At the Xbox Showcase held on June 9, 2024, it was officially confirmed that the long-rumored Theater Mode would return to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. This beloved feature, first introduced in Call of Duty: Black Ops all the way back in 2010, has been a staple in the Black Ops series ever since. In previous entries, Theater Mode allowed players to record and review their recent matches, view the game from other players’ perspectives, and edit their footage with options to trim, rewind, fast-forward, and slow down the action. It was an absolute game-changer for Call of Duty content creation.
Now, with Black Ops 6 shaping up to be the most ambitious title in the series, there’s potential for this to be the best version of Theater Mode yet. If Treyarch deems it right, Black Ops 6 could set a new standard for how players capture and share their in-game experiences. Tons of features could make this version of Theater Mode the most popular one in Call of Duty history.
The New Black Ops 6 Theater Mode Needs to Introduce Photo-Mode Inspired Features
Making characters more expressive can really level up players’ Call of Duty montages and screenshots. Taking a cue from the Spider-Man franchise’s photo mode, Call of Duty could allow players to choose between various poses like aiming, crouching, or running. Moreover, adding options for facial expressions — like laughing, angry, smirking, or focused — would make trick shots and montages even cooler.
Another great feature could be the ability to change the time of day and weather on maps. For example, it would be cool to see Nuketown in Call of Duty at night, covered in rain. However, that might be asking for a lot, so a more doable alternative could be custom lighting. Allowing players to spawn and reposition lights would give them greater control over the scene’s ambiance and make a huge difference in how the final video or screenshot turns out.
Aspect Ratio Options Are Essential for Social Media Sharing
One of the most frustrating aspects of sharing Theater Mode clips online is the mismatch between the aspect ratio of the footage and popular social media platforms. Bite-sized content like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikToks are all shown in the 9:16 aspect ratio. Call of Duty clips, on the other hand, are usually recorded in a standard 16:9 format, which doesn’t match these vertical videos. If Black Ops 6’s Theater Mode allowed players to choose between aspect ratios, players could easily switch to 9:16 for vertical content or stick with 16:9 for traditional videos.
Black Ops 2 introduced a new aspect of the Theater Mode called the Community Tab, which functioned as an in-game video-streaming platform. Players could like, dislike, and watch popular videos, as well as search for specific profiles and view their recent theater matches. It was a great way to discover new strategies and connect with other players.
Black Ops 6 should definitely bring back this community-driven aspect of Theater Mode and let players upload their clips directly in-game. A trending tab could then highlight the most popular videos and screenshots. Call of Duty Developer Treyarch could even hold weekly competitions with specific themes, where the most popular clips get rewarded with exclusive cosmetics. For instance, they could announce a theme like “Tomahawk Kills” for the week, and players could upload their best Tomahawk clips. The 10 most liked ones could then receive a special Tomahawk skin as a reward.
