Activision has announced that the Call of Duty: Mobile is finally getting Blackout, the very first Battle Royale map in the Call of Duty franchise in the next update. This was first introduced in Black Ops 4 and features iconic series locations across a vast landscape that will be fully replicated for mobile, including all later map additions like Hijacked and Ghost Town.
Blackout has references to iconic locations throughout the Black Ops universe, from Nuketown Island to Firing Range and even Verrückt in the form of Asylum. Some areas are nearly identical to their Multiplayer incarnations, while others are only loosely based on their known environments.
The next Call of Duty: Mobile update will be available tomorrow, September 21st, and the Blackout map will be available from September 22nd.
Some of the major locations you’ll encounter when Blackout releases:
Raid (Estates)
Raid is one of the two mansions that define Estates, the northernmost named location on the Blackout map. First seen in Call of Duty®: Black Ops II, this large complex sees battle break out among the iconic sculpture, pool, and basketball court. Keep your eyes peeled in the contentious middle courtyard, and escape to the south when things get too heated.
Array
First featured in the original Black Ops Multiplayer, Array comes straight out of the frozen tundra to the sunny skies of Blackout. Array’s main feature is its central building, a hot spot for close-quarter action in an otherwise spacious area. Unlike its snowy cousin, Array in Blackout has a few more buildings to explore around the circular relay station, which could be filled with some valuable loot.
Firing Range
This part of the Blackout map should be familiar territory to practically anyone who has played a Black Ops title. Besides the familiar central layout — including that pesky lookout tower — Firing Range also features several surrounding buildings and obstacle courses with tons of loot. Be warned: positioned in the center of the map, Firing Range is sure to become a hot spot in many matches.
Nuketown Island
The crown jewel of the Black Ops series, Nuketown gets its own island off the western shore of Blackout’s mainland. Not only does Nuketown Island extend the nuclear testing grounds’ fake neighborhood up on the surface, but it also features an underground network of rooms and tunnels that can be accessed from several locations…including the bunker behind the blue house.
Ghost Town
Pack a revolver and head to the southeast near Turbine to duke it out in this classic wild west environment. Ghost Town is based on the Outlaw Multiplayer map from Black Ops 3, featuring plenty of two-story buildings scattered around the area, great for snipers and other sharpshooters looking for the high ground advantage when the dueling starts.
Cargo Docks
Southeast of Nuketown Island are the Cargo Docks, inspired by the Black Ops II Multiplayer map Cargo. This area has plenty of open space between containers, encouraging long-range gunfights and tactical use of cover. The main cargo rig may have short-circuited and no longer moves containers around, but there is still loot lying in and around the stagnant containers.
Be on the lookout for these iconic locations and others when Blackout comes to Call of Duty: Mobile on September 22 at 5PM PT. Here are some tips to consider when deploying with your squad.
Top Five Tips for Blackout
5. See the Sights. Blackout is a huge map offering a vastly different play experience compared to Isolated. Whether you’re returning to the field or deploying here for the first time, make sure to explore far and wide. The better you understand the layout, the better your chances to survive.
4. New Mechanics in Familiar Environments. Even if you’ve already played Blackout or the maps its environments are based on, Call of Duty: Mobile’s unique Battle Royale classes offer whole new ways to strategize. Throw out decoys on Nuketown Island using the Trickster; track enemy activity in the Firing Range with the Scout’s Sensor Dart; call in a Medic to pick up the pieces when incoming damage gets heavy.
3. Play to Your Strengths. Blackout’s wide-open terrain is perfect for long-range battles with Sniper Rifles and LMGs, while battle in its interior spaces are often won by the Operators with the best close- to mid-range weapons. Always consider the weapons and equipment on hand when determining where to make your next stand. Not content with your position? Grab a vehicle and move on.
2. Don’t Be Shy. Nuketown? Firing Range? Array? Don’t let these iconic locations scare you off, even if you’re a first timer. The best way to improve your confidence is by heading straight into the fire. Just keep queuing up for the next one when you get burned.
1. Communicate and Plan. Whatever your strategy, it’s vital that you keep your squad informed of your plans, even as they change under shifting circumstances. Heading solo into Nuketown will likely get you eliminated, but heading there as a well-equipped squad? Opposing Operators better watch out.