ActivisionCall of Duty’s most mysterious Operator is finally coming into focus thanks to the Black Ops Tribute event in Warzone and BO6.
John Black Ops is the name. We finally have confirmation after six months of leaks, teasers, and all sorts of intrigue. First spotted in the game’s files at the launch of Black Ops 6, players quickly grew curious about a secret ‘[REDACTED]’ Operator lurking in the shadows.
The once-redacted skin is officially called John Black Ops, and he finally arrives through the Black Ops Tribute event. Here’s everything you need to know about the event, including the skins and how to unlock the Operator.
Black Ops Tribute event start date
The Black Ops Tribute event starts on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM BST.
The event will run until Thursday, May 1, giving you a fortnight to earn all the unique rewards available.
Activision / DexertoHow to earn rewards in Black Ops Tribute event
To progress in the Black Ops Tribute event, you simply need to earn XP. This can be done in any game mode or playlist across both Black Ops 6 and Warzone.
In essence, just by playing the game, you’ll earn experience and advance through the event’s unique reward track. Speaking of, the full list of rewards can be found below.
All Black Ops Tribute event rewards
Thanks to dataminer Reality_UK, we know the full list of rewards available in the Black Ops Tribute event. Some are exclusive to Black Ops 6 owners, while others are available for free-to-play battle royale players.
With that said, below is the full list of rewards:
| Reward | XP Requirement |
|---|---|
| Intimidation Tactics – Weapon Sticker | 15,000 XP |
| Bomb on Wheels – Spray | 40,000 XP |
| Striped Beauty – Weapon Charm (Black Ops 6 Exclusive) | 40,000 XP |
| Liberating Air – Loading Screen | 76,000 XP |
| On the House – Gobblegum (Black Ops 6 Exclusive) | 76,000 XP |
| Operatives – Large Decal | 123,000 XP |
| Thermite – Lethal Equipment | 180,000 XP |
| Close Shave – Perk (Black Ops 6 Exclusive) | 180,000 XP |
| Attachment – C9 | 248,000 XP |
| Call It In – Emblem | 326,000 XP |
| Violet Sight – Reticle (Black Ops 6 Exclusive) | 326,000 XP |
| 45 Minutes – Weapon 2XP Token | 414,000 XP |
| Crate Power – Gobblegum (Black Ops 6 Exclusive) | 414,000 XP |
| Blazing Win – Calling Card | 511,000 XP |
| Steer – Melee Blueprint | 617,000 XP |
| Death Machine – Scorestreak (Black Ops 6 Exclusive) | 617,000 XP |
| Nail Gun – Special Weapon | Unlock all 10 event rewards |
| John Black Ops – Operator skin (Black Ops 6 Exclusive) | Unlock all 10 event rewards |
How to get John Black Ops Operator
To get the John Black Ops Operator in Black Ops 6 and Warzone, you need to own Black Ops 6 and complete the Black Ops Tribute event.
If you own a copy of BO6 or play through Game Pass, then you can unlock the skin by earning enough XP to claim all 10 rewards in the event.
Related
ActivisionWhen it was first unearthed, this mysterious skin simply appeared with a ‘redacted’ label. At the time, players were stumped as to how it might be unlocked. While some cheated their way to the Operator illegitimately, there was no clear path to grab it.
The leading theory at the time was that it was the ultimate Black Ops 6 reward. Upon reaching Prestige Master, which means prestiging a total of 10 times, there are then an additional 1,000 levels to progress through. It was widely believed that reaching level 1,000 in Prestige Master was the key to unlocking the redacted skin.
Ultimately, as we later learned, this wasn’t the case. The mysterious Operator continued to elude the CoD community until now. As revealed in the Season 3 blog, John Black Ops arrives with the event on April 17.
In the meantime, you can check out how to get free skins through Game Pass and what the devs had to say about the future of Verdansk.