With over 125 million players dropping in to play the original Call of Duty: Warzone, and over 200 streamers and content creators playing an early Alpha version of Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 at the Call of Duty: Next event, the first official intel has dropped regarding this massive, free-to-play Battle Royale experience featuring a huge and incredibly detailed new map, a host of innovations, and many more details the devs plan to share between now and November 16, when Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 is officially launched – free for everyone – as part of Modern Warfare II Season One.
Right now, here’s recap of what was shown at Call of Duty: Next:
ATTENTION! The following briefing represents only the first wave of intel related to Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 and is by no means exhaustive. Look for a number of additional intel drops to come! In addition, the original Call of Duty: Warzone is continuing on, and Activision will have more information to share in the weeks ahead.
The Biggest Call of Duty: Warzone Map Ever: Welcome to Al Mazrah!
Meticulously crafted and polished by a host of developers across multiple studios, offering distinct and diverse geography never experienced before in Call of Duty: Warzone before, this brand new map is immense, dynamic and rewarding, and built literally from the ground up with the emphasis on loading up your favorite custom weapon, dropping in, exploring the vast landscape, and having a hell of a good time doing it.
Expect to drop into a massive metropolitan area featuring coastal towns, depots, desert, rocky peaks, subterranean spaces, industrial areas, rivers, and an entire city to explore. Reconnoiter by land, air… and water!
In fact, Al Mazrah is so expansive, there’s a dedicated blog giving a first look and overview of the major points of interest, including hints on [REDACTED] locations for veteran players. Read it here.
A True Extension of the Modern Warfare II Universe
Initial Intel: Swimming and Aquatic Combat
Initial Intel: Over a Dozen Unique Vehicles
What’s more, depending on the vehicle you’re commandeering, you can customize it with a skin, including the free “Floor It” Vehicle Skin you can unlock during the Open Beta (click here for intel on all ten free Open Beta rewards). In addition, expect to climb or drop onto vehicles, damage tires and doors, shoot out windows, and be on the lookout for gasoline, as every vehicle (including boats and helicopters) gradually runs out of fuel.
Naturally, if you’re using the rapid and almost-silent [REDACTED] EV as your method of transportation, a different course of refueling action is required…
Initial Intel: The Shop
- Squadmate Buy Back: Just like in Call of Duty: Warzone, you’re able to buy back a teammate after they’ve been taken down either in combat, or failed to return from the all-new Gulag.
- Buy Gear: Just like the function of the original Buy Station, you can purchase equipment such as Gas Masks, Killstreaks, Armor, and more.
- Limited Equipment: Some items are likely to be limited in number, and once purchased, they are gone from the Shop.
- Buy Weapon: Prior to a match, your main preparation is focused on creating a number of custom weapons for your next match in Al Mazrah.
- You purchase these custom weapons from here. Note this takes the place of a full Loadout (your Primary, Secondary, Tactical, and Lethal as well as Perks).
- Custom Weapons are constructed in the Gunsmith, and then bought here. They take up your weapon slots. Tacticals and Lethals are very common ground loot. Perks will not be available in Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 at launch.
Initial Intel: Circles Collapse
Initial Intel: The Gulag
Initial Intel: AI Combatants and Strongholds
If you’re concerned that AI combatants are going to get in the way between you and your W, then don’t be: It’s entirely your choice to engage the non-player combatants scattered across the map, or NOT to engage them. AI won’t actively pursue you or your squad, and you can choose never to interact with them. AI combatants have a variety of lethality levels and behaviors and are usually encountered in specific areas of the map. While they may defend their territory like a CDL pro, they won’t seek out combat.
Conversely, if you’re ready to take on any combatant you see, there are locations with a concentration of enemies dotted around the map where you’re guaranteed to have your combat mettle tested. Known as Strongholds, expect locked doors and a high density of AI combatants with a variety of innovative features to their responses depending on your tactics. Conquer a Stronghold and expect impressive loot, including an item that allows you to purchase one of your customized Gunsmith weapons at The Shop for free….
Initial Intel: DMZ
RICOCHET Anti-Cheat on Day One
RICOCHET Anti-Cheat – including its PC kernel-level driver – will be active on Day One for both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0. RICOCHET Anti-Cheat is upgraded and improved for both games, combining a year of updates from #TeamRICOCHET with new features and mitigations to protect the game.
COD SHOP Next Celebration: 20% Off!
In celebration of Call of Duty: Next, Activision are offering 20% off all items across the COD Shop for their Call of Duty community. Drop in at the COD Gear Shop HERE, gear, up, and use Promo code: NEXT20 at checkout. Offer ends 9/18.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 are published by Activision. Development for both games is led by Infinity Ward with additional development support provided (in alphabetical order) by Activision Central Design, Activision Central Tech, Activision Localization Dublin, Activision QA, Activision Shanghai, Beenox, Demonware, High Moon Studios, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, Toys for Bob, and Treyarch.
Stay Frosty.
