The second part of this first season update will air on February 4, when a Call of Duty: Black Ops II fan favorite “Express” map returns to multiplayer and when the new Zombie map is added to the game.Specifically, today’s update brings the “Wakizashi” katana melee weapon to the game as a challenge in the unlockable game and a plan available for purchase in the new Disavowed Assassin pack in the store, as well as the “Sanatorium” multiplayer map, which sees ten squadrons of four “heading to the Ural Plains to fight for objectives and vehicles on land, sea and air”.
“Dropkick” is the new mode that is entering the fray today and Treyarch describes it as a “frantic nuclear hot potato game” that features two teams fighting for control of a very important portfolio.
On the zombie side, “Cranked” is a new game mode currently available and it sees players battling zombies as they race against a clock that requires them to kill at least one undead enemy within a certain time limit. This mode is free for those who have Black Ops Cold War and is free for anyone to try, as the entire Zombies mode of the game is free to play until January 21st.
The PlayStation-exclusive “Onslaught” mode has a new map called Raid available today, set in a Los Angeles mansion overrun by hordes of zombies. On January 21, Operator Zeyna, which is pictured below, will be added to the game as part of a new store package and on February 4, the other half of this first season update will go live.
This February 4 update will add “Express”, a Black Ops II map, to the game as a 6v6 multiplayer map that features two trains circling the main corridor of a transportation hub. Express will also be released as a map for Onslaught the same day.
February 4 also marks the addition of the game’s newest zombie map, “Firebase Z”, which is the next chapter in the Black Ops Cold War Zombies storyline, according to Treyarch.
Elsewhere in the first season, a Double Weapon XP weekend will take place from January 15th to 19th, the 3v3 Face-Off will continue as a playlist with 3v3 Team Deathmatch, Kill Confirmed and Domination on various Gunfight and Snipers Only maps Moshpit and Endurance The mode will make appearances throughout the season as playable modes.
While you wait for all of this to end, check out these 33 tips and tricks to help you in the game’s multiplayer. Check out this walkthrough to find the Easter egg of the Die Maschine zombies after that and then read on how to unlock all Dark Ops challenges in the game.
Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and creator of guides for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.