Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has been confirmed to receive a brand-new leveling system, and it is one that has a major impact on the future of Modern Warfare and Warzone as well. Even further, the ranking system for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will see the much-requested return of the ability to prestige, as well as the inclusion of the other perks seen in a prestige system.
The re-addition of a prestige option within Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has been heavily rumored, with fans finding evidence of a prestige system back in September. This was in direct contrast to early reports that stated prestige mode would not be returning, though recent clarification on the ranking system from Activision may explain why there were conflicting reports early on. Black Ops Cold War’s new ranking system is a hybrid between the officer ranks of Modern Warfare and classic prestiging, and the blend of the two systems seems to be addressing many complaints about Modern Warfare’s leveling.
The new ranking system was posted to Twitter by Treyarch, and it will see the seasonal progression system of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare heavily updated for the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. It will include “aspects of the traditional Prestige system” to allow “players to unlock and use rewards” like “legacy player identity items from the world of Black Ops.” This means that players will once again get the chance to change their prestige emblems to emblems from older CoD titles, and the other details regarding the new “Seasonal Prestige” system are sure to make many prestige-loving Call of Duty fans even happier.
Players can start earning prestige levels before Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Season 1 begins, with Treyarch promising “more prestige levels to earn than ever before.” The studio’s official Twitter posted some of the prestige emblems to Twitter, as well as numerous details regarding how the leveling will work. There will be 25+ prestige ranks to progress through total and 200 levels to complete every season, with each prestige rank providing exclusive rewards. Milestone rewards will be granted at every 50 levels, with “prestige progress continuing across seasons” as opposed to being reset like with Modern Warfare.
Speaking of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, both Modern Warfare and Warzone will see their ranking systems changed to the Prestige system when season one of Black Ops Cold War kicks off. Ranks will be shared across the three games, with players able to progress through their prestige levels regardless of which Call of Duty game they are playing. It will be easier to progress in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, however, as “new challenges and rewards” will be added to the game every season. With players gaining a new prestige level every 50 ranks and maxing out each season at 200 ranks, there should always be consistent goals to strive for in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
Players can achieve Prestige Master by hitting rank 200 in any given season, with ranks resetting and rewards carrying over when a new season begins. The new system seems like the best of both worlds for old and new CoD fans alike, and the ranks can even be earned in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s Zombies mode to give every player a sense of progression.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will be available on November 13th for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.