Name of Obligation: Warzone is bringing again the battle royale map that began all of it: Verdansk. It’s been simply over three years since gamers final dropped into the beloved location’s iconic POIs, so we’ve taken the time to spotlight its largest modifications.
Verdansk is nothing with out every particular person constructing that gamers spent lots of of hours dodging (and taking) bullets by – and Activision is aware of it. That’s why veterans who performed the OG Warzone map again when it launched in 2020 will discover that its Ukraine-inspired streets, rivers, and constructions have been introduced again virtually utterly unaltered. It’s the map you realize and love, constructed from the bottom as much as go well with the up to date playstyle launched with Black Ops 6 and squash a couple of of the extra notable points gamers have harped on by the years.
“This model of Verdansk has been painstakingly rebuilt from the bottom as much as provide the highest battle royale expertise potential,” Activision defined at this time in a weblog submit. “That have balances the immersion, adjusted motion mechanics, and the signature gameplay you keep in mind from the unique Name of Obligation: Warzone with one overriding purpose: To relive the basic and nostalgic Verdansk map all of us keep in mind.”
Kitted Out
The writer behind Name of Obligation says its return to Warzone’s roots features a model of Verdansk that’s “95%” correct to its unique launch construct. It’s been greater than three years because the map was retired in late 2021, so naturally, the staff felt it was due for not less than a couple of tweaks that shouldn’t intervene with that nostalgic design.
One normal rule of thumb, in fact, is that Verdansk will profit from improved lighting that falls extra consistent with the visuals seen in final 12 months’s Black Ops 6. Upgraded visuals on a finer element stage will even be present in areas like Grazna Bridge and people frequent fireplace stations, which characteristic barely extra weathered paint jobs and chunkier bricks. One other instance of beauty modifications to Verdansk’s iconic areas could be present in a weed drawback on Storage City’s roofs, extra reflective puddles, and added electrical pipework.
Your common Name of Obligation fan isn’t going to note the additional blades of grass added to a random area subsequent to the northwest aspect of Stadium, however what they’ll discover are some surface-level design tweaks to a couple particular person POIs. Storage City Constructing 3 is one instance of a construction that’s been touched up, with Activision explaining that it’s been gifted a ladder with a purpose to nerf its earlier spot as an “unfair energy place.” As various related constructions have additionally invested in ladder additions, gamers will discover that different areas, such because the Hangars, now characteristic repositioned automobiles and extra cowl.
Verdansk Reheated
Even should you’ve lived 100 lifetimes in Verdansk’s unique incarnation, none of those aforementioned modifications are true gamechangers. Nevertheless, to accommodate issues like Black Ops 6’s omnimovement and swimming mechanics, Verdansk wanted to obtain a couple of extra alterations which are a bit greater than pores and skin deep.
Verdansk, a historically very snowy map, has had its temperature turned up ever so barely, ensuing within the melting of rivers that have been beforehand frozen. Which means you’ll be capable of swim in a few of the deeper our bodies of water just like the Kastovian Sea – and make extra noise when sprinting by a few of the ankle-deep rivers polluting the map. Undrivable automobiles have additionally been given a facelift to make sure there’s no confusion about whether or not or not they can be utilized for a fast getaway.
Moreover, these steep, rocky trails and cliffsides that you simply and your mates have virtually definitely died directly earlier than have been tweaked to be extra forgiving to gamers on the run. You’ll additionally discover that tall constructions like phone poles have been barely shortened, making for much less annoying descents into the Warzone. If you end up questioning tree placement come April 3, simply know that, sure, the staff at Activision has made a couple of minor changes to tree placement to shake issues up, too.
In the meantime, doorways react way more dynamically to the motion round them, as bullets and explosions could cause them to swing in both course relying on the place influence happens. Ascenders, which have been beforehand featured in Name of Obligation: Trendy Warfare 2019 however added post-Verdansk removing, have additionally been retrofitted to make a few of these harder-to-access rooftops simpler to succeed in.
Heads-Up
Whereas these modifications might look like lots when all unfold out, Activision reiterates that the “overwhelming majority” of Verdansk 2025 has been revived as a “one-to-one duplication.” Examples of areas that stay largely untouched are Karst River Quarry and Superstore, which look and play the identical inside and outside.
In the meantime, the video game-y points of Name of Obligation: Warzone’s nostalgia play additionally search to return to the sensation gamers had when dropping into the battle royale mode again in 2020. This may be seen in a whole overhaul to Contracts, Public Occasions, Subject Upgrades, automobiles, and even Killstreaks, which have all been reverted to suit the choices discovered within the 2020 Verdansk construct. Which means every part from the OG helicopter to the hum of a close-by chest to that basic loading display is again.
As different experiences like Fortnite ship up to date takes on basic choices, it appears like Name of Obligation is right here to supply its personal model of considered one of its hottest moments in time. So, whereas one thing like a lighting tweak could seem inconsequential at first, Activision needs gamers to know that these modifications have been made with that notorious Roze pores and skin, for instance, in thoughts. Ought to every part play out as anticipated, Verdansk’s reintroduction might present the definitive strategy to expertise that map ever.
Name of Obligation: Warzone brings again Verdansk April 3, 2025. It’s going to launch in the future after the introduction of Black Ops 6 Season 3 and following a one-day down interval for gamers. When customers boot up Warzone on Verdansk launch day, they’ll be capable of get pleasure from a particular, limited-time occasion known as Return to Verdansk that comes with distinctive cosmetics, sprays, Operators, weapons, and far, way more.
Michael Cripe is a contract contributor with IGN. He is finest identified for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Make sure you give him a comply with on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
