All previous Call of Duty games launched as their own dedicated apps on PlayStation and Xbox consoles. With Black Ops 6 on the horizon, it’s clear this trend isn’t coming back. Modern Warfare 2 and 3’s menu is a confusing mess, with many players comparing it to the UI of a streaming service.
It simply didn’t work, as Call of Duty games have more complex systems for navigation dozens of modes and customizable components. Unfortunately, Activision is still sticking to its guns and keeping on with the same system for the upcoming Black Ops game.
Black Ops 6 Is Listed as DLC for the Call of Duty HQ App
On platforms like Steam, Black Ops 6 is listed under the DLC section for the Call of Duty parent app. This classification is pretty much confirmed for the PS5 and Xbox versions too. While the idea of merging all multiplayer experiences into one app might seem practical at a glance, it doesn’t make up for the franchise’s current awful UI.
In actuality, the new game is a fully fleshed-out, full-priced release. It has been in development at Treyarch for four years now, becoming the Call of Duty game with the most development time. Expectations for this game are reasonably higher, especially after 2023’s Modern Warfare III was rushed out and developed in about 16 months.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is officially confirmed to be a "DLC" for the Call of Duty HQ app.
Steam listing has it up as "DLC" with the "Parent App" being "Call of Duty®" pic.twitter.com/ysitAvnEfe
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) May 31, 2024
That game was, more or less, a DLC for Modern Warfare 2 that Activision instead decided to release as a full-priced game, and it received massive fan backlash accordingly. However, this didn’t stop it from becoming one of 2023’s most-sold games.
In theory, this was a neat idea to put everything Call of Duty-related under one roof to improve user experience, but it has done exactly the opposite by making it extremely frustrating since various games and game modes are now interlinked when they don’t need to be.
Why Do Players Hate this App?
Back in 2023, before Modern Warfare III’s release, Activision Blizzard introduced the Call of Duty HQ. It was supposed to make selecting games and modes easier by housing every Call of Duty title from Modern Warfare 2 (2022) onward. Because of this, every game since then is no longer a standalone app but instead is “DLC” for the HQ app. It was supposed to be a more streamlined way to find all of the titles and Warzone in one place, making it simpler to switch between games.
The biggest gripe is the inflated storage sizes. Modern Warfare III, by itself, is a sizable download. But thanks to HQ, players reported needing hundreds of gigabytes more—even for games they didn’t own, like the previous year’s Modern Warfare 2. The frustration goes beyond storage issues. User feedback highlights a confusing interface, mandatory logins, and a clunky download process.
A system that is supposed to streamline things and make it easier to choose the game mode that you want, has instead resulted in a massive chore whenever the game gets an update and you have to wait for the multiplayer component to finish installing when all you want to do is play Warzone instead.
What do you think about the next Black Ops continuing to be a part of the HQ App? Let us know in the comments.
