Call of Duty: Warzone made its debut at the perfect time - on March 10, 2020, just as the global pandemic was causing lockdowns worldwide. With people stuck at home and in need of entertainment, the free-to-play battle royale game provided the perfect solution. In its initial months, Call of Duty: Warzone became incredibly popular, competing alongside giants like Fortnite and Apex Legends in the free-to-play gaming arena.
However, all good things must eventually come to an end. Activision Blizzard recently announced that the first iteration of Call of Duty: Warzone, now known as Warzone: Caldera, will be shutting down on September 21 of this year. While this decision is understandable, considering the success of Call of Duty: Warzone 2, it could potentially set a concerning precedent for the future of the Warzone franchise.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2's Days Could Be Numbered
Since the release of Call of Duty: Warzone 2 in November 2022, the original Warzone has been neglected by Activision. After a short break, the game's servers were restored at the end of November, and it was rebranded as Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera. Some hopeful fans believed that this name change indicated a return of Verdansk, but in hindsight, it appears to have been nothing more than wishful thinking.
With the closure of Call of Duty: Warzone in favor of its latest version, it raises the possibility of such actions occurring again in the future. Although Warzone 2 is expected to remain active for some time, its infrastructure will eventually become outdated, prompting the need for a Warzone mode that can keep up with the technological advancements of future Call of Duty generations. Therefore, it is highly likely that in another 3-5 years, a Warzone 3 will replace the current iteration, resulting in the loss of players' skins and progress once again, perpetuating the cycle. However, this is only if Call of Duty: Warzone continues to maintain its popularity over the long term.
Call of Duty: Warzone is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.