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Call of Duty: Warzone’s Black Ops Royale launched Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 9 p.m. Pacific Time. That was midnight at the start of Friday, March 13, in Eastern Time, 4 a.m. GMT, and 5 a.m. in mainland Europe.
Black Ops Royale launch times by time zone
| Time zone | Launch date and time |
|---|---|
| Pacific Time (PT) | Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 9 p.m. |
| Eastern Time (ET) | Friday, March 13, 2026, at 12 a.m. (midnight) |
| GMT | Friday, March 13, 2026, at 4 a.m. |
| Mainland Europe | Friday, March 13, 2026, at 5 a.m. |
The regional conversions were reported by Windows Central, which updated its European timing after the U.S. daylight-saving clock change. The Pacific launch was Thursday evening; the corresponding dates in the other listed zones were Friday.
Was it part of the Season 02 Reloaded update?
No. Activision scheduled the Season 02 Reloaded update for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 9 a.m. PT, and said Black Ops Royale would arrive shortly afterward. The mode’s separate launch time was March 12 at 9 p.m. PT—36 hours after the seasonal update began. Activision’s announcement and the later launch-time report distinguish the two events.
What launched in Warzone?
Black Ops Royale is a free-to-play battle royale mode within Call of Duty: Warzone, not a separately purchased standalone game. Set on Avalon, it supports up to 100 players; Xbox Wire describes the match format as 25 squads of four. Activision said the mode draws on the original Blackout and changes the usual Warzone rules: there are no starting loadouts, Gulag, or buy stations. Players begin with a pistol and wingsuit, and there is no in-game cash, according to Xbox Wire.
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Warzone Game Director Pete Actipis told Xbox Wire that it felt like the right time to bring “a new experience to Warzone” rooted in Call of Duty’s first battle royale. He also noted that it had been more than six years since Blackout originally launched.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Black Ops Royale available now?
It launched on the dates and times above, but that historical release does not establish whether the mode is currently in the Warzone playlist. Activision’s support index has a Season 06 page updated September 17, 2026, but does not confirm Black Ops Royale’s current playlist status. Check the in-game Warzone playlist for present availability; the Activision support index alone is not confirmation that the mode is live.
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