Activision has announced that the original free-to-play battle royale game, Call of Duty: Warzone, now known as Warzone Caldera, will cease operations on September 21st. The decision to shut down the game is aimed at allowing developers to concentrate on the “future Call of Duty content, including the current Warzone (previously called Warzone 2.0) free-to-play experience,” as stated in a blog post by Activision.
On the designated date, all gameplay, player progression, inventories, and online services associated with Warzone Caldera will no longer be accessible. However, players who have purchased Caldera content in Modern Warfare, Black Ops Cold War, or Vanguard will still be able to access that content within those games.
Warzone was introduced in 2020, offering two gameplay modes, battle royale and plunder, along with a single map called Verdansk that could accommodate up to 150 players simultaneously. It shared a battle pass, weapons, and cosmetics with the 2019 release of Modern Warfare. The game achieved immediate success, reportedly attracting 30 million players within just 10 days of its launch.
After the release of Warzone 2.0 in November 2022, the game was rebranded as Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera, named after the new Caldera map introduced in 2021. However, Warzone 2.0 has now been simplified to just Warzone, and Activision is encouraging original Warzone players to transition to this title. “Expect a wide range of gameplay options across three Battle Royale maps (including Season 04’s new map, Vondel), as well as Ranked Play, the DMZ Beta with five different Extraction Zones, BlackCell offerings, and more,” Activision mentioned.
Despite the company’s intentions, some players are dissatisfied with the closure of the original Warzone, especially since earlier battle royale games like Blackout from Black Ops 4 still have active servers. Others are disappointed by the resources being directed towards Warzone: Mobile, while some have expressed concerns about losing all their Warzone cosmetics, as reported by Kotaku.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Warzone closure
Q: When will the original ‘Call of Duty: Warzone’ battle royale game shut down?
A: The original ‘Call of Duty: Warzone’ battle royale game will shut down definitively on September 21st.
Q: Why is the game being shut down?
A: The game is being shut down to allow developers to focus on future Call of Duty content, including the current Warzone free-to-play experience.
Q: What will happen to gameplay, player progression, inventories, and online services?
A: All gameplay, player progression, inventories, and online services associated with the original ‘Call of Duty: Warzone’ game will expire on the shutdown date.
Q: Can I still access Caldera content purchased in other Call of Duty games?
A: Yes, any Caldera content purchased in Modern Warfare, Black Ops Cold War, or Vanguard will still be accessible in those games.
Q: What changes were made to the game after its release in 2020?
A: After the release of Warzone 2.0 in November 2022, the game was renamed to ‘Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera’ and later simplified to ‘Warzone.’ It introduced a new Caldera map and offered various gameplay choices across multiple Battle Royale maps.
Q: Why are some players unhappy with the game’s closure?
A: Some players are displeased that the original Warzone will no longer have operating servers while earlier battle royale games like Blackout from Black Ops 4 continue to be supported. Others express concerns about resources being directed towards Warzone: Mobile and the loss of their Warzone cosmetics.
3 comments
Finally, they’re shutting down the old warzone! been playin since day one and i’m ready for the new stuff. bring on the ranked play, new maps, and extraction zones. can’t wait!
omg, cant believe the original warzone is shutting down!! activision shouldve kept it runnin like blackout did from BO4. sad 2 lose all my cosmetics tho 🙁
warzone closure?! seriously?! i dont get it. why focus on warzone: mobile when they couldve kept the OG game goin? doesnt make sense to me. gonna miss my progress and inventories.