Following the behemoth information that Microsoft will likely be buying Activision for $68 billion, it was reported that Call of Duty: Warzone 2 is within the works. The report got here from Bloomberg, citing “people familiar with the matter.” Activision then confirmed the existence of the mission, referring to it as “a new Warzone experience.”
While there may be some precedent to profitable live-service video games getting sequels, it’s not a typical incidence. Think of titles like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Rocket League. Warzone is likely one of the most profitable and well-liked free-to-play video games of all time, bringing in over 100 million gamers since its launch. So, given its success, it might sound odd for Warzone to obtain a follow-up, however if you happen to’ve performed the sport not too long ago, you’ll know the present iteration nonetheless has loads of room for enchancment, making a recent take way more essential.
Now that Activision has confirmed the brand new sport, referring to it as Warzone 2.0, we all know way more in regards to the upcoming battle royale sport.
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Release date
Activision confirmed Warzone 2.0 will launch in 2022, doubtless within the fall or winter. The firm introduced this alongside the Modern Warfare II reveal, confirming each video games will come to current- and previous-generation platforms.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 is scheduled for launch later this 12 months on the identical platforms.
The first Warzone sport was constructed upon the inspiration of 2019’s Modern Warfare, that includes the identical weapons, motion mechanics, perks, and different options. Given that mainline video games have been built-in into Warzone in December, that’s doubtless when Warzone 2.0 will launch, although this hasn’t been confirmed.
It was additionally revealed that Infinity Ward will lead growth on Warzone 2.0, with Raven Software serving as a assist group, together with most different Activision studios aiding.
Trailer
Activision
In phrases of promoting — together with trailers — Activision often holds particulars near the chest till simply earlier than the product is ready to launch. It didn’t was this fashion, however given the event hurdles launched with COVID-19, together with particular points at Activision studios, the corporate has opted to offer itself extra time earlier than exhibiting off its video games. With that in thoughts, you shouldn’t count on a trailer for Warzone 2.0 till it’s nearer to launch, probably a few months out. It’s doubtless Activision will tease the brand new sport on social media and even trace at it throughout the first Warzone sport, however a correct trailer will doubtless be held till as late as fall 2022.
Platforms
When it involves Warzone 2.0‘s platforms, Activision has confirmed it would launch for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. This is as a result of huge set up base for previous-generation {hardware}, particularly contemplating new-gen methods are nonetheless so exhausting to come back by.
One of Warzone‘s biggest issues in its current state has to do with performance and fidelity, especially on consoles. As we’ve coated earlier than, Warzone has suffered from visible bugs that adjust from inconvenient to game-breaking, making it exhausting to play. Console gamers are additionally unable to make the most of a field-of-view slider, a function that has been on PC since day one. So, it’s nonetheless unclear simply how a lot of this will likely be alleviated in Warzone 2.0, however the truth that it’s coming to previous-gen is disappointing, albeit comprehensible.
Gameplay
We don’t count on any main basic gameplay modifications with Warzone 2.0, however reasonably a litany of smaller quality-of-life enhancements sprinkled all through. Since will probably be tied to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, the implementation of a model new map is nearly assured. In addition, a recent set of weapons will supposedly be added, chopping ties from any of the earlier firearms from the primary Warzone. The foremost level right here is that the unique Warzone will nonetheless be playable and supported — whereas Warzone 2.0 will exist by itself, beginning gamers from scratch and eliminating something that got here earlier than.
Aside from the slew of bugs within the present model of Warzone, we count on the sequel to appropriate many design points from the primary installment. These are issues like an enhanced pinging system that works extra precisely, an up to date HUD that comprises extra particulars about your group’s assets available, a extra balanced record of perks to select from, and fewer however extra fascinating weapon choices. Warzone is plagued with a prolonged record of little points that make it far much less accessible and pleasurable to play, and we’re hoping Warzone 2.0 addresses all of them.
One of the most important points with Warzone since day one is that it options an amazing variety of weapons, however solely a small choice which can be really viable. To make issues worse, the in-game stats aren’t all the time indicative of how a weapon (and its attachments) will carry out, making it exhausting for gamers to select one of the best loadout. Instead, a lot of the neighborhood depends on YouTubers and streamers to manually take a look at every of the weapons and their attachments, which is a painstaking course of. Oftentimes, Warzone’s developer, Raven Software, gained’t reveal all the precise modifications made to weapons after an replace, that means these YouTubers should consistently take a look at all the things within the sport — a activity that turns into tougher and extra time-consuming as extra weapons are added.
Multiplayer
Warzone is a multiplayer-only sport, and we don’t count on that to alter with the sequel. However, there are various issues Warzone 2.0 may introduce to make the general expertise extra approachable. These are issues like a apply mode that options bots with adjustable difficulties and even a faster-paced deathmatch-style mode to assist gamers study the ropes. In reality, Activision has confirmed that bots will likely be applied kind of in the identical method as Fortnite.
So, sure, Warzone 2.0 will nearly definitely be multiplayer-only, however that doesn’t imply it has to stay to the format from the primary installment. Even although Warzone is free, it has all the time felt mild by way of the modes it has out there and may benefit from extra content material general — probably even an offline element. Activision hasn’t outlined the main points of Warzone 2.0’s content material plan, however we do know it would evolve, simply as the primary installment did.
DLC
One of the important thing points of a live-service sport is the promise of constant content material, which was clearly the main focus in Warzone. We count on Warzone 2.0 to make the most of an analogous components, with fixed updates that function new in-game occasions, weapons, cosmetics, playlists, modes, and map alterations that may hold gamers coming again. Typically, any further content material tied to gameplay is free, comparable to new weapons or limited-time modes, whereas cosmetics — comparable to weapon skins and Operators — value cash.
It’s doubtless Warzone 2.0 will implement the seasonal mannequin, whereby every season contains a battle go with 100 tiers of content material to unlock, motivating gamers to maintain checking again in. We hope lots of the gameplay-related points are ironed out with this sport so the event group can deal with the seasonal content material reasonably than squashing bugs. Nonetheless, there’ll doubtless be a wholesome mixture of paid and free content material to get pleasure from in Warzone 2.0.
Pre-order
Since Warzone 2.0 will doubtless be a free-to-play sport, you gained’t be capable to pre-order it — not less than not within the conventional sense. The first sport was a digital-only, standalone launch, and its sequel will doubtless be the identical. However, it’s potential you’ll be capable to pre-load it onto your system, simply as you’ve been in a position to do with previous updates.
It’s additionally throughout the realm of chance that Warzone 2.0 may get a bodily launch that comprises a obtain code and additional cosmetics, kind of just like the Fortnite Deep Freeze bundle, although we wouldn’t rely on this being the case. We’ll discover out extra in regards to the sport’s rollout as we get nearer to launch.
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