Call of Duty: Black Ops II ‘Nuketown 2025’ preorder map removed from public matches [update]

Update: After a full day of immediate and thunderous outcry from pretty much anyone who isn’t Activision or Treyarch, the Nuketown 2025 map has been returned to Call of Duty: Black Ops II public matches. The map can now be found in the rotation of a new “Chaos Moshpit” playlist that emphasizes smaller arenas.

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Original story: Call of Duty: Black Ops II’s key preorder promotion revolved around a free map and Double XP weekend. Anyone who preordered or bought a new copy of the game, or purchased the Hardened or Care Package editions, could download the Nuketown 2025 multiplayer map. Having access to the map also meant you’d receive double experience points during the launch weekend event.

However, when the event ended, the Nuketown 2025 map was removed from public matchmaking altogether. Developer Treyarch’s game design director David Vonderhaar confirmed on Twitter:

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Double XP weekend is official over. That means Nuketown 2025 / 24-7 is as well. I know. RIGHT? Don’t kill the messenger. +

— David Vonderhaar (@DavidVonderhaar) November 19, 2012

Vonderhaar also wrote that the map would be back for special events, and that you can still access it by playing custom games with your friends.

The sudden removal of the map has been a bit of a surprise for fans and customers. Activision and Treyarch never made it clear that the map had a (very) limited lifespan, and the fact that it was used as an incentive for purchasing the game then taken away days later has some chanting “false advertisement.”

Ironically, the in-game description of the Nuketown 2025 playlist read, “Nuketown 2025, all day. 24-7. We never close!”

GamesBeat has reached out to Activision and Treyarch for comment and will update this article if they choose to respond.