Call of Duty’s Season 06 — titled “The Haunting” — awakens on October 9 at 9 AM PT, unleashing horror-themed maps, modes, and content across Black Ops 6, Warzone, and Zombies. From Halloween map variants and brand new multiplayer arenas to slasher deathmatches and zombified invasions, this update leans hard into spooky motifs, with plenty of surprises and chilling gameplay tweaks for fans across all modes.
Season 06 in Context: Horror Meets Warfare
Activision frames The Haunting as a cinematic blend of horror and action. It isn’t just cosmetic — the update delivers content across three pillars (Multiplayer, Zombies, Warzone), tying them together under a unified seasonal theme. New maps and modes, seasonal events, weapon additions, and rewards all reflect the Halloween spirit.
This seasonal approach continues a trend: blending thematic freshness into balanced gameplay updates. The Haunting is not only a visual overhaul — it’s a full retooling aimed at reinvigorating player engagement across all CoD experiences.
Key Additions in Multiplayer
New Maps & Map Variants
Season 06 introduces three fresh multiplayer maps:
- Gravity: Medium-sized 6v6 map set in an underground advanced research facility.
- Rig: A compact, dusk-toned truck stop map featuring ambush points and verticality.
- Mothball: A strike-style map built beneath Gravity’s facility, with tight lanes and flanking paths.
Additionally, Boo-Town resurrects Nuketown as a haunted variant. Think skeletons crawling rooftops, Jack-o’-lantern decor, and a morbid twist on a fan favorite.
Slasher Deathmatch: New LTM (Limited Time Mode)
A standout mode in The Haunting is Slasher Deathmatch. Up to eight survivors battle to avoid being slashed by horror icons — Jason (from Friday the 13th) and Chucky (from Child’s Play). Each match splits survivors and slashers across four rounds. Survivors win if the slashers are eliminated or time expires; slashers win by hunting them down.
- Jason’s Abilities: Rage mode (brief stun immunity), teleportation, and stalking.
- Chucky’s Attributes: Extra lives (up to six), elevated speed, and expected chaos in movement.
- Survivors start with nonlethal gear (flashbangs), but final survivors gain a pickaxe to finish off slashers.
Ranked & Competitive Play
Season 06 refreshes Multiplayer Ranked Play with new seasonal rewards — including Rank Skins, Win Challenges, and exclusive weapon blueprints. The core engine remains, but seasonal progression now reflects The Haunting’s dark aesthetic.
Zombies Mode Revamp
Haunted Havoc LTM
Zombies get a horrifying twist with the Haunted Havoc mode. Across all six Zombies maps, pumpkins, Mimics, and a forced Rampage Inducer make the undead more aggressive early on. Zombies spawn with loss in health until Round 15 but deal increased damage — creating a sense of dread from early on.
Players will gather Jack-o’-Lanterns dropped by slain zombies for rewards — but beware, some loot may hide a Mimic, turning loot into a trap.
GobbleGum & Leaderboards
The update adds a new GobbleGum: Jacked Lanterns (Whimsical) — it gives zombies pumpkin heads and spooky sounds (three-minute duration). It doesn’t activate in Haunted Havoc (where the effect is default).
Season 06 also introduces Leaderboard Events — Death Pit (earning Essence in Haunted Havoc) and Extinction Protocol (eliminations under certain conditions). High rank earns rare rewards.
Warzone: Darkness Descends
Haunted Map Variants
Warzone’s maps Verdansk and Rebirth Island transform under The Haunting with night variants — shadows, ambient scares, and changed layouts sharpen every match.
Zombie-infused Modes
- Zombie Royale returns: Fallen Operators resurrect as zombies with new abilities (like Mimic, EMP Blast, and mutated forms via Mutant Injection).
- Casual Z integrates zombies into standard Battle Royale & Resurgence modes. Human and armored zombies roam, adding unpredictable threat.
- New features like portals (humans teleport upward, zombies teleport to random human player) and Haunted Boxes (loot drops with a chance of scares) expand tactical depth.
Ranked BR & Resurgence
Season 06 activates Ranked Play for Battle Royale and Resurgence, complete with new seasonal rewards tied to skill progression.
Weapons, Attachments & Seasonal Rewards
Fresh Arsenal
Four new weapons debut in the general content lineup:
- Dresden 9mm (SMG) — high damage, manageable recoil
- Merrick 556 (Assault Rifle) — versatile with a semi-auto barrel conversion
- X52 Resonator (Special Weapon) — rapid fire with Shard attachment branching
- Chainsaw (Melee, in-season unlock) — high-damage close weapon
New Attachments
- GPR91 Double-Barrel Conversion: Fires two bullets at once at cost of recoil
- GPMG-7 Muzzle Booster: Boosts fire rate gradually, with greater recoil
Events, Battle Pass & BlackCell
The Haunting season offers themed in-game events — Echoes of the Dead, Chucky Event Pass, Tapes of Terror. Rewards span blueprints, emotes, Skins, finishing moves, and more.
The Battle Pass features over 110 unlockable items, including two base weapons and the GPR91 Double-Barrel Conversion. BlackCell owners unlock extra rewards: new Operators (Dread, Predator variants), exclusive skins, and bonus tier skips.
Operators like Dread, Predator (Jungle & Feral), and Jason (as a Tracer Pack) bring iconic horror presence to multiplayer.
Expert Insight & Strategic Overview
“The Haunting” isn’t just a seasonal aesthetic — it’s a full thematic integration. By weaving horror elements into core modes, Activision ensures both fans of Zombies and multiplayer get refreshed experiences.
Slasher Deathmatch might feel like novelty initially, but successful modes often become staples if balanced well. The use of horror icons (Jason, Chucky) offers familiarity and excitement, but also risk — players expect those characters to feel powerful yet fair.
In Zombies, the tension adapts dynamically in Haunted Havoc: early rounds are easier, but danger ramps fast. This creates pacing variety and keeps veteran players on edge.
Warzone’s integration of zombie behavior in standard modes adds unpredictability. Zombies in BR & Resurgence force players to think beyond just firefights — map knowledge and situational awareness matter more than ever.
Lastly, weapon and attachment additions offer fresh balance opportunities. The double-barrel GPR91, for instance, can encourage aggressive play or reckless recoil management.
Impact & Takeaway
Season 06: The Haunting injects refreshing spook into Black Ops 6’s battle. With new maps, horror-inspired modes, upgraded Zombies gameplay, and twisted Warzone variants, this update aims to satiate both competitive and thematic players.
For players: dive in early to explore maps like Gravity and Rig, test out Slasher Deathmatch dynamics, and experiment with new weapons. Zombies fans should brace for Haunted Havoc’s shifting difficulty. Warzone players, expect unpredictable zombie interference — and maybe use it to your advantage.
Ultimately, The Haunting is about pushing comfort zones and embracing chaos — just in time for Halloween.
