Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Update Removes 9-Bang From Blackout

Blackout players in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – rejoice! Treyarch has removed the 9-Bang, an item which acts as a flashbang, from the Battle Royale mode in its most recent update. A number of other changes have been added, including 100 Player Quads for Blackout’s Featured playlist and changing the maximum players in Solos and Duos playlists to 88.

Weapons in Blackout have also received several touch-ups. Muzzle velocity has been increased on all SMGs, with the Spitfire having reduced recoil. Meanwhile, the Rampart 17 assault rifle also has reduced recoil and ADS sway, while the Auger DMR has increased re-center speed. By comparison, the Titan has increased re-center speed and reduced re-center pattern offsets for more predictable recoil.

For Character Missions, players can now engage in the missions of Bruno, Diego, Scarlett, and Shaw, who are native to IX and Voyage of Despair. The drop rates for Character Mission items have also been increased. A number of new additions and changes have also been added to regular multiplayer – check out the full patch notes below for all the details.

Blackout

Playlist Updates

• Blightfather added to all playlists.
• 100-Player Quads added to the Featured playlist.
• Maximum players in Solo and Duos playlists changed to 88.

Character Missions

• Zombies Chaos Storyline Character Missions now available (Bruno, Diego, Scarlett, and Shaw).
• Increased drop rates of Character Mission items.

Weapons (Blackout Only)

Submachine Guns

Increased muzzle velocity on all SMGs. This should provide more consistent gunfights when in SMG range, along with ensuring that SMGs perform as expected in their intended power band when compared to Assault Rifles in Blackout.

Spitfire

Reduced recoil.

Assault Rifles

Rampart 17

• Reduced ADS sway.
• Reduced recoil.

Tactical Rifles

Auger DMR

• Increased re-center speed. We slowed down the re-center due to high performance in our Blackout beta, but have seen the AUGER slightly underperform since release.
• Slightly increased muzzle velocity. This should make for more predictable shots when firing at a moving target within the Auger’s intended ranges.

Swordfish

Tightened the spread pattern. This should allow more shots to land on target at range.

Light Machine Guns

While some players have found success with the LMGs in Blackout, they’re still being passed over by the large majority of players. These changes should help make LMGs more manageable when providing cover fire or engaging targets at range.

Titan

• Increased re-center speed.
• Reduced re-center pattern offsets for more predictable recoil.

VKM 750

• Increased re-center speed.
• Reduced re-center pattern offsets.

Hades

• Increased re-center speed.
• Reduced re-center pattern offsets.

Equipment (Blackout Only)

9-Bang

Removed the 9-Bang from Blackout while we evaluate its place in the gameplay loop.

Concussion Grenade

• Increased throw distance.
• Increased stack count to 2.

​Multiplayer

Playlist Updates

• Added Team Tactical Moshpit to Featured Playlist (3v3 TDM, Kill Confirmed, and Search & Destroy).
• Added Mercenary Chaos Moshpit to Featured category (6v6 TDM, Domination, Kill Confirmed, and Hardpoint, no parties allowed).
• Added Mercenary Hardcore Moshpit to Featured category (Hardcore TDM, Domination, and Kill Confirmed, no parties allowed).
• Gun Game and Control now in Featured category.

Gameplay

• Resolved an exploit in Search & Destroy where players could change classes after the start of a round to regain Scorestreak progress from the previous round before death.
• Resolved an issue in Heist where navigating the Buy Menu with the d-pad could display the description for the previously highlighted item.
• Resolved an issue where meleeing friendly Razor Wire in Hardcore game modes would damage players, potentially causing the player who placed the Razor Wire to be kicked for friendly fire.

Miscellaneous

Corrected the description for “Fast Reflexes” Challenge to inform players of requirement to get 5 EKIA in a game shortly after switching weapons with Dexterity, Overkill, and Laser Sight.

​Zombies

Stability

• Resolved 2 specific crashes in the IX Main Quest.
• Resolved a crash related to banner challenges in IX.
• Resolved a crash that occurred when the Shield broke while the player had the Victorious Tortoise Perk active.

Gameplay

• Resolved an issue where players could end up in a permanently downed state if they are revived as a self-revive is being completed.
• Resolved an issue where picking up the Max Ammo power-up while Bandolier is active did not give additional ammo if the weapon was at its normal Max Ammo capacity.

Miscellaneous

• Resolved UI issues caused by opening the Paintshop after personalizing a weapon in the Armory.
• Resolved an issue where players could equip Talismans in Local Play.
• Changed Aftertaste Elixir description to reflect its 5-minute duration.
• Changed Arsenal Accelerator Elixir description to reflect its 2-minute duration.

​General

Challenges

• Resolved an issue where level-restricted Challenges could be locked again after Prestiging.
• We’ve also made the following changes to PC since Friday’s update, in addition to the ones listed above:

General

• Added Audio Presets to Options.
• Resolved an issue where the rotation icon would appear when highlighting any items in the Black Market.

Zombies

• Resolved an issue where players would be forcefully defeated when using the Fast Travel from Transverse Tunnel to reach the Cafeteria before opening its door in Blood of the Dead.
• Resolved an issue where Warpaints could not be removed after being applied.

---