Warzone 1 is now again on-line, however it’s lacking key options and maps

When Activision launched Name of Responsibility: Warzone 2 just a few weeks again, Warzone 1.0 went briefly offline whereas developer Raven Software program centered on help for the brand new game. Raven has its fingers busy with flying boats, infinite cash glitches, and frequent crashes plaguing Warzone 2, however it has saved its promise: as of right now Warzone 1.0 is again on-line, however it has a brand new title.

Warzone 1 is now known as Name of Responsibility: Warzone Caldera. It is just about the identical Warzone it was just a few weeks in the past, however with main options lacking. There’s just one map now (Caldera) and two playlist choices, battle royale Quads and Solos. All of Warzone’s current weapons, customized classes, and unlocks stay intact, however there is no such thing as a new battle move or any technique to unlock outdated battle move content material. Warzone Caldera is now primarily a Name of Responsibility game from earlier than the service game period—an island of content material with no roadmap or main updates within the works. A battle royale locked in time.

Notably, right now’s relaunch has (not less than in the intervening time) killed the small map class for each Warzone 1 and its sequel. Fortune’s Hold, a popular small map that changed Rebirth Island earlier this yr, is gone, and Activision is not planning so as to add it, Rebirth, or Warzone’s first map Verdansk, again anytime quickly. 

That is unhappy information for the numerous chunk of the Warzone neighborhood for whom the smaller, fast-paced format of Fortune’s Hold/Rebirth Island had develop into their most well-liked technique to play. The recognition of small maps and the Resurgence ruleset (a battle royale variant that routinely respawns squadmates if not less than one participant is alive) has confirmed in style sufficient to remain in Warzone’s playlist rotation for the final two years, so it is unusual to desert it now. Warzone 2 would not have a small map choice both, however Activision has teased “thrilling developments” for followers of small maps in Warzone 2’s future seasons.

The relaunch of Warzone Caldera appears to have come and gone with out a lot fanfare. On PC, there’s little proof that the outdated game nonetheless exists. My Battle.web app has reverted Warzone 1’s outdated library slot to solely show Fashionable Warfare 2019 (a humorous reversal of Warzone “consuming” MW practically two years in the past). Warzone Caldera is now put in as a content material pack for Fashionable Warfare that requires a complete of 89GB.

I respect my SSD an excessive amount of to have two gargantuan variations of Warzone put in on my PC, however the few streamers I’ve discovered enjoying Warzone Caldera have been capable of finding full lobbies, so there is definitely a neighborhood on the market that prefers the outdated methods. It is too dangerous Warzone 1 loyalists now need to take care of this janky foyer display that lists two adverts for newer Name of Responsibility video games earlier than modes for the game you are presently enjoying. 

Nonetheless, this reduced-fat Warzone is a greater destiny than service video games like the unique Overwatch received when their sequel launched, so maybe Activision deserves credit score for preserving a portion of the game.