Call of Duty: WarzoneSeason 5 is just around the corner, but to be completely honest, I’m not all that excited. Sure, the Stadium being re-opened to introduce a new POI to Verdansk is fine and all, but beyond that and some LTMs, there’s really not all that much to anticipate. This is a far cry fromBlack Ops 6, which is receiving two new maps and two reimaginings - visually overhauled versions of classic maps, those being Casino fromBO4and WMD fromBO1. Beyond multiplayer, my beloved Zombies mode is getting a wealth of content via its final map, Reckoning, ranging from a newWonder Weaponto a Mr. Peeks Field Upgrade. Compared toBO6,Warzonereally feels like an afterthought this Season, and what’s so frustrating is that this didn’t need to be the case.
After months of waiting,Call of Duty: Warzonefans received a brief spark of hope that Season 5 would finally make Avalon playable, yet this turned out to be little more than a misleading bit of the Season’s trailer. In the final seconds of said reveal, an overhead view of Avalon is shown, with the setting discussed throughout the footage prior to this shot. With the location being truly massive in scale, it made perfect sense for it to be a full-scaleWarzoneplayspace, joining Verdansk as a second major map. Unfortunately, it seems like this won’t be the case after all, which might just be the final straw that pushes me back to the competition. Sure, I was very much aBattlefieldguy during theBattlefield 3days (andBF4/BF1to a lesser extent), but I’ve spent much more time inCall of Dutyover the last decade - something that may soon change.
While I’ve tried my best to keepCall of Dutyin my ever-growing rotation of live-service games, theWarzoneportion of the franchise has grown increasingly less enjoyable for me. As great as they are, I’ve simply grown tired of playingVerdanskand Rebirth Island over and over again, so I was really holding out hope for all the Avalon leaks and out-of-mapBO6discoveries to have a payoff. Not only was Avalon a neat campaign setting, but the notion that it would include POIs inspired by classic maps like WMD and Casino makes me truly heartbroken that it’s seemingly been left on the cutting room floor, as the map could have had proper Blackout vibes - a mode I still see as the best BR experience inCoDhistory. WithWarzoneletting me down like this after already leaving me bored for some time now, I’m turning my attention toBattlefield 6and its long-rumored battle royale mode to help fill the void.
There’s certainly a chance that Avalon is the battle royale map for theBO7era ofWarzone, but it’s odd for it to be teased multiple Seasons early if the plan is to introduce it further down the road. It’s more likely that it was indeed scrapped, and its assets were re-used forBO6’s multiplayer, just like theUral Mountains mapfrom theBlack Ops Cold Wardays.
Why I’m Confident That a BF6 Battle Royale Mode Can Shine
Admittedly,Battlefieldhas struggled in the past when trying to chase trends.Battlefield 2042’s Hazard Zonewas an extraction shooter experience that was never able to find a consistent audience, while Firestorm wasBattlefield 5’s shot at a battle royale mode. Though it was far from a bad mode, and was actually quite polished, it struggled for the following reasons:
There were other criticisms to consider, too, like vehicles being included in Firestorm. Though vehicles are a key part ofBattlefield’s DNA, they can be incredibly frustrating in a single-life setting, and are likely something that would be avoided if the franchise attempted battle royale gameplay again. Fortunately, DICE is likely fully aware of all the issues players had with Firestorm and would know to avoid them this time around, dropping a fully supported mode that has good anti-cheat and no price tag attached. Currently, little is known aboutBF6’s battle royale mode. It’s rumored to release months after the base game, while leaks have claimed that it will have 36 POIs and a metro system (fingers crossed that this will look and play like Operation Metro).
Obviously, any info should be taken with a grain of salt until DICE confirms the mode’s existence, though it would certainly go a long way to helping meet EA’s lofty expectations forBattlefield. While I missed the boat on Firestorm, I’m eager to see what the series does with another shot at battle royale gameplay, as nobody does large-scale warfare as well asBattlefield. Perhaps the map will pay homage to a number ofclassicBattlefieldlocations, letting players destroy the Siege of Shanghai skyscraper, leap off Damavand Peak’s helipad, and visit Wake Island all within the same match. If it can pay tribute toBattlefield’s history while being genuinely fun and fresh, it will do everything I hoped Avalon would have done forWarzonein Season 5, allowingBF6to swoop in and stealCall of Duty’s thunder.
Call of Duty: Warzone
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to Call of Duty®: Warzone™, the massive free-to-play combat arena which now features Urzikstan, Rebirth Island and Fortune’s Keep.Turn the Heat UpPrepare to take the battle to a new metropolis in the all-new Urzikstan map, the new big Battle Royale map. Jump in to celebrate the epic return of Rebirth Island and Fortune’s Keep, two Resurgence maps that are sure to excite veterans and newcomers alike.Loot For RewardsDiscover supply boxes and complete contracts to build your arsenal and gain a tactical advantage.A Game Pass Core subscription is not required to play Call of Duty®: Warzone™. All other online modes still require Game Pass Core.A mobile phone number may be required to be linked to your Activision account to play Call of Duty®: Warzone™.
