Call of Duty joined the popular trend of free-to-play battle royale games with Call of Duty Warzone in 2020 following the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
Previously, the franchise had already experimented with a similar game mode in 2018 when Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 launched with Blackout, the IP’s first attempt at a battle royale mode.
However, this iteration of battle royale was not free-to-play and found little success compared to Call of Duty Warzone, which quickly became a massive part of the genre. Unfortunately, Warzone is being permanently shut down later today.
Why it matters: While Call of Duty fans can continue to enjoy Warzone 2.0 after the shutdown, the original version of the battle royale had several differences, making it a preference over the newer version for many players.
It is officially the final full day of Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera.
The servers for Warzone Caldera will be shut down September 21, 2023.
Modern Warfare 2019, Black Ops Cold War, and Vanguard MP will still be available to play. pic.twitter.com/gSS5Ytbr1g
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) September 20, 2023
The servers for Call of Duty Warzone are scheduled to be taken offline on September 21, marking the last day of the game. However, it should be noted players will be able to enjoy the Call of Duty games connected to Warzone after the shutdown.
Call of Duty Warzone introduced several new features to the genre, allowing players to quickly rejoin the battle after dying through the gulag mechanic. It also incorporated signature Call of Duty elements like killstreaks through buystations.
Such elements made it distinct and allowed the Call of Duty offering to stand out in a saturated genre. Call of Duty Warzone also came with a focus on movement, carrying over the fast-paced reaction-based gameplay from its predecessors.
However, the battle royale had its fair share of ups and downs. Fan-favorite maps like the original Verdansk were permanently replaced later down the line, and Call of Duty Warzone currently offers Caldera as a replacement.
As for Warzone 2.0, Activision continues to support the latest iteration of the battle royale mode, adding new content and cosmetic items to the free-to-play offering for maximum player engagement.
Spawn is summoned 😈
The underworld rises to Call of Duty in Season 06 on September 27 🪦 pic.twitter.com/FSSPOMPhjh
— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) September 20, 2023
The latest wave of content for Warzone 2.0 is scheduled for release on September 27. This update will see popular guest characters like Spawn joining the first-person shooter franchise.
Following the announcement, many Call of Duty fans and streamers have played the original Warzone over the last week.
Players have reminisced about their memories of gaming during the pandemic and the initial years of the fresh battle royale experience, sharing old videos and returning to the battle royale one last time before it goes offline forever.
Meanwhile, Activision is gearing up for the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. The latest entry in the franchise will be released on November 10, bringing all of the classic maps from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2(2009) to modern platforms.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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