Explosive Fallout: Warzone Caldera's Closure Sends Shockwaves through Black Ops 4

Content: Unfortunately, Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera will be shutting down on September 21, much to the disappointment of many players. This means that players will have to say goodbye to the World War 2-themed map, along with their collection of blueprints, Operators, and camos, as these items cannot be used in the current version of Warzone. Nevertheless, those who do not wish to transition to Al Mazrah and Vondel can continue playing another Call of Duty battle royale in 2023, provided that they have a copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 was an intriguing yet divisive addition to Activision's popular first-person shooter franchise. Upon its release, the Zombies mode received more attention than ever, featuring four full maps right from the start. However, a significant number of bugs and controversial story choices quickly overshadowed the mode's initial success. The multiplayer component brought back the love-hate specialist system, while also returning to a more traditional boots-on-the-ground approach in an attempt to cater to a broader audience. Surprisingly, Black Ops 4 completely did away with a traditional campaign and instead introduced a battle royale mode called Blackout. Despite its shortcomings, this risky move may have paid off, as the game's release in 2018 has proven to have a longer lifespan compared to the original Call of Duty: Warzone.

Call of Duty's First Battle Royale Mode Has Somehow Outlasted The Original Warzone

Despite its strong support and constant release of cosmetic DLC, Call of Duty: Warzone is surprisingly coming to an end before its predecessor, Blackout. This is shocking considering Warzone's dedicated player base and the fact that it received support two years after Blackout's debut. In contrast, Blackout's inability to reach the same level of success as Fortnite or PUBG may be attributed to its lack of free-to-play accessibility. While this limited its audience, it also made Blackout a crucial component of the Black Ops 4 game, replacing the campaign as a major attraction. As a result, Black Ops 4 is still available for purchase and unlikely to be taken off the market, ensuring that Activision will not shut down the servers due to the continued demand for Blackout.

Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera, on the other hand, found itself in direct competition with the newer Warzone version. From a business standpoint, it didn't make sense for a company like Activision to divide the player base. If players were dissatisfied with the changes in Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, whether it was the shortened time-to-kill or the main map in comparison to Caldera, they could simply go back to the older Warzone experience. Unfortunately, this meant missing out on the new Call of Duty Battle Passes, cosmetics, and playable content, which obviously had negative implications for the business.

Notably, Blackout had the advantage of offering a distinct gameplay experience compared to Warzone. Whether it was battling zombies in order to access a mystery box, engaging in intense gunfights with level 3 armor, completing challenges to unlock Blackout characters, or collecting paint cans for camo customization, it provided a unique twist on the battle royale genre. On the other hand, Warzone Caldera offered the same type of battle royale experience as the modern Warzone, essentially pitting Call of Duty: Warzone against itself in terms of competition.

Despite the shutdown being understandable, it is intriguing to consider Blackout outlasting a version of the highly successful Call of Duty: Warzone. Interestingly enough, Treyarch's battle royale mode could see a resurgence with the arrival of Warzone Caldera. The recent inclusion of Black Ops 4 on PlayStation Plus has significantly expanded its player base, and the game's affordable price in 2023 allows players to obtain it for a lower cost compared to cosmetic bundles in Warzone's in-game store. By doing so, players can dive into an Alcatraz match, which served as the inspiration for Rebirth Island and shares a nearly identical layout. As nostalgia for the old school Warzone sets in post-shutdown, Blackout might become a viable alternative, showcasing its unexpected longevity.

You can currently find Call of Duty: Warzone on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.