Exploring the Resident Evil Homage in Black Ops 6 Zombies Mode

The Call of Duty series has long been a treasure trove of hidden gems and quirky surprises that keep players on their toes. From the quirky nod to Legend of Zelda with Ghosts’ “Most bushes cut and pots smashed” award, to the discovery of a Ray Gun in World at War’s beach landing, and even the covert references scattered throughout various Nuketown versions — the franchise is riddled with these delightful Easter eggs. Black Ops 6 continues this beloved tradition with a fervor.

This latest installment in the Black Ops saga has woven an intriguing web of secrets across its campaign, multiplayer, and the ever-popular Zombies mode. These Easter eggs not only tip their hat to Call of Duty’s extensive history but also throw in references from the broader gaming universe. New maps, courtesy of post-launch updates to Black Ops 6, have introduced even more secret nuggets, the most recent of which seems to give a respectful nod to the Resident Evil series.

With Season 3 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, players eagerly dove into a mysterious new Zombies map titled Shattered Veil. The map unfolds within the eerie confines of an Appalachian mansion, steeped in a sinister past and serves as the backdrop for the next chapter featuring Weaver and his team.

Within this spooky mansion, players will stumble upon a weapon mount over a nonfunctional fireplace, encircled by mounted deer heads. Equipped with a Marine SP shotgun and the Death Perception Perk, players can engage with this peculiar setup, igniting an intricate Easter egg puzzle. This sly Easter egg appears to pay homage to a classic scene from the original Resident Evil game. In Resident Evil, players encountered a shotgun mounted on the wall inside the iconic Spencer Mansion. Taking the shotgun immediately triggered a deadly spike trap from above. To safely snag this weapon, players had to locate a broken shotgun to swap with the functional one — unless they were playing as Jill Valentine, in which case Barry Burton would heroically come to their rescue.

Given the shotgun-centric nature of the Easter egg and the eerie mansion vibe reminiscent of Spencer Mansion, it stands to reason that Black Ops 6 crafted this nod in honor of that unforgettable Resident Evil moment.

Some might chalk it up to coincidence, but this wouldn’t mark the first time Call of Duty has drawn inspiration from Resident Evil. Take, for example, the Renetti pistol blueprint from Modern Warfare’s third season, which bore an uncanny resemblance to Albert Wesker’s signature Samurai Edge handgun.

Upon completing the shotgun Easter egg in Shattered Veil, players are tasked with vanquishing a relentless zombie onslaught utilizing a specific Field Upgrade. This upgrade is revealed by taking aim at the leftmost deer head and observing the resulting symbol. Successful completion of this challenge results in a rarity boost for the Marine SP shotgun, with the potential for further upgrades, even reaching the revered Pack-a-Punch status.

As new discoveries await in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, players can look forward to unearthing more hidden lore and gaming references, proving that the magic of Easter eggs remains a cherished fixture in gaming’s landscape.