The countdown to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 5 is heating up, and to keep fans grinding, Treyarch Studios has confirmed a brand-new Double XP weekend for both Black Ops 6 and Warzone. Set to kick off on Friday, July 25, this limited-time event promises another fast-track weekend of leveling, whether you’re chasing that Prestige milestone or racing through the Battle Pass tier grind.
Mark your calendars: July 25 is a big one
Revealed less than two weeks after the last XP event, this upcoming Call of Duty Double XP weekend will likely run through Monday, July 28, based on the usual schedule. While exact details are still under wraps, there’s a solid chance this goes beyond just Double Player XP and Weapon XP. If Treyarch follows its usual trend, expect to see Double Battle Pass XP and a 2X Gobblegum earn rate in Zombies mode as well, perfect timing, considering that Season 4 is in its final stretch.
What about Season 5?
So when does Black Ops 6 Season 5 begin? While nothing official has dropped yet, if we go by the game’s historical update cadence, fans can expect Season 5 to hit servers around August 7. That gives you just under two weeks from the start of Double XP to grind out those final Battle Pass tiers or max out your favorite meta weapons before the seasonal reset.
To drum up hype, Activision has already fired the first shots of the marketing campaign, teasing an unexpected but intriguing horror crossover. ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ is crashing the Call of Duty party in Season 5, with the franchise’s signature villain — the Fisherman — teased as an upcoming Operator skin. No word yet on pricing or bundled cosmetics, but if you’re into horror-themed loadouts, this one’s sure to reel you in.
Boosting drama in plunder: Bans are rolling in
The excitement hasn’t come without some turbulence. Some players in Warzone and Black Ops 6 have been permanently banned for ‘Plunder boosting’, a method where players exploit Plunder matches to rapidly level up or cheat the XP system. Activision seems to be taking this seriously, as multiple reports of account bans have surfaced across community forums and social media. So, if you’re planning on taking advantage of this Double XP weekend, do it the fair way, unless you want a one-way ticket to ban-town.
Final XP bash before Season 5
If you’ve still got a ways to go with the Season 4 Battle Pass, this is your chance to go full sweat mode. The July 25 weekend is most likely the final Double XP offering before Season 5 goes live, meaning it’s your last shot to unlock those premium rewards and exclusive cosmetics that won’t roll over to the next pass.
That said, there’s a silver lining for future progression: although not confirmed, a recent ESRB listing pointed to Call of Duty possibly bringing back its Carry Forward feature in Black Ops 7. This would let players transfer cosmetic content — like blueprints and Operator skins — from Black Ops 6 into the next title. While Treyarch hasn’t made it official, the breadcrumb trail is there, and it’s a ray of hope for players wary of starting from scratch each year.
TL;DR: XP, Skins, and Season Shakeup
- Double XP Weekend: Begins Friday, July 25; likely ends Monday, July 28
- Applies To: Black Ops 6 and Warzone, possibly includes Double Battle Pass XP and 2X Gobblegum XP
- Season 5 Launch: Expected around August 7
- Season 5 Content: Includes a crossover with I Know What You Did Last Summer, featuring the Fisherman Operator skin
- Controversy: Player bans for ‘Plunder boosting’ are on the rise
- Future Content: Black Ops 7 may feature Carry Forward cosmetic support
Bottom line? This Double XP weekend is your best shot at finishing strong in Season 4. Don’t waste it.