Call of Duty: Warzone is ready to return to Verdansk, the original map where it all began back when the battle royale first launch in March 2020. Now, in celebration of the game's fifth anniversary, we're returning to its roots.
Activision confirmed that Season 3 of Call of Duty: Warzone will launch on April 3rd following a brief delay. The original Verdansk map will return with all the familiar drop zone and terrain that players fell in love with.
Call of Duty: Warzone debuted in March 2020 as part of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and changed the franchise forever. Although battle royale games were a dime a dozen back then, it was the first time such a mode had been adapted by Call of Duty. A free-to-play spin-off, the mode has also been tied to each annual release, including 2020's Black Ops Cold War and 2021's Vanguard.
Call of Duty: Warzone was a massive hit at first, fueled by the increase in stay-at-home gaming brought on by the pandemic. The game has seen more than 125 million players since launch; however, it's hit a bit of a rough patch over the past year. Network issues, rampant cheating, and lackluster updates have led to a major drop off in players which, in turn, has put Warzone on the chopping block.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Warzone 3 won't launch alongside Call of Duty 2026 if enough players don't stick around this season. It's claimed that Activision is bringing back Verdansk in an attempt to lure older players back to the mode, while also trying to attract new gamers as well.
In celebration of Call of Duty: Warzone's 5th anniversary, it's time to revisit the place where it all began - with the original Verdansk map returning on April 3 with Season 03. Get ready for the drop zones and familiar terrain that players loved, alongside new updates to explore.
Beyond Verdansk, it remains to be see what other surprises Activision has for Call of Duty: Warzone's fifth anniversary.
Verdansk is certainly fondly remembered among those who played Warzone when it first launched, but will it be enough to bring back older players? Furthermore, will it fuel any sort of player growth that could convince Activision to keep supporting the mode? Or will this be the final nail in the Warzone coffin? Battle royale games have sort of fallen out of flavor within the gaming industry. While there have been numerous battle royale games over the years, none have failed to achieve the same sustained popularity of Epic's Fortnite.