With just weeks to go before its October 25 release, leaked retail copies of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 have surfaced, confirming speculation about the game’s substantial storage requirements. Footage from an early Xbox Series X/S physical copy has emerged online, revealing a minimum storage requirement of 137GB and the necessity of a constant internet connection for all game modes, including single-player.
Storage Requirements and File Size
The Call of Duty franchise has consistently grown in size since Call of Duty: Warzone’s debut, and Black Ops 6 appears to follow this trend. Despite Activision’s past efforts to reduce file sizes, the introduction of Call of Duty HQ – a unified platform housing multiple titles – has added complexity. Initial rumors suggested a 300GB file size, but Activision clarified that this figure represents the combined file size for Call of Duty HQ’s entire suite, encompassing Modern Warfare 3, Warzone, and Black Ops 6.
According to a leaked retail copy shared by CharlieIntel, the minimum storage requirement for Xbox Series X/S is 137GB. However, this figure is likely to increase with a day-one patch expected on October 25, which will add several gigabytes to the game’s overall file size.
Interestingly, the PlayStation 4 version of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 requires a minimum of 145GB free space, exceeding the 137GB required on Xbox, as revealed by Twitter user HustlerRelic.
Always-Online Requirement Sparks Controversy
The leaked physical copy confirms that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 demands a constant internet connection for all game modes. Although Activision announced this requirement earlier this year, some fans were unaware, sparking outrage. One Reddit user vowed to refund their pre-order, citing opposition to “always-online” games.
Pre-Order and Release Details
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is set to release on October 25 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One. Fans can pre-order the game now, but those with limited storage space should prepare for significant updates.
