Exploring the Resident Evil Homage in Black Ops 6 Zombies

From the quirky Rupee-shaped prize for “Most bushes cut and pots smashed” in Call of Duty: Ghosts, to the secretive beach-landing Ray Gun in Call of Duty: World at War, and the myriad hidden features across various Nuketown maps, Call of Duty has a rich tradition of memorable Easter eggs. Continuing this fun legacy, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 enthusiastically embraces this tradition.

In Black Ops 6, Easter eggs are scattered throughout its campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies modes, some nodding to past titles and others referencing broader gaming culture. With new maps being rolled out in post-launch seasons, even more Easter eggs are being added. The latest seems to tip its hat to the beloved Resident Evil series.

Recently, with the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s Season 3, players were treated to a fresh Zombies map called Shattered Veil. Set in an Appalachian mansion steeped in mystery, it’s the latest installment in the saga featuring Weaver and his crew. Within this eerie estate, an inactive weapon mount above a fireplace, flanked by deer head trophies, awaits discovery. Players equipped with a Marine SP shotgun and the Death Perception Perk can trigger a mini Easter egg by interacting with it.

This particular Easter egg seems to pay homage to the original Resident Evil game. Back in 1996, and again in its 2001 remake, players encountered a shotgun on the wall inside Spencer Mansion. Taking the weapon sets off a ceiling trap, and only by replacing it with a broken one or, if playing as Jill Valentine, relying on Barry Burton’s timely intervention can players avoid the spikes. The shotgun-only requirement of Black Ops 6’s Easter egg, along with the mansion’s layout, makes it very likely a nod to Resident Evil.

Though it might just be chance, it’s not Call of Duty’s first nod to Resident Evil. During the third season of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, a Renetti pistol blueprint reminiscent of Albert Wesker’s Samurai Edge was available for players to unlock.

Running through the Shattered Veil’s shotgun Easter egg involves dispatching a wave of zombies using a specific Field Upgrade. To discern which one, players should aim for the left-most deer head to reveal the symbol they need. Finishing this task upgrades the Marine SP shotgun’s rarity, and repeating it can eventually transform the shotgun into a formidable Pack-a-Punch version.