Everything we know about the return of Verdansk to Call of Duty: Warzone

In a return to its origins, Call of Duty: Warzone‘s Season 3 will see the comeback of the original map, Verdansk, starting from April 3rd. The developers at Activision and behind this massive free-to-play battle royale game have made the announcement.

In the return of classic Call of Duty: Warzone, Verdansk will be just one segment. However, starting from Season 3, significant alterations are planned for the main map and the game’s general mechanics.

While not everything will resemble your memories exactly, let’s delve into the anticipated changes for Verdansk 2.0.

Verdansk 2.0 won’t be an exact replica of what you remember, but here’s a sneak peek at its transformation.

When can I play Verdansk in Call of Duty: Warzone?

On April 3rd, Urzikstan will be replaced as the main map for Call of Duty: Warzone’s Battle Royale mode by Verdansk. Starting from April 2nd, players can preload the Season 3 update on all platforms. As you wait for Verdansk to become active, you can enjoy a 24-hour free trial of all Black Ops Cold War premium content.

A brief history of Call of Duty: Warzone and its Big Maps

In March 2020, the world underwent a significant transformation. As we collectively came to a halt due to the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, Activision unveiled Call of Duty: Warzone – a groundbreaking, standalone free-to-play game in the storied first-person shooter series.

In the realm of free-to-play battle royale games, Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds were already well-established competitors. Yet, Warzone gained traction due to its association with a renowned gaming brand and excellent timing, which made it popular among gamers.

In just a day, over 6 million gamers got their initial taste of battle royale in Verdansk, by logging into Warzone for the very first time.

The triumph of Warzone significantly reshaped the future of Call of Duty, leading to a strategic choice where all upcoming premium CoD titles within the annual Modern Warfare and Black Ops series would be connected to Warzone.

As a tech enthusiast, here’s how I might rephrase it:

In my gaming world, the epic battlefield of Call of Duty Warzone’s Battle Royale is about to undergo some significant changes. To start, with the unveiling of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, the iconic Verdansk map was obliterated and subsequently resurrected in 1984, as we fast-forwarded to October 2020.

This new version of Verdansk brings a fresh twist to the gameplay, making it even more exciting for players like me!

Initially, Verdansk 84 transformed into the Pacific Island of Caldera upon the launch of Sledgehammer Games’ Call of Duty: Vanguard in 2021. Later on, Caldera served as the primary map for Warzone until its original Battle Royale version was phased out to make way for Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0.

In the same timeline as Modern Warfare 2 (2022), Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 debuted, featuring enhanced graphics, an integrated launcher to streamline the overall experience, and the now-controversial DMZ mode. Initially, the main map provided was Al Mazrah, a vast desert city that did not possess the charm or abundant cover found in previous Warzone maps.

Al Mazrah was disliked by many players when it served as the main Battle Royale map. However, their joy was immense when it was swapped for the urban landscape of Urzikstan in 2023. Although not identical to Verdansk, Urzikstan retained many appealing aspects such as crowded city streets, tall buildings, and interesting locations that fostered exciting combat scenarios.

However, it wasn’t Verdansk that we were in, and by 2024, demands for a return to the original Warzone intensified significantly. The announcement of Verdansk’s return came during the Black Ops 6 Call of Duty: NEXT event, but it wouldn’t be until Spring 2025 that we could gather our team and battle in our beloved drop zones once more.

Welcome back to Verdansk

In a revamped and advanced form, Verdansk will be back in Call of Duty: Warzone. The map has undergone significant enhancements, offering sharper visuals and extended viewing distances due to the updated Call of Duty engine. Additionally, it boasts several user-friendly improvements compared to its previous version.

As per the Call of Duty blog, the 2025 edition of Verdansk has been meticulously reconstructed for a superior battle royale gaming experience.

The developers of Call of Duty assert that the newly revamped Verdansk, set to launch on April 3, is approximately 95% identical to the 2020 version. The remaining 5% underwent minor tweaks like additional cover and enhancements for user convenience. However, not every feature from the original Verdansk’s seasonal updates will be present when it reappears on April 3.

At the beginning of Season 3, the Metro Station entrances will initially be there but they’ll be shut down. However, adjustments to Verdansk are expected in forthcoming seasons.

Familiar but enhanced

When players jump into Verdansk on April 3rd, they’ll recognize many familiar landmarks, yet there will be some subtle refinements. For example, places like the Karst River Quarry and Superstore’s interior are virtually identical to the 2020 version of the main map, but they’ve been polished with better lighting and small adjustments to details.

The map has been thoroughly refined with additional dirt and texture details, but it’s now thawed out, so the Gora River is no longer frozen. This alteration affects the way players hear enemy footsteps when they wade through shallow water instead of walking on ice.

If you’re contemplating jumping onto Building 3 at Storage Town via parachute, it’s crucial to take precautions against the recently installed ladder which might provide enemy operatives with an enhanced chance to thwart your actions and potentially disrupt your rule.

The Gora Dam, intact as ever, shines in its resplendent state, adorned with a fresh jetty over the ice. On the other hand, the dealership at the airport now boasts a newly constructed walkway leading to its upper regions. To enhance the experience for players entering the airport, an array of cargo planes and runway jacks have been strategically placed on the tarmac, offering them protection from snipers perched above.

Initially when Call of Duty: Warzone debuted in 2020, our characters weren’t very skilled at swimming. However, as this tactic has become more useful, the upcoming Verdansk 2.0 will unveil the Kastovian Sea, featuring a fresh coastline to traverse. This expansion offers new entry points around the map’s edge, leading towards the Prison and guiding players through marshlands, trenches, and the Karst River’s mouth.

Verdansk Points of Interest

Verdansk will feature 19 major points of interest at the start of Season 3.

Dam
Military Base
Quarry
Airport
Storage Town
Superstore
TV Station
Boneyard
Train Station
Hospital
Stadium
Lumber
Downtown
Farmland
Promenade
Hills
Park
Port
Prison

Not exactly how you remember it

The map isn’t an exact replica of every detail; for instance, tree positions might vary, immovable vehicles are now depicted as wreckage instead, and changes in swimming capabilities have influenced how certain parts of the map can be navigated.

In order to make it easier for players to move around the hilly, rugged parts of Verdansk, clear paths similar to goat trails have been created. This way, players can traverse slopes more effortlessly.

Doors are double-hinged, can be barged through, and can be shot or blown open and closed.

In the upcoming weeks during Season 3, ascenders (which help players climb up steep terrain) will be incorporated into multiple locations on the Battle Royale map. These ascenders have been revamped and now feature an L-shaped design to facilitate quicker movement.

Changes such as improved art, scenic upgrades, and lighting adjustments have been made throughout the map. Therefore, if you were intending to hide in a dim area using a Roze skin, I’m afraid that won’t work anymore.

Gameplay changes coming to Season 3

Instead of returning solely to Verdansk, Warzone is also revisiting its fundamental aspects. The Call of Duty crew has fine-tuned the gameplay mechanics according to player suggestions, with many Warzone 2.0 features being scaled back to highlight more of what made the original so endearing.

One improvement could be: Free-floating loot! No more frustration of your inventory spilling out from a box onto the floor or getting trapped under furniture, or accidentally getting shot while you’re busy deciding whether to grab that new weapon lying on the ground. Even when enemies are defeated, their loot will float, making it easier to spot and collect.

In the upcoming matches for Verdansk, you’ll find 150 players competing, with the original announcer back and all the original cinematics in place. Also returning is the highly anticipated feature that allows shooting during freefall. But don’t think this is just a return to the old ways. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 introduced Omnimovement, which will persist in Call of Duty: Warzone. To keep the fast-paced action, certain aspects of Omnimovement like spring speed scaling and slide friction will be adjusted.

Loadouts and loot

As I prepare for my drop into the bustling landscape of Verdansk, let me remind you all to give a moment’s thought to updating your gear. The expansive arsenal from Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 3, and Black Ops 6 will be at everyone’s disposal, encompassing an array of weapons, tools, perks, and wildcards.

Originally, the Armor Carrier Bag is set to reappear, while all other versions of this bag (such as the Ammunition Pouch) will be eliminated. Players will now be able to carry a maximum of eight armor plating pieces, an increase from five previously. These bags can be obtained from supply boxes or scattered loot across the map.

You can locate the recyclable storage crates across Verdansk, along with regular and rare supply crates in their original color patterns, each emitting the distinctive ‘hum’ sound reminiscent of the original version.

As I observe, it seems that following the mid-season update, gamers will be excited to discover the reappearance of lucrative loot zones at their preferred Points of Interest. This revival comes with an increased probability of confrontations with enemies, making gameplay more challenging and rewarding.

In the updated version of Verdansk, Field Upgrades are making a comeback but with a vintage makeover. Here are some of the returning Field Upgrades and streak rewards you can expect:

Field Upgrades:
- Munitions Box
- Heartbeat Sensor
- Deployable Cover
- P.D.S. (Decontamination Station)
- Trophy System
- Loadout Drop Marker (Grenade and Crate)
- Armor Box
- Recon Drone.
Killstreaks:
- UAV
- Advanced UAV
- Precision Airstrike
- Cluster Strike
- Bunker Buster
Equipment:
- Flash Bang
- Smoke Grenade
- Concussion Grenade
- Decoy Grenade
- Snapshot Grenade
- Stim
- Frag Grenade
- Semtex Grenade
- C4
- Spring Mine
- Molotov
- Throwing Knife
- Thermite

At the game’s initial release, certain field enhancements and score rewards, such as the deployable decontamination station and bunker buster, won’t be accessible. However, they will reappear during the mid-season update.

Buy Station overhaul

As a fan, I’m thrilled to share that the revamped Buy Station interface is making a comeback, harkening back to its classic design! The regular menus will now be arranged vertically, and most purchase options are being scaled down, except in Plunder modes where they’ve received an update.

To get the Specialist bonus, you should either be patient until the Season 3 Reloaded update arrives, or try looking for the hidden freebie around Verdansk.

Among the potential upcoming improvements for Buy Stations, there’s an exciting new feature under consideration: a “Redeploy All” button. With this feature, you could swiftly purchase back your whole team if you have sufficient funds.

Contracts and events

In a Warzone game, contracts and events can dramatically alter the course of a battle, benefiting those who understand how to capitalize on these shifts. With the Season 3 Reloaded update, players can anticipate classic OG contracts like Bounty, Most Wanted, and Scavenger making their return. At launch, Recon contracts, supply runs, and contract multipliers will also be accessible for use.

With the midseason update, players will additionally enjoy Big Game Bonuses and Train Recon Contracts as well.

For public events, the following will be available at launch, with additional events coming later:

Fire Sale
Jail Break
Restock
Loadout Drop
Capture the Flag (Gulag Variant)

Quality of Life adjustments

At the game’s release and during the upcoming Season 3 Reloaded update (around May), you can anticipate a variety of enhancements to overall user experience. Some of these improvements will include the modifications listed below:

This way, I’ve aimed to use simpler language that is easy to understand while still conveying the original message.

Redeploy All squad buyback (launch)
Weapon Inspect with attachment list (launch)
Prioritize favorited loadouts (launch)
New tac-map settings for centering and zoom under Map Assist

With the debut of Verdansk, a more comprehensive Death Summary Widget will be added to the HUD as well. Previously, this widget displayed only the attacking player’s name and the amount of damage inflicted. Now, it will provide a more detailed account of each death event, offering additional information to enhance your gaming experience.

This fresh gadget will display extra details such as the assailant’s identity, weapon type, damage inflicted, number of strikes, and the method through which you were impacted (either live signal, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle surveillance, or unconcealed firearms).

Regarding notifications, if you’ve worked with someone who might overuse the marking system, you’ll love the latest options to adjust the duration that a notification stays visible on your screen.

The design of the ‘team member interface’ (squad widget) is being updated too. Now, it will display not only the icons for your teammates’ armor plates, gas masks, and killstreaks, but also indicate which field upgrade they are currently carrying.

Call of Duty: Warzone Season 3 Maps and Modes

Farewell to Urzikstan and the recently unveiled Resurgence map, Area 99, which has been a part of Warzone for just three months. Urzikstan is being removed from Warzone, but Area 99 will be temporarily absent for a brief period.

For now, we’ll return to the original settings of Verdansk and Rebirth Island. Here are the game modes you can anticipate:

This means that for the time being, we will be going back to playing on the original maps of Verdansk and Rebirth Island. The following are the game modes you can look forward to:

Battle Royale
- Verdansk, 150 players, 25 minute matches
Battle Royale Casual
- 28 players and up to 120 bots
Plunder (Quads)
- 100 players, 20 minute matches
Warzone Bootcamp
- Training, 12 players, 32 bots, 15 minute matches
Resurgence
- Rebirth Island, 44 players, 15 minute matches
Battle Royale Ranked Play
- Verdansk, 150 players in teams of 3 (coming midseason)

Warzone without paying a penny, as it’s a free battle royale game that comes with the Call of Duty platform. You don’t need to own any premium Call of Duty games to play it. This exciting game is accessible on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC platforms such as Steam, Microsoft Store, and Battle.Net.

Individuals who subscribe to Xbox Game Pass are able to access and play Modern Warfare 3 (2023) and Black Ops 6, as these titles are included in their Xbox Game Pass membership.

2025-03-26 21:12