If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 - here's a simple fix for the "A.B.C" server error

As Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 starts going live across the world, a few reports of outdated versions and server issues have cropped up.

black_ops_3_mp_gamescom_Stronghold

If you've been playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 in the past few hours - or if you've been watching others play it - you've probably come across a server error preventing you from playing multiplayer.

The error reads, "The Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 server is not available at this time" and asks users to check server status online. There's also a very strange error code that goes something like "A.B.C,-.-F.G". Some players have taken to calling it "the ABC error" as a result.

According to Activision Support, this is happening becaus the latest game update hasn't been applied. The publisher recommends restarting the console and retrying.

The key thing to note here is the version number on the top right when you get this error. In short, you shouldn't be seeing 33.0.0.0.

If restarting your console and applying the latest update doesn't work, relaunch the game, but don't press continue this time. Wait until the version number on the top right changes. It seems this process is slow for some, possibly due to server load.

Sign in and unlock a world of features

Get access to commenting, homepage personalisation, newsletters, and more!

In this article

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Video Game

Related topics
About the Author
Sherif Saed avatar

Sherif Saed

Contributor

Sherif (he/him) is VG247’s go-to shooter and Souls-likes person. Whether it’s news, reviews, or op-eds – Sherif is always eager to tell you about video games. He's one of VG247's most veteran writers, with 10+ years experience on the site.

Comments