After the leak of the Black Ops 6 Vault Edition’s contents, we learned a lot about what was coming to BO6. We saw that Brutus and Klaus would be returning from Black Ops 2 and Black Ops: Cold War , and we also saw a likely confirmation of the return of Blackcell. What we want to discuss today, however, is the return of Black Ops III’s arguably most iconic zombies feature – Black Ops 3’s Gobblegum system.
THE HISTORY OF GOBBLEGUMS
GobbleGums have been a significant feature in the Call of Duty Zombies mode, adding a unique twist to gameplay by offering temporary perks and advantages to players. Introduced in Call of Duty: Black Ops III, GobbleGums quickly became a fan favorite aspect of the game – with “unboxing” and mythbusting videos about them skyrocketing some of zombies’ biggest content creators.
Some of the classic GobbleGums like “Perkaholic,” which granted all perks in a single use, and “Alchemical Antithesis,” changing points earned into ammunition instead, were highly sought after by players for their powerful effects. However, you could only unlock Gobblegums via gambling – throwing liquid divinium into Dr. Monty’s Factory in exchange for random Gobblegums. LD could be earned in games a few at a time, but could be bought in larger amounts for actual money.
Alongside the classics, there were also some extremely overpowered (OP) GobbleGums that stirred up debates within the community. GobbleGums like “Round Robbin’,” which instantly progressed players to the next round, and “Shopping Free,” providing a period of time where you can buy anything for free, made rounds easier but also raised concerns about game balance. There was even a video during the life cycle of Black Ops 3 which showcased a 4 player squad getting further than round 100 without ever really playing, only using a correct combination of Gobblegums.
The system was initially designed to be a bit more cumbersome to use in exchange for the power of these items. Originally, only one gobblegum machine was active on the map at a time similar to the mystery box, and it cost progressively higher amounts to hit the machine depending on your current round. After various balance patches over Black Ops 3’s life cycle, however, it is now free to hit the gum machine at least once every round and all machines are activated simultaneously.
This loss of cost and increase of availability, combined with the fact people were “dashboarding” (closing the game application rather than actually losing a game) to keep their limited-use Gobblegums meant that their balance was far from what was planned.
THE END OF ZOMBIES MTX
The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 marked a significant shift in the GobbleGum system. With the introduction of Elixirs in place of traditional GobbleGums, players experienced a departure from the familiar system. Elixirs offered similar benefits but lacked the same charm and nostalgia associated with the original GobbleGums.
They also attempted to more effectively nerf and balance the effects, as well as rework the acquisition and usage of them. However, ultimately, the cumbersome effect this rework had on the HUD and balance for elixirs meant that they did not land well with consumers and fans.
One notable aspect of this transition was the absence of Elixirs in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, indicating a shift away from the GobbleGum mechanic as players knew it. For the first time in years, zombies did not have a consumable mechanic like Gobblegums.
Vault Edition GobbleGums in Black Ops 6 Leaked
Recent leaks surrounding Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 have sparked excitement among the community with hints of the return of GobbleGums in the form of “Vault Edition” perks. These new GobbleGums are rumored to be part of special bundles that may resemble the popular DMZ and MWZ packs, offering unique advantages to players who buy them. Now, rather than using a slot machine style system, we would unlock our Gums via sections of the battle pass, or as a bonus alongside Bundles.
The potential return of GobbleGums in Black Ops 6 has piqued the interest of players, who are eager to explore the new mechanics and benefits these vaulted perks might bring to the Zombies mode. As long as the implementation of them is not so financially focused it feels unfair, the popularity of the mode is sure to benefit from their inclusion.
Questions about Black Ops 6 GobbleGums
As players look forward to the release of Black Ops 6, several questions arise regarding the implementation of GobbleGums. Can players still dashboard to save GobbleGums, a common tactic in previous titles? Will these perks be obtainable through a Newton’s Cookbook type feature (added during year 2 of Black Ops 3) or will they locked behind paywalls?
One pressing concern revolves around the impact of GobbleGums on the overall difficulty and challenge of the Zombies mode. The potential ease of acquiring powerful perks through GobbleGums raises the question of whether this mechanic will lead to a “Zombies is too easy / Zombies is Pay2Win” controversy within the community. While these discussions were already happening during other implementations of consumables, the inclusion of certain exclusive benefits in MWZ/DMZ such as operator slots in bundles but not in the unlockable battle pass certainly feels foreboding when it comes to the return of gums.
Could it be that we can unlock the less effective gums through the battle pass, but the best ones like Perkaholic or Shopping Free only come from bundles? And with the likely removal of the ability to “dashboard”, will these now feel far more finite than their original implementation in BO3? Only time will tell.
THE END
In conclusion, the journey of GobbleGums in the Call of Duty series has been a dynamic one, evolving from beloved classics to controversial microtransactions. As players await the release of Black Ops 6, the reintroduction of GobbleGums promises to add a new layer of strategy and excitement to the Zombies experience while also raising discussions about game balance and accessibility.
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