PlayStation 4 owners, prepare to engage in your first deniable operations.

Just under two months before the release of the direct sequel to the original Call of Duty: Black Ops, and mere weeks ahead of the game’s Beta, ALL PlayStation 4 owners will be able to participate in the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Alpha.

This exclusive weekend commences on September 18^th at 10 a.m. PDT, and is set to conclude on September 20^th at 10 a.m. PDT. The Alpha is FREE to all PS4™ players. PlayStation®Plus Subscription not required for most owners.*

Pre-Loading, Download Size, and Regional Download Links

The Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Alpha is set to have a download size of approximately 25 GB.

Pre-loading is planned to begin on September 17^th at 8 a.m. PDT ahead of the Alpha’s scheduled launch on September 18^th at 10 a.m. PDT.

Download the free Alpha at the links below for your respective region:

Download Free Alpha: Americas.

Download Free Alpha: Europe, Middle East, Australia, or New Zealand. Note that due to the game’s rating, PS Plus is required to download in Germany.

Download Free Alpha: Japan.

Download Free Alpha: Asia.

Accessing the Alpha + An Exclusive Reward for Participation

Those who own Call of Duty: Modern Warfare® or have Warzone™ installed can access the Black Ops Cold War Alpha through the main menu.

Within the Modern Warfare or Warzone menus, selecting the Alpha menu blade either brings you straight to the Alpha to jump in and play if you’ve already downloaded, or redirects you to its download page on the PS Store.

You can also exit the Black Ops Cold War Alpha and go straight into Warzone through a menu blade within the Alpha.

All participants will receive a Calling Card, accessible across Modern Warfare, Warzone, and Black Ops Cold War upon its release, just for participating in the Alpha.

Here’s what players can expect in the Alpha, including an all-new Multiplayer mode for the franchise:

Modes – 6v6 Multiplayer: Team Deathmatch, Domination, Kill Confirmed (Available Sept 18-20)

The Alpha will include three traditional game modes across three maps designed for 6v6 play.

Among this trio is the gold standard of squad-based game modes in Call of Duty – Team Deathmatch (TDM) – as well as Kill Confirmed, a TDM variant where Operators must confirm kills by picking up enemy dog tags dropped by downed players before they are denied by the enemy team.

Then there’s Domination, an objective mode staple in the Call of Duty franchise. Expect a larger capture area than in previous titles in Black Ops Cold War’s Domination, allowing for more cover opportunities and maneuverability when attacking or defending while capturing a point.

These three modes will be available on the following maps during the Alpha:

Map – Miami

A prison transport vehicle has been intercepted by Perseus through hired DGI forces, with CIA forces arriving to take them out in the heat of in Miami’s South Beach.

Amid art-deco architecture and neon lights, Operators battle between various buildings, in the streets, and on a stretch of the beachfront itself. Various rooftops and windows act as prime longshot spots for sharpshooters who can take advantage of vistas across empty streets and beaches.

Meanwhile, Operators can weave in-and-out of vacated tourist traps in close-quarters combat, using parts of a parking garage or the beachfront to flank enemy combatants.

Map – Moscow

In the heart of the U.S.S.R, a Spetsnaz squad was sent to a compromised CIA safe house in order to secure the area, capture any remaining CIA operatives, and acquire further intel on NATO’s future plans. Initial reports indicate that the area has gone hot and fighting has spilled out into the streets, prompting a second CIA-JSOC team to arrive at the scene as reinforcements.

Fighting will take place in and around an impressive metro station, with the streets of Moscow, as well as nearby apartment buildings and hotels, acting as lanes that all lead back to that central, marble-adorned transportation hub.

Stationary vehicles will be key cover pieces when travelling through the streets, as they may help break up sightlines that snipers will want to take advantage of. CQB operators may want to sweep through the various buildings, and could be a key cog in defending the metro building at all five of its entrances.

Map – Satellite

First teased in the Black Ops Cold War Reveal trailer, Satellite is set in an Angolan desert where a KH-9 American-made satellite has been downed.

Soviet and American forces arrive on a battlefield devoid of any man-made structures, save for the satellite in question at mid-map. Other than this cover-heavy central point, the map’s rocky outcroppings and archways provide numerous flanking routes and plenty of cover.

Alternatively, the natural sand dunes on the opposite side of the map are a perfect territory for snipers, at the expense of any meaningful protection from aerial Scorestreaks or a cross-map high-caliber bullet.

Introducing Combined Arms: Domination (Available Sept 18-20)

Combined Arms: Domination is a new 12v12, vehicle-inclusive twist on traditional Domination, set in larger maps compared to the game’s traditional 6v6 play spaces.

In Combined Arms, vehicles such as Tanks, Snowmobiles, Wakerunners, and Gunboats will allow squads to bolster their firepower and mobility across these expanded environments. Like the core 6v6 Domination mode, teams will be tasked with capturing and defending multiple objectives between two initial spawn areas.

Along with traditional loadout-based firefights and Scorestreak play, Combined Arms: Domination is defined by how each squad uses the available selection of vehicles to help their team turn the tide of battle.

In the Alpha experience, Combined Arms: Domination will take place on two maps:

Map – Armada

It’s 1984, and U.S. and Soviet forces are battling it out in the North Atlantic Ocean in search of a prototype nuclear submarine.

Competing squads will take to the high seas with skirmishes on multiple ships, utilizing ziplines, rappel lines, and various seacraft to navigate the rough waters below.

The central ship is a hotspot for combat of all forms, from CQB battles in control stations, to sniper duels with adjacent ships, to aquatic warfare that may take place below the surface. Be sure to explore every nook and cranny of the map to discover new entryways to each objective point, and keep your head on a swivel.

Map – Crossroads

In the middle of the frozen Soviet wilderness, NATO forces have ambushed a large military convoy comprised of mobile ICBM launchers.

Tanks and Snowmobiles will help operatives plow over this snowy tundra’s banks and groves, both of which could be temporary homes to sharpshooters looking for longshot opportunities.

Those planning out their strategy for victory should consider wresting control of the communications station, the lone structure that stands at the dead center of the iced-over lake. Or, for those looking to flank the enemy team, try braving the rickety bridge that spans over a deadly chasm… if you’re not afraid of heights, that is.

Need to see the new maps and modes in action, including a run-down of what Multiplayer entails? Be sure to watch the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Reveal video here!

Traditional Loadout, Scorestreak Options Available

Before dropping into the above maps and modes, get a glimpse at the Create-a-Class, Gunsmith, and Scorestreak customization features showcased in limited capacity during the Alpha.

While you’re editing your loadout, get to know the new Field Upgrades on offer. These are pieces of equipment earned over time while in-game that can act as a boon for your fellow squadmates or hinder the enemy team’s abilities. Wildcards also fundamentally alter the rules of Create-a-Class, with four powerful options to choose from for maximum flexibility.

Alternatively, a few default loadouts are available for Operators looking to pick up and play with a developer-tailored selection of weapons, attachments, Perks, equipment, Field Upgrades, and Wildcards. For those looking for inspiration on Create-a-Class and Gunsmith creation ideas, these default loadouts can act as a great framework for crafting your own custom arsenal.

Once everything is to your preference, dive into Multiplayer and earn some Scorestreaks, which can be crucial for achieving victory. Scorestreak points – earned via both kills and objective play – are kept through death. Stay alive and string together multiple kills in one life to earn point multipliers that will aid in earning higher-end, game-changing battlefield technology.

Pre-Order Now on Digital

This Alpha is just a fraction of all the content to come with Black Ops Cold War Multiplayer; expect more modes, maps, weapons and vehicles in the upcoming Open Beta and at the game’s launch on November 13^th.

Visit CallofDuty.com to digitally pre-order now and get instant rewards like the Woods Operator Pack** for immediate use in Modern Warfare and Warzone, and secure early access to the Open Beta***, first on PS4.

Stay Connected to Additional Intel

Be sure to check back here at the Activision Games Blog in the coming days and weeks for the latest information. Also players can visit Treyarch’s Blog for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War announcements and content. Follow @CallofDuty and @Treyarch on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for additional information.

Pre-orders at participating retailers are available now, or at CallofDuty.com.

We’ll see you online.

Execute the mission.