Out of all the rumors for 2020’sCall of Duty, the most prominent subject is the game’s setting. Practically every leaker or insider has purported that this year’s release will take place during the Cold War in some way. Some have even specified that the setting will specifically be focused on Vietnam or Russia, but overall the consensus seems to be a return to the originalBlack Opssetting. This does pose an interesting question forWarzone, which is supposedly planned to exist beyondModern Warfare’s lifespan as a live service game.
WithWarzonepersisting, even thoughModern Warfare’s lifespan will end once the 2020 release is out, it’s very possible thatWarzonewill evolve with the nextCall of Dutyrelease.Warzonecould take many forms, either as a full on overhaul likeFortnite’s Chapter 2, or as an additionalBlack Opsmode with a new separate map and loot set. It’d be an understandably difficult undertaking, but there’s a couple options for how a Cold War-themedWarzonecould release for 2020’s annual release.
Complete Overhaul of Call of Duty: Warzone
AssumingWarzonestays related to whatever the nextCall of Dutyannual release is, this fall the battle royale will need to receive a complete and total overhaul of the base foundation. The setting could still remain Verdansk, butif 2020’sCall of Dutyis going to be based in the Cold War, environments and textures would need a 1950s-1960s update to match the new setting. That means buildings, vehicles, weapons, all of these things would likely need to have their designs altered to match a Cold War-era aesthetic. The layout of the map doesn’t necessarily have to change, but it would require combing through the entire map and updating models and environments one by one.
BothModern WarfareandWarzonehave been adding new weaponry in subsequent updates, so it is possible to update the weapon pool. This would likely take a larger update and a lot more work toWarzoneto replace all weapons with a Cold War-era loot pool. Not to mention, the custom loadouts from traditionalModern Warfaremultiplayer would no longer carry over intoloadout drops inWarzone. Overall, this seems unlikely, considering how much work would need to be done to update the existing battle royale to the nextCall of Dutygame. That’s without even considering fan response from currentWarzone/Modern Warfareplayers who wish to keep playing the battle royale as is.
A New, Completely Separate Warzone Release
What would make more sense would be to launch a new experience, one that could still be calledWarzoneor some variant of it, alongside or afterCall of Duty2020’s release. These two iterations could then be merged together, similar to howHalodoes it with theMaster Chief Collection. Players could then choose to install one or the other, or both, and contain both in one client as two different versions of theWarzonebattle royale. This option makes a lot more sense because it theoretically kills two birds with one stone forCall of Duty:Design and center a battle royale around the setting of 2020’sCall of Dutytitle, whilst also catering to the fans of the existingWarzone.
At the same time, that means designing a completely separate battle royale experience. Sinceeach annual release ofCall of Dutytypically splits development between three studios, that means the newWarzonewould be vastly different from its current iteration. The new battle royale could end up a far cry from the original, and that’s without even taking into account the balancing of a new weapon pool, new perks, new equipment, and whatever specific quirks 2020’sCall of Dutymay have. Things like buy stations, loadout drops, and other options may need to change as well, depending on how everything else balances out.
RELATED:Call of Duty 2020 Has One Big Disadvantage Due to Modern Warfare
Two Different Iterations of Warzone Makes Sense
Evidence inWarzonehas been pointing to some kind of map overhaul, which some believe is linked to the data-mined nuclear bomb teases. Regardless, it’sdoubtful thatCall of Dutywould pull aFortniteChapter 2on its most successful cash cow in 2020. If a new iteration ofWarzoneis in store for 2020’sCall of Dutyrelease, it would make more sense to create it as a separate experience. The new battle royale could utilize the engine of this year’sCall of Dutyto remain familiar, along with translating the same weapons/perks/equipment from the main game into it.
Ideally, both could be bundled together in the same clienta laMaster Chief Collection, with some freedom as to whichWarzonegames are downloaded.Modern Warfarehas already introduced some file management features for PS4 and Xbox One, so it would make sense to implement that in the nextWarzonegame. That way, fans of one or the other don’t need to waste storage space if they’re only consistently play the original or updatedWarzonebattle royale map.
Either way, don’t expect the new 2020Warzoneto release simultaneously with 2020’sCall of Dutyannual release. Giventhe significant development problems for this year’sCall of Dutytitlethat aren’t exactly the best kept secret, the game could even be delayed. Likely this next version ofWarzone/battle royale likely won’t release until far after the main game has launched.
Call of Duty: Warzoneis available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
MORE:Call of Duty 2020: Storylines That a New Black Ops Could Follow
