Call of Duty Warzone to get a new battle royale mode: What we know so far
Call of Duty: Warzone is getting a new battle royale mode next week. This new mode is inspired by Black Ops 4’s Blackout. Named Black Ops Royale, the mode will be free for all players and will launch on March 12 at 9pm PT (Friday, March 13 at 12am ET). The mode is set on the Avalon map and supports 100-player matches. Here’s everything we know about the new mode:
Black Ops Royale removes loadout drops and buy stations in favour of scavenging
Black Ops Royale does away with some of Warzone’s established mechanics. There are no loadout drops or buy stations, which means players cannot pre-build a set of weapons before a match or purchase gear mid-game. Instead, everything a player uses has to be found in the field.Weapons come in a range of rarity levels. Higher-rarity weapons come with more attachment slots as well as improvements to bullet velocity and range. Players are not stuck with whatever tier of weapon they find. However, attachment kits are available in the world that allow upgrades through a preset progression path based on weapon class. This gives players a way to improve their loadout throughout a match without relying on a buy station.Perks are also part of the mode and can be found on the ground or inside supply boxes. Players can also earn them by completing activities and missions that are spread across the map.
No Gulag means teams must use redeploy towers to bring players back
One of the more notable departures from standard Warzone is the removal of the Gulag. In most Warzone modes, players who die get a chance to fight their way back into the match in a one-on-one duel. This system is not present in Black Ops Royale.Instead, teams will need to locate and use redeployed towers to bring back eliminated players. Redeploy tokens also offer an alternative. Players who hold one can return to the match immediately without needing to reach a tower. Finding and holding onto these tokens adds another layer to the scavenging loop that the mode is built around.The announcement has drawn a range of responses from the Warzone community. A portion of players have pointed to the similarities with Blackout from Black Ops 4 positively, with comments under a recent developer briefing video referencing the older mode and expressing interest in trying Black Ops Royale when it goes live.Others are less convinced. Some players have said they would rather stay with the existing Warzone modes, with the removal of loadout drops cited as a specific reason for their hesitation. Reaction on the community-run r/Warzone subreddit reflected the same split, with a range of views from those looking forward to the mode and those approaching it with more caution.Whether the mode finds a long-term audience will likely depend on how it plays once it is in the hands of a wider player base. For now, players can try it for themselves starting March 12.
