one, so something to get excited about, and "Ranked Play" coming in multiplayer earlier than ever -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, nice.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- in season one.
And then, of course, like I said, third "Round-Based Zombie" map coming before the end of the year.
MILES ROSS: There's a lot.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, my gosh, a lot.
MILES ROSS: It's a lot.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, "Range Play" coming to "Warzone" on Urzikstan sometime in season one.
And we also announced that the OG "Warzone" map for "Battle Royale: Verdansk" is coming spring 2025.
We're so excited about this.
Have not said much; we're -- you know -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: And you're still not going to say much.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: I'm still not going to say much, yes.
But -- MILES ROSS: It's not easy, folks, it's not easy.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- it's -- you know -- MILES ROSS: We're all trying now.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
[Laughter]
The reaction was great.
They are obviously announcing it on broadcast, and with the live audience, and all the streamers, and content creators there, and so we're super excited.
So there's a lot to be on the lookout for and -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Is that it?
[Laughter]
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Do you know something -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: I don't know, how long do we have left?
[Laughter]
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, [inaudible].
MILES ROSS: You opened the box so there's a lot in there, and so yes, there's even more conversation.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Don't worry, you'll be -- you've got something to do.
KELLY LOMBARDI: That's incredible.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Honestly, the worst part of being an aging gamer is the time, like to want to get to do all this, like that's honestly -- oh I've got to skirt some responsibilities this fall.
KELLY LOMBARDI: That's a great podcast name, "The Aging Gamer".
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: "The Aging Gamer".
[Laughs]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
I mean, we could do with a rebrand later on.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Later on.
Yes, later on.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: If you guys are free, we could do -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- a spin-off.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: We'll do a spin-off; yes, I love that, I love that, yes, yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: But yes, lots coming and, you know, make -- we'll make time for it.
There's always time to be had for games.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Oh, for sure.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: That's crazy.
Honestly, like that's a lot of content, you guys, and in a busy launch year, no less, honestly; but it's amazing.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: I did nothing, thank you.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: [Laughs]
You just fanned out.
Come on, you've got the successful podcast here.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, nailed it.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Ooh, we've got to make a little exciting tidbit for folks that may be cloud gamers.
I want to talk about cloud a little bit.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes, when we talk about like jumping in and out like having the time to play, it's easier than ever.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, dang, I should have thought of that segue.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: We do have one final bit of news that we announced last week.
We are thrilled that "Call of Duty Black Ops 6" will be playable with Xbox Cloud Gaming for Game Pass Ultimate members at launch on October 25th.
In addition, we're also bringing Xbox Cloud Gaming to support to "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III" and "Call of Duty: Warzone" for Game Pass Ultimate members on the same day.
This means Game Pass Ultimate members will be able to enjoy "Call of Duty" in more places than ever, including your console, your PC, mobile devices, and more, via cloud gaming.
You can find more details over on Xbox Wire.
Outros; guys, thanks so much for putting up with us and our weird banter.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: We do appreciate it.
It's always fun to kind of come here and just geek out about games.
Like it is like one of the greatest joys of our job, I think, coming here and getting to talk about stuff.
So final thoughts?
Maybe final thoughts a little bit.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Anything that you guys want to share that we didn't touch on so far today?
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Oh, man.
I mean, just hype for launch.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: I mean, it's right around the corner.
October 25th is the day for "Black Ops 6", and so much more with the live seasons to come.
And just we can't wait to see you there.
Like -- KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- you know, and it's just on behalf of everybody who, you know, is working on the game and the awesome teams behind "Call of Duty", just we're stoked, and especially with the Game Pass family -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes; honestly.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- with that, welcoming a lot of people into the new game is going to be super exciting.
And I'll see you guys.
I think maybe we're going to, you know, squad up or -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, I love that, yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- you know, find something.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, I'll do that.
MILES ROSS: Either "Zombies", or "Warzone", or "MP".
It's -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes, we'll got to -- MILES ROSS: We've got options.
But I digress, just excited to get to play the game.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: You got a game.
And you know what, now we're -- we are so excited to be here with you guys, so thank you for having us.
Check out "COD POD", the official "Call of Duty" Podcast, if you will.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: We'll see you in "Black Ops 6".
And also, we're going to go take really embarrassing visitor photos on campus -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, I love it.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- of all of the Xbox family stuff.
MILES ROSS: Yes.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: There's -- MILES ROSS: Oh my God.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: -- a lot to see.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Can't wait.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: There's a lot to see.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
I almost ran full speed at the set of power armor, like the first thing I saw.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, nice.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: And then Miles tried to jump on a diorama -- MILES ROSS: [inaudible]
diorama.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- which I was like, "You're not -- ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Oh, I know exactly where you guys were.
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: You cannot do that." KELLY LOMBARDI: So if we see campus police in the area -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: Yes.
KELLY LOMBARDI: -- we'll know where you guys are.
MILES ROSS: We'll be -- STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: It was nice being here -- MILES ROSS: -- a few steps ahead.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
[Laughs]
STEPHANIE SNOWDEN: -- just like the one and only time.
Thanks for having us, yes.
[Laughs]
KELLY LOMBARDI: Just get out of trouble before launch; that way we can still squad up together.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, ideally.
MILES ROSS: Right on.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Ideally.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Yes.
MILES ROSS: Right on.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Thank you.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Thank you, guys.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes.
Ooh, jinx.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Hmm.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Thank you both for joining us sincerely.
Kelly, always a genuine pleasure.
I would shake your hand.
I don't know what we do anymore.
KELLY LOMBARDI: Okay.
ETHAN ROTHAMEL: Yes, thank you so much.
Thanks, everybody, for tuning in.
We will see you on the next one.
Take care, everyone.