If you’re unfamiliar with how the prestige system works, it is an option that is available to the players after they reach the highest rank in multiplayer. Players can trade in their rank, completed challenges, and other unlocks and go back to rank 1 once again. The idea is that you then grind back up to the top level again in order to receive a new rank logo. Players have generally favored the prestige system as it offered them a purpose to grind in Call of Duty multiplayer mode. In addition to the new rank logos, you also get bragging rights, of course. However, last year’s Call of Duty installment, Modern Warfare (2019), replaced the prestige mode with a seasonal ranking system. Once players reached the maximum level cap per season in the seasonal ranking, they couldn’t do much until the next season started. However, it now appears that prestige mode will return in the new Black Ops Cold War, with plenty of evidence suggesting that will be so.
Most COD players might be aware that you must reach the maximum level in multiplayer to enter prestige mode. The maximum level before Modern Warfare (2019) was level 55. After the introduction of Modern Warfare (2019), that level cap was increased up to 155 for each season, as per the seasonal ranking system.
Thanks to the recent Cold War beta weekend, we were able to look into the rank progression system, and the maximum level possible is level 55, the Commander rank. This hints that the prestige system might very well be returning in Black Ops Cold War.
This is further confirmed by ranking our weapon to the maximum level. In doing so, we get a new option for that weapon that allows us to enter into prestige 1 mode. We were able to upgrade our XM4 to the max level over the beta weekend to confirm weapon prestige mode.
Treyarch has not commented on the prestige mode returning but the signs look promising. It will be interesting to see how the new ranking system ties in with the Cold War version of Warzone. Perhaps both the seasonal ranking system and the prestige mode will work together in tandem. We will know everything once the game is out for PC, PS4, and Xbox One on November 13th, 2020.
