Call of Duty: Warzone
A Look Back at Call of Duty: Warzone – The Game That Redefined Battle Royale
Few games have shaken up the battle royale genre quite like Call of Duty: Warzone. Launched on March 10, 2020, this free-to-play first-person shooter was developed by Raven Software and Infinity Ward, and published by Activision. It arrived as part of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) but carved out its own identity while integrating with Black Ops Cold War (2020) and Vanguard (2021)—all without requiring purchase of any of those titles.
Warzone brought fast-paced, large-scale combat to the genre, supporting up to 150 players per match with full cross-platform play and progression. From the start, it featured two main game modes: Battle Royale and Plunder. In the former, players fought to be the last squad standing while avoiding a deadly gas circle. In the latter, it was all about collecting cash.
A major innovation Warzone introduced was its in-game currency system, letting players buy killstreaks, armor, and other tools at “Buy Stations” scattered across the map. Perhaps most notably, it featured Loadout Drops, which allowed players to access their custom loadouts mid-match—blurring the line between classic multiplayer and battle royale formats.
At launch, Warzone only supported Trios, but Solos, Duos, and Quads were added in the months that followed. This flexibility in squad size and its evolving content helped keep the game fresh for millions.
The response? Massive. Warzone drew in six million players in just 24 hours. By April 2021, over 100 million downloads had been logged—a testament to its appeal and staying power.
In November 2022, a successor launched under the name Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, continuing the franchise’s expansion. Activision also brought the experience to mobile with Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, released on March 21, 2024.
As Warzone evolved, its original version was eventually sunset. On September 21, 2023, servers for the original Warzone were officially shut down so the developers could focus efforts on its successor.
Though the original Warzone is no longer live, its impact on the FPS and battle royale genres remains undeniable. It blended tight gunplay, high stakes, and strategic customization into a formula that captivated a global audience.
Thanks for reading —
Conrad