Call of Duty: Warzonehas been a successful entry in the battle royale genre. The long-runningCall of Dutyfranchise is one of the leading titles in the first-person shooter world, andWarzonehas brought an exciting free-to-play entry into the fold. Since the game’s 2020 beginnings, there has been a series of fun maps featured, and one sorely missed location is finally making its way back into the game.
After rumors flooded the community since it got taken out of rotation, it has finally been confirmed thatVerdansk is returning toWarzone. TheWarzonemap continues to be one of the most beloved maps by many players of the battle royale. Despite the map’s popularity, Verdansk has been missing for quite some time, as it was discontinued inWarzoneat the end of 2021. Relaunching sometime in 2025, Verdansk is an exciting return to form, but this also sets upWarzonefor the tricky task of balancing both the old and the new in future updates.
Warzone Cannot Fully Rely on Nostalgia Moving Forward
Verdansk Could Kickstart a Problematic Trend
Throughout theCall of Dutyfranchise’s long and varied history, compelling maps have played a large role in the success of its multiplayer gameplay. When it comes toWarzone,Verdansk is at the apex of fan-favorite maps, and the announcement of its return was a major highlight of the recent Call of Duty NEXT event. However, this could also run the risk ofWarzonebecoming trapped in the cycle of relaunching old maps to drum up excitement.
Verdansk returning toWarzoneis definitely the right move, but it shouldn’t stop the game from experimenting with new maps and locations.Warzone’s new Area 99 mapis planned to launch next year as well, and it looks to be just as compelling as Verdansk, if not more. Inspired by another fan-favorite map, Nuketown, Area 99 aims to offer players something familiar while still experimenting and bringing a fresh map to the forefront. Bringing back strong maps like Verdansk makes sense, but it needs to be balanced with just as interesting new settings.
Verdansk is currently available inWarzone Mobile.
Warzoneis no stranger to bringing back old maps.The return of Rebirth Islandhas also been a success, and it can easily be misconstrued that players only want old maps back. WhenWarzonefirst launched, Verdansk was the base map, which has filled it with plenty of nostalgia for players who jumped into the game back in 2020. Unfortunately, once the map was taken out of rotation, many follow-up maps inWarzonefailed to reach the same heights as Verdansk. However, this doesn’t mean solely returning to old maps is the key to future success.
Area 99 Alongside Verdansk Proves Balance is Possible for Warzone
AlthoughWarzonehasn’t always hit its target when it comes to new maps,Area 99 could begin a new eraof fresh settings that offer just as much as older maps. The excitement behind Verdank’s return doesn’t need to be confused with a lack of interest in innovation. Some of the greatest changes to theCall of Dutyfranchise have been through taking chances. From the Zombies mode to introducing a free-to-play battle royale withWarzone, the series has often thrived when it experiments. Of course, not every new bit of exploration is going to be a hit, but it is worth trying for the sake of moving the series forward.
Continuing to rely on hyping up players by adding old maps into the rotation could get old very quickly.Warzoneis promising some big changes ahead. Hopefully, that means blending fresh features with the nostalgic in order to craft a more balanced experience that helpsWarzoneevolve instead of staying in place.
