The long-awaited John Black Ops operator is finally making his debut in *Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6* Season 3. After months of speculation and fan demand, this redacted operator will become unlockable through the upcoming Black Ops Tribute event. However, unlocking him isn’t simple — he’s exclusive to *Black Ops 6* owners and requires full event completion. Here’s a breakdown of how to get him, what rewards are included, and what else to expect in Season 3.

A fan favorite is finally playable

After months of teases, data mining, and community speculation, the long-rumored redacted operator is finally confirmed as John Black Ops. He’s coming to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 as part of the Season 3 Black Ops Tribute event. For years, fans spotted this operator in early game files, noted his removal, and demanded his return. Now, not only is he returning, but he’s fully unlockable — with a twist.

John Black Ops will only be available to players who own Black Ops 6 and complete the specific mastery challenges included in the upcoming tribute event. This makes him one of the most exclusive and nostalgic rewards in the game so far.

If you’re planning to unlock him, here’s everything you need to know.

The Black Ops Tribute event begins on April 17

The Black Ops Tribute event is one of the major highlights of Season 3 in FC 25. Launching April 17 and ending May 1, this limited-time event celebrates the legacy of the Black Ops franchise with themed rewards, XP bonuses, and special unlocks. Players can earn progress by gaining XP across multiplayer, Warzone, or zombie modes.

To unlock John Black Ops, players must complete all reward tiers within the Tribute event. He is listed as a mastery reward and marked as a “BO6 reward,” which means you must own Black Ops 6 to access him.

Players on Warzone-only accounts will unfortunately miss out on unlocking this operator.

What’s included in the Black Ops Tribute event?

There are 17 total reward tiers in the event, with each tier offering themed cosmetics or in-game upgrades. Here are some of the key rewards:

Steer melee weapon blueprint

Blazing Wind calling card

45-minute double weapon XP token

New Gobble Gums

An exclusive emote

“Call It In” emblem

Death Machine scorestreak (Multiplayer and Zombies)

Close Shave perk (Multiplayer only)

Nail Gun (Special DLC weapon)

30-round C9 10mm Auto magazine attachment

Return of the Thermite lethal (Warzone only)

Additionally, some rewards are layered: each goal you reach unlocks two rewards — one universal and one that’s BO6-exclusive.

The full event is designed to be accessible whether you play casually or grind hard. But for that final mastery reward — the John Black Ops operator skin — you’ll need to complete all challenges and XP goals before May 1.

Why John Black Ops is so special

John Black Ops first appeared as an incomplete operator hidden within early Black Ops 6 files. He was originally part of an unfinished level 1000 reward but was later removed. After players noticed his absence and began requesting his return, Treyarch started teasing his appearance in various promos and teasers.

Now, the community finally gets what they asked for. This is a rare example of a fan-requested, in-game character that was never meant to go live but was brought back due to demand. He represents both the nostalgia of Black Ops and the power of community feedback.

Prepare during Quad XP before April 2

Before the Tribute event begins, players have a perfect opportunity to prepare thanks to the currently active Quad XP event. Running until April 2 at 10 a.m. PST, players can enjoy:

Double XP (Player)

Double Weapon XP

Double Battle Pass XP

Double Gobble Gum earn rate

If you’re looking to grind the SWAT 5.56 in preparation for the GRAU conversion kit, now’s the time. That weapon is expected to be one of the meta picks when Verdansk returns in Season 3. Gobble Gums are also more important than ever if you’re planning to complete the Shattered Veil zombie’s Easter egg, so don’t miss your chance to stock up.

Learn more about John Black Ops’ arrival from Tridzo on YouTube.

Return to Verdansk and other events in Season 3

The Black Ops Tribute is just one of many events happening during Season 3. Here’s what else is coming up:

Return to Verdansk (Early April, Warzone only): Bring back classic Verdansk with new challenges and rewards like the Kilo DLC weapon.

Blaze of Glory (Around April 20): A 420-themed event with a new LTM in Warzone and potential new cosmetics.

Call of Duty Endowment: Got Your Six (In-season): Focused on veteran support, likely offering universal rewards.

Players can expect new LTMs, XP bonuses, and unlockables across these events, though none of them will include camo rewards — a surprising absence this season.

No camo rewards: is Treyarch saving them for BO7?

One strange omission this season is the lack of any new camo rewards. While Modern warfare 3 went big with camo-based event progression, Black Ops 6 has been unusually quiet. Some believe this is intentional.

The community suspects that Treyarch is holding back most camo-related content for Black Ops 7, which is expected in 2026. Since carry-forward is already confirmed, and the engine remains the same, BO6 might be a foundational year to ease players into the next title. Once BO7 launches, camo-based progression, and larger live events could return in full force.

Treyarch is known for some of the most iconic camos in Call of Duty history. The current silence might just be a strategic delay.

How to unlock the John Black Ops operator in FC 25

To summarize the steps for unlocking John Black Ops in FC 25:

Own a copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Participate in the Black Ops Tribute event from April 17 to May 1

Complete all 17 event challenges and XP milestones

Claim John Black Ops as the mastery reward

He is not available in Warzone for players without BO6. If you want him, now’s the time to start prepping.

For more information and the full breakdown, check the original source video here: YouTube – John Black Ops Tribute Event Details

For more guides, and updates check us out at CODIntel.

FAQ about John Black Ops in FC 25

Who is John Black Ops in FC 25?

He’s a fan-requested operator finally unlockable in the Black Ops Tribute event.

How do I unlock John Black Ops?

Own Black Ops 6 and complete all XP challenges in the Tribute event.

Can Warzone-only players get John Black Ops?

No, he is exclusive to Black Ops 6 owners.

When is the Black Ops Tribute event live?

It runs from April 17 to May 1, 2025.

Is John Black Ops a limited-time reward?

Yes, he’s a mastery reward only available during this event.