Black Ops 4's Newest Blackout Map, Alcatraz, Is Now Live On PS4; Xbox One/PC Later

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 new Blackout Alcatraz map is live--at least for players on PS4. The exclusivity with PS4 means the map hasn't been released on Xbox One or PC yet. Though Alcatraz should show up a little later, once its PS4 time exclusivity runs out, it's not quite clear exactly when that happens.

Alcatraz is a smaller map than the usual Blackout map in Black Ops 4, allowing for more close-quarters encounters with enemies. This also impacts how you arrive at the start point. Instead of deploying from a drop ship, you and your team start from portals at random points above the island. It also does away with the collapsing zone wall, and there are more zombies roaming about.

"Alcatraz is a small island, and that means super fast-paced, frenetically fun fighting," Treyarch studio design director David Vonderhaar said in a video describing the new map--which can be watched in the tweet linked below. Treyarch producer Miles Leslie added, "And our Zombies players might recognize this, but we've handcrafted Alcatraz for the Blackout experience."

"So as an island, we've got 40 players in a Quad configuration," Leslie continued. "So that's 10 teams battling it out, but the other big thing is respawns." The video goes on to explain that, when you die, you can respawn 30 seconds later and redeploy back into the game--but only up to five times.

Alcatraz also borrows the Zombies mode's weapon wall feature--including predetermined locations where you can buy a firearm. "At these locations, you're guaranteed to find a new weapon every 30 seconds," Vonderhaar said.

As opposed to Blackout's horizontal-focused original map, Alcatraz is more vertical. The center of the island contains a massive landmark called the Cell Block, which provides ample opportunities for attacking, looting, and defending. Surrounding the Cell Block are numerous other landmarks, each one descending in elevation until you get to the island's coast. Alcatraz provides numerous opportunities for players to ascend or descend, from snaking paths to climbable cliffs. There's even a tram that provides a direct path for you and your team to go from Alcatraz's outskirts straight to the Cell Block.

Until April 30, Blackout is free on all platforms, allowing you to try out Black Ops 4's battle royale mode on both maps.