John Esposito
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(He/Him)
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Covers:
Gaming and Esports, some entertainment such as movies and shows.
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I don't cover anything outside of gaming, esports, and the occasional entertainment piece.
Articles by John Esposito
Distracted driving campaign grows across Southern Arizona this April
Kenny Darr is KGUN 9's Oro Valley reporter. Send your story ideas to Kenny at kenny.darr@kgun9.com. If you've been driving around Pima County lately, you've likely seen it: Phones Down , Just Drive .The campaign, founded by Julie Festerling, continues to grow nearly five years after it began following a personal tragedy.
Kenny Chesney Joins Hey Now Records, Launched By Clint Higham, John Esposito, Kris Lamb
Top music industry executives Clint Higham, John Esposito and Kris Lamb have formed Hey Now Records, with country superstar Kenny Chesney as the boutique label’s flagship artist. “When Clint, Espo and Kris came to me with the idea of creating our own team, I was curious,” Chesney said in a statement. “A label like this can be all-in, lets-make-stuff-happen — and I have always been about making things happen.
October Frights - Cronos: The New Dawn and Silent Hill f
Every October, I like to humor myself with a spooky game or two. Last year, I missed out (I was deep in the One Piece journey), but this year, I went overboard. Not only did I beat one scary title, I beat two. Funnily enough, both titles I played are almost two pieces of the same puzzle. Cronos: The New Dawn has a solid gameplay foundation, albeit with a very stingy resource economy, making every fight feel like your last.
Gamescom 2025 Highlights
Out of the three major showcases, video-game industry veteran Geoff Keighley hosts (Summer Game Fest and The Game Awards being the other two), Gamescom tends to be the weakest of the three. Anyways, this year’s Gamescom was fine. Looking at Opening Night Live feedback, it dabbled in the B to C range of Geoff’s Twitter poll, which feels fitting. Thanks for reading Around the Platform! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Ghost of Yōtei Looks Like a Careful Improvement Over the First
Ghost of Tsushima was a phenomenal swan song for the PS4, delivering an immaculate open-world experience that replicates the engaging elements of games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I loved it, and it did pretty damn well to warrant a sequel. In a special State of Play held for the upcoming samurai title, Sucker Punch showed off 20 minutes of what the sequel holds. My biggest takeaway is a rather unsurprising one: it looks very identical to Ghost of Tsushima...
I’m Actually Enjoying My Time With the Switch 2
I purchased the original Switch from someone on Facebook Marketplace for $300 sometime around 2017/2018. I couldn’ttell you when exactly, which is indicative of my time with the original Switch. I played it on/off, booting up Mario Kart 8 (racing games aren’t exactly my favorite), The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (for full price, mind you), and of course, Pokémon: Let's Go Eevee. I sunk sporadic hours into said titles, but the first iteration of the Switch didn’t hold me whatsoever.
Graveyard Shift 4K Ultra HD Review
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Directed by Ralph S. Singleton, Graveyard Shift is a 1990 horror film based on Stephen King’s short story of the same name from his 1978 collection Night Shift. The film is a quintessential example of early 1990s B-movie horror, blending gruesome practical effects, a claustrophobic atmosphere, and a straightforward narrative.
All Ways to Open the Vault in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2
Fortnite‘s newest season, Lawless, is seemingly taking the name very seriously, with the core theme centered on heists and thievery. Vaults will be returning this season, so here’s what we know so far about opening them in Fortnite Chapter 6, Season 2. Courtesy of the season reveal trailer, there are currently three known ways of opening Vaults in Fortnite‘s Lawlessseason: Use the brand-new Rocket Drill to drill your way into a Vault.
How To Throw Rocks in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
While it might not be the most fun compared to open combat against foes, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 provides players with a stealth system so they can sneak around foes. A major aid to your stealth tactics is rock throwing, and here’s how to do just that. It’s important to note that you can only throw rocks while in stealth, which is initiated by clicking the right stick on a controller or pressing C on PC.
Stellar Blade and Yakuza: Like a Dragon kickstart my 2025 in gaming
If you told me 2025 would’ve started with me playing Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Stellar Blade, I would’ve laughed at you. Not out of rudeness just because I never thought those two games would’ve been on my radar. Happy New Year’s folks, and as the saying goes, new year, new me. Well, not really since I’m still playing catch-up to games I should’ve played when they released. Better now than never though.
2024’s The Game Awards… was rad
Since its inception 10 years ago, The Game Awards has steadily evolved into a celebrity spectacle versus a celebration of video games. 2023’s showing really hit a breaking point in the community, with winners rushed off stage, ads galore, lack of actual gaming announcements (crazy, right), celebrity appearances that felt off-putting for a video game show, and an uneasy silence regarding the massive layoffs in 2023. Heading into this year’s showing, a lot was riding on this one for Geoff Keighley.
Black Ops 6 is the perfect game to bring back classic BO1 mode
Gaming Call of Duty Jacob Hale ❘ Published: 2024-11-19T15:03:12 Activision The Black Ops series has been bringing new ideas to Call of Duty since 2010, and while some features have been better than others, there’s one in particular from the very first game that could be great in BO6. Black Ops 1 launched in 2010 immediately following the original Modern Warfare 2, meaning it had a lot to live up to.
A Sony buyout of FromSoftware could change Souls games forever
Gaming Sam Smith ❘ Published: 2024-11-19T12:25:22 FromSoftware Sony owning FromSoftware could have massive implications for the Souls series. Here’s everything it could potentially lead to. Sony is reportedly in discussions to purchase Kadokawa, who is the parent company of FromSoftware, the developers of Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Dark Souls, and more.
Best Marine SP loadout in Warzone: Class setup, attachments, perks
Gaming Call of Duty Ryan Lemay ❘ Published: 2024-11-18T21:15:21 Dexerto Shotguns received a much-needed buff ahead of Warzone integrating with Black Ops 6, making weapons such as the Marine SP an intriguing option. Although ARs and SMGs primarily run the show in Warzone, shotguns have had brief glimpses of dominance. In 2023, during WZ2, Dragon Breath rounds transformed the KV Broadside into the battle royales’s best weapon, as the shotgun took out enemies in two shots.
Game Awards voters slam decision to include Elden Ring DLC in GOTY category
Gaming Elden Ring Ryan Lemay ❘ Published: 2024-11-18T19:27:33 FromSoftware The Game Awards revealed all six finalists for the 2024 Game of the Year award, and some fans think that Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree shouldn’t qualify. In 2022, Elden Ring won The Game Award for Game of the Year. FromSoftware’s latest hit sensation shattered records, selling 25 million copies ahead of the Shadow of Erdtree DLC’s launch in June 2023.
Black Ops 6 devs buffing Ninja perk as pros complain over footstep audio
Gaming Call of Duty Jacob Hale ❘ Published: 2024-11-18T16:17:29 Activision The Ninja perk might be getting a buff in Black Ops 6, confirmed by pro player Brandon ‘Dashy’ Otell, who said he had been told of possible changes coming from a Treyarch developer. Ninja is supposed to make your footsteps quieter in Black Ops 6, meaning you can make plays, invade the enemy site, and hit defuses without your opponents having any idea.
Best AMES 85 Warzone loadout: Class setup, attachments, perks - Dexerto
Gaming Call of Duty Kurt Perry ❘ Published: 2024-11-18T14:17:50 Dexerto 1 Best AMES 85 loadout 2 Perks, Equipment, and Wildcard 3 AMES 85 pros and cons 4 Where is the AMES 85 in the Warzone meta? 5 How to unlock the AMES 85 6 Best AMES 85 alternatives You can’t go wrong with a reliable assault rifle, and this AMES 85 loadout is one of the best in Warzone that you can use in the current meta. Needless to say, the best assault rifles end up dominating Warzone’s meta more often than not.
Fortnite Gundam collab brings back classic Titanfall gameplay and you need to play it
Gaming Fortnite Josh Taylor ❘ Published: 2024-11-18T13:26:18 Dexerto / Epic Games The Fortnite x Gundam crossover mode introduces giant mecha combat to the battle royale universe, offering gameplay reminiscent of Titanfall—but it has gone largely unnoticed by players.
Black Ops 6 can easily fix slow XP grind with one simple change
Gaming Call of Duty Connor Bennett ❘ Published: 2024-11-18T12:52:13 Activision Call of Duty Black Ops 6 actually has the perfect fix for the current XP grind slog in multiplayer, and it’s not a double XP weekend or more tokens. Whenever a new Call of Duty title releases, fans are quick to hop into multiplayer and start grinding out levels. Whether you want to be the first to prestige or just have the guns you need for Warzone, it takes plenty of time to start rising up the ranks.
Best Tsarkov 7.62 Warzone loadout: Class setup, attachments, perks - Dexerto
Gaming Call of Duty Kurt Perry ❘ Published: 2024-11-18T11:11:37 Dexerto 1 Best Tsarkov 7.62 loadout 2 Perks, Equipment, and Wildcard 3 Tsarkov 7.62 pros and cons 4 Where is the Tsarkov 7.62 in the Warzone meta? 5 How to unlock the Tsarkov 7.62 6 Best Tsarkov 7.62 alternatives Marksman rifles in Call of Duty: Warzone have a unique charm that makes them incredibly satisfying to use with the right build, and this Tsarkov 7.62 loadout is no exception.
Warzone devs vow to fix Black Ops 6 integration’s biggest problem
Gaming Call of Duty Ryan Lemay ❘ Published: 2024-11-15T21:20:22 Dexerto Among several hiccups experienced on Warzone’s launch day, audio fixes were at the top of most player wishlists. Raven Software heard the complaints loud and clear. Warzone’s launch day suffered a few bugs and exploits, but nothing too alarming. Players discovered that the AEK-973 ground-loot weapon transformed into a fully automatic weapon of destruction instead of the intended three-round burst.
Black Ops 6 removing MW3 2XP tokens is a huge slap in the face to loyal fans
Gaming Call of Duty Carver Fisher ❘ Published: 2024-11-15T19:49:48 Activision Upon the release of Black Ops 6 Season 1, players were overjoyed upon discovering the developers had given them access to all their saved up double XP tokens from MW3 and Warzone. However, these tokens were removed just a day later, coming across as an absolute slap in the face for loyal fans of the series.
Warzone expert claims Black Ops 6 weapons are “chalked” but one dominates
Gaming Call of Duty Connor Bennett ❘ Published: 2024-11-15T14:10:57 Activision Warzone guru Metaphor believes that most Black Ops 6 weapons are “chalked” in the battle royale, but one stands alone. With the start of Black Ops 6 Season 1, Warzone received its first big update in a few months. Battle Royale fans are finally able to play on the new Area 99 map, as well as start grinding their way up the leaderboards again. The new update has, of course, brought a raft of weapon changes too.
Warzone’s Black Ops 6 integration is off to a great start but there’s one huge fix needed
Gaming Call of Duty Jacob Hale ❘ Published: 2024-11-15T13:02:58 Activision Black Ops 6 Season 1 has officially launched and with it, Warzone has fully taken on its new Black Ops-themed overhaul, with new movement, weapons, and maps. That said, there’s one issue that they need to fix hastily: audio.
How to fix Black Op 6 Ghost Perk locked bug after Season 1 update
Gaming Call of Duty Jessica Filby ❘ Published: 2024-11-15T10:56:00 Activision Black Ops 6 Season 1 and Warzone have finally arrived, bringing with them weapon upgrades, one key weapon removal, and an extremely frustrating bug that seems to be locking the Ghost Perk from players, despite their level. As reported by multiple players on social media, the latest Black Ops 6 patch seems to have broken the Ghost Perk by locking it for multiple players who already meet the level 17 requirements.
Black Ops 6 “pacifist” reveals how they Prestiged without getting a single kill
Gaming Call of Duty Eleni Thomas ❘ Published: 2024-11-15T05:04:28 Activision One Black Ops 6 player has managed to Prestige without getting a single kill by mastering what they call a “pacifist” gameplay style. Call of Duty players have settled well into Black Ops 6, the newest installment in the beloved franchise, offering plenty of new content for everyone to dive into.
Fortnite players slam Ice Spice Icon Series skins following “annoying” trend
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Gaming Fortnite Michelle Cornelia ❘ Published: 2024-11-15T05:01:01 epic games Fortnite’s Ice Spice skins have finally been released in the Item Shop, but players aren’t happy as they follow an “annoying” trend that a number of recent Icon Series skins have adopted lately. After the initial reveal in the Chapter 2 Remix trailer, Bronx rapper Ice Spice has finally landed in Fortnite’s Battle Royale island along with the 32.10 update.
By Michelle Cornelia Verified, Cande Maldonado Verified, Josh Taylor Verified, John Esposito Verified
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Dexerto
Verified
Best GPR 91 loadout in Warzone: Class setup, attachments, perks
Gaming Call of Duty Ryan Lemay ❘ Published: 2024-11-14T22:18:29 Dexerto The GPR 91 is the weakest AR in Black Ops 6 multiplayer, but in Warzone Season 1, this weapon has all the makings of a top meta contender. We ranked the GPR 91 as the worst AR in BO6 because its 336-millisecond time-to-kill falls well behind all six other options. It’s a much different story in Warzone. Since the GPR 91 boasts excellent handling, mobility, and accuracy, this translates perfectly to the battle royale format.
Black Ops 6 finally brings back iconic Nuketown Easter Egg & it’s better than ever
Gaming Call of Duty Carver Fisher ❘ Published: 2024-11-14T17:55:09 Black Ops 6 When Nuketown originally launched for Black Ops 6, one of the most iconic Easter Eggs from the original version of the map was missing in action, leaving players disappointed. Fortunately, devs have gone back in and re-added it for the Season 1 update. Shooting all the heads off of every mannequin in the original Black Ops 1 Nuketown would reward you by playing a song, ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ by the Rolling Stones.
GTA 6 hint finally found in GTA Trilogy after latest update
Gaming GTA Michael Gwilliam ❘ Published: 2024-11-14T17:13:49 Rockstar Games A new GTA 6 tease has finally been uncovered in GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition just days after being fixed in a big update. The disastrous GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition was finally fixed in November, three years after the buggy remasters were released to extreme criticism. The patch included multiple graphical improvements, quality-of-life upgrades, and even removed developer Grove Street Games from the start-up screen.
Best Warzone Tanto .22 loadout: Class setup, attachments, perks
Gaming Call of Duty Liam Mackay ❘ Published: 2024-11-14T17:12:53 Dexerto / Activision 1 Best Warzone Tanto .22 loadout attachments 2 Best Warzone Tanto .22 perks and equipment 3 Tanto .22 pros and cons 4 Where is the Tanto .22 in the Warzone meta? 5 How to unlock Tanto .22 6 Best Tanto .22 alternatives The Tanto .22 is one of Black Ops 6’s best SMGs and despite its slow fire rate, it’s extremely dominant.
A post-apocalyptic Resident Evil 9 would be a terrible idea
Gaming Resident Evil Sam Smith ❘ Published: 2024-11-14T16:19:46 Capcom To many fans, a post-apocalyptic Resident Evil game sounds like a natural evolution of the franchise, but I’m here to tell you why it would ruin it. If you’re a Resident Evil fan, you’ve likely seen the rumors of Resident Evil 9 shambling around the web like an army of aimless zombies. And while we don’t know anything concrete, we suspect that some of these reports could be true.
Warzone players blast Black Ops 6 anti-cheat changes that will do “nothing”
Gaming Call of Duty Connor Bennett ❘ Published: 2024-11-14T12:33:51 Activision Warzone players are unconvinced by the new changes being made to Ricochet anti-cheat in Black Ops 6 Season 1, with some saying they’ll do “nothing” to curb cheaters. The cheating issue in Call of Duty has gotten worse over the last few years, especially when it comes to Warzone. In the halcyon days of Verdansk, you’d regularly come across players using wall hacks and God mode to get a leg up on the competition.
Black Ops 6 0x80832003 error explained & potential fixes Original
Gaming Call of Duty Jessica Filby ❘ Published: 2024-11-14T11:31:09 Activision Being an online multiplayer game, Black Ops 6 can occasionally face some issues, stopping players from logging in and bringing up an error code – like 0x80832003. Unfortunately for many, the 0x80832003 code is appearing countless times for fans, making experiencing the new season and Warzone impossible.
Apex Legends devs finally address secret weapon change missed in Season 23 update patch notes
Gaming Apex Legends Connor Bennett ❘ Published: 2024-11-14T11:12:42 Respawn Entertainment Apex Legends Season 23 has had a late update to the patch notes after players uncovered a secret weapon change with the Charge Rifle. When a new seasonal update rolls out for Apex Legends, it doesn’t take long before players are doing their best to try and break things. New legends with fresh abilities offer the chance to discover new combos with other characters, and then you’ve got weapon changes.
Black Ops 6 players prestiging right now are making a big mistake
Gaming Call of Duty Brad Norton ❘ Published: 2024-11-14T02:24:43 Activision If you’re about to prestige in Black Ops 6, you might want to think again. It turns out, that resetting your level has huge implications in ways you might not think, including your Warzone experience as the games integrate. With Black Ops 6, Call of Duty finally returned to form.
Warzone devs crack down on VPN abuse, targeting cheaters
Gaming Call of Duty Ryan Lemay ❘ Published: 2024-11-13T21:44:16 Activision Black Ops 6 has finally implemented measures to prevent players from using a VPN to go up against less-skilled Warzone players. A VPN allows you to mask your IP address and play Warzone in a different location and time zone. The leading theory has suggested that using the device can make it possible to bypass skill-based matchmaking and connect to quieter servers. In addition, a VPN can evade network throttling.
All weapon buffs and nerfs in Black Ops 6 & Warzone Season 1 update
Gaming Call of Duty Ryan Lemay ❘ Published: 2024-11-13T21:42:17 Activision In Season 1, Black Ops 6 finally buffed shotguns and sniper rifles in Multiplayer, while Warzone improved MW2 and MW3 guns to be more viable in the loaded weapon pool. In Warzone Season 1, there are 177 weapons to choose from between MW2, MW3, and BO6. Finding a balance will be a nightmare for the development team, but the first seasonal update takes a step in the right direction. Meanwhile, ARs have dominated Multiplayer.
How to get studs & experience fast in LEGO Horizon Adventures
Gaming Brad Norton ❘ Published: 2024-11-13T11:15:00 Sony 1 What are studs used for? 2 Best ways to get studs fast in LEGO Horizon Adventures 3 How experience works 4 Best ways to get experience fast in LEGO Horizon Adventures Piling up studs and earning tons of experience are the keys to success in LEGO Horizon Adventures. Here’s how to get plenty of both in no time at all. Playing as Aloy in LEGO form has its fair share of changes from the original games.
Fortnite 32.10 early patch notes: Ice Spice, new Mythics, map rotation & more
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Gaming Fortnite Michelle Cornelia ❘ Published: 2024-11-13T05:45:31 epic games The 32.10 update is releasing soon in Fortnite and here are all the details you need to know, including downtime schedule and the other new additions. Fortnite’s Chapter 2 Remix has been huge, bringing some of the most popular rappers to the Battle Royale island, along with fan-favorite original characters with a twist.
By Michelle Cornelia Verified, Rishabh Sabarwal Verified, John Esposito Verified, Sourav Banik Verified
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Dexerto
Verified
Fortnite update 32.11 patch notes: Juice WRLD, new POI & Chug Cannon
Gaming Fortnite Cande Maldonado ❘ Updated: 2024-11-21T15:03:43 Dexerto Well, Fortnite’s gone and done it again. Just when you thought they couldn’t cram more pop culture into the battle bus, here comes Chapter 2, update 32.11. Chapter 2 Remix is coming to an end pretty soon, and it’s going out with a bang. The last week of content comes with a brand new NPC, loot, and a point of interest – all of which you might miss if you don’t look hard enough.
Why Black Ops 6 players shouldn’t waste Prestige Tokens on Season 1 Battle Pass weapons
Gaming Call of Duty Ryan Lemay ❘ Published: 2024-11-12T19:48:08 Activision Players only get so many Prestige Tokens in Black Ops 6, so thankfully, the Season 1 Battle Pass helps players save those permanent unlocks for more essential items. BO6 marks the return of the classic Prestige system, meaning players get reset to level 1 after Prestiging. As a result, you have to unlock everything again, but for every Prestige, you get one token to unlock an item permanently.
Fortnite first-person coming with December update but there’s a catch
Gaming Fortnite Cande Maldonado ❘ Published: 2024-11-12T17:34:36 Dexerto Fortnite will finally roll out a first-person camera in December, but it isn’t what you think. This game-changing feature will only be available for specific, custom-created islands. Fortnite players have long had a third-person view, with Epic Games sticking firmly to this perspective despite fans’ pleas. Sure, you can tweak camera angles here and there in the settings, but first-person remained off the table.
How to fix Black Ops 6 rank loss bug: Players knocked down to Level 1
Gaming Call of Duty Jacob Hale ❘ Published: 2024-11-12T17:10:28 Activision A number of Black Ops 6 players have been left baffled after the game randomly takes thousands of XP away from them, reducing them all the way back down to Level 1 for no reason. It’s still early days for BO6 but the level grind is about as intense as it will ever be, in a rush to hit Master Prestige and earn their Dark Matter camo.
Fortnite Chapter 6 leak suggests game-changing map mechanics are coming
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Gaming Fortnite Josh Taylor ❘ Published: 2024-11-12T16:41:11 Epic Games Even though Fortnite’s Chapter 2 Remix only launched on November 2, trusted leakers have been revealing details about the next season and in particular Chapter 6’s map. According to leaks, the theme for the next Fortnite season is expected to be centered around Samurai and Japanese Mythology. As with any new season, this means that the island map will reflect this throughout.
By Michelle Cornelia Verified, Rishabh Sabarwal Verified, John Esposito Verified, Josh Taylor Verified
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Dexerto
Verified
Apex Legends’ previous best guns are now the “worst” in Season 23
Gaming Apex Legends Connor Bennett ❘ Published: 2024-11-12T16:18:38 Respawn Entertainment Apex Legends fans believe Season 23 is bad news for SMGs, as the once-powerful weapon type has plummeted in power already. Whenever a new season of Apex Legends rolls around, fans of Respawn’s battle royale get hyped. A new legend, a new gun, and plenty of changes usually abound. However, that isn’t the case with Season 23.
Warzone hype at all-time low for Black Ops 6 because of one big thing
Gaming Call of Duty Jacob Hale ❘ Published: 2024-11-12T14:04:07 Activision Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is being integrated into Warzone with the launch of Season 1 on November 14, but unlike previous years when Warzone got its big update, the hype and excitement for this year’s iteration is significantly lower – and there’s one key reason for it.
Bizarre Black Ops 6 glitch lets you carry 3 guns
Gaming Call of Duty Connor Bennett ❘ Published: 2024-11-12T12:51:05 Activision Black Ops 6 players have uncovered an unusual glitch that is giving them Mule Kick in multiplayer so that they can equip three guns and bypass the dedicated melee. It’s been a few weeks since Black Ops 6 launched to pretty unanimous praise. The brand new Call of Duty title has earned love from fans due to the new omnimovement system, as well as the most interesting campaign in quite some time.
Ubisoft being sued by The Crew players after shutting down servers
Gaming Joe Pring ❘ Published: 2024-11-12T11:11:49 Ubisoft Two fans of Ubisoft’s The Crew are suing Ubisoft over its decision to shutter the game’s servers earlier this year. Released in 2014, The Crew aimed to take a share of the live-service racing game market dominated by Playground Games’ Forza Horizon series but didn’t manage to replicate its success, garnering criticism for its always-online requirement.
Black Ops 6 fans furious with camos after loving “best ever” system at first
Gaming Call of Duty Connor Bennett ❘ Published: 2024-11-11T12:30:03 Treyarch Black Ops 6 fans have blasted part of the new camo unlock system for making some feel “pointless” to unlock. This comes after players had previously called the “best ever” system. With the arrival of Black Ops 6, Call of Duty fans have been delighted with some of the classic-feeling aspects of the game. Sure, the omnimovement system is a brand-new innovation for CoD, but there are plenty of nostalgic vibes to be had.
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