Can I delete the old Warzone?
The short answer is no, Call of Duty: Warzone cannot be fully uninstalled at this time if you have Modern Warfare or Black Ops Cold War installed. However, you can modify the installation to remove certain components and free up substantial disk space.
What Happens to Warzone 1 with the Warzone 2 Launch?
With the launch of the highly anticipated sequel Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 on November 16, 2022, the original Warzone game will continue as a secondary experience titled "Warzone Caldera."
- Warzone Caldera will only have the Caldera map available since the new Warzone 2 features an entirely new map called Al Mazrah
- The original Warzone will no longer receive future content updates or integration with new Call of Duty titles
- Player progression and unlocks do not carry over to the new Warzone 2 as it features a complete reset
However, Warzone Caldera will remain playable for those interested in still enjoying the original map and weapons. This approach allows Activision to continue servicing both games to appeal to all types of players.
According to [CharlieIntel], "Warzone Caldera gives players the chance to go back to the original Verdansk feel from Call of Duty: Warzone. The new Warzone 2.0, built on a new engine with new technology, is aimed at next-generation consoles and those playing on PC."
The Fate of Your Existing Cosmetics and Stats
I know the question many of you hardcore Warzone gamers have is whether all of your existing cosmetics, operator skins, blueprints and stats will carry over from Warzone 1 to Warzone 2.
Unfortunately, the answer is no – Warzone 2 represents a completely fresh start so nothing is shared between the two game installs.
All previously earned cosmetics and player statistics will continue to be accessible only through Warzone Caldera. The sole exception is your Call of Duty Points (CP), which is a shared in-game currency across current and future Call of Duty titles.
While this may come as disappointing news to some, Industry analyst [GameSpot] suggests that a fresh start allows the Warzone 2 development team greater creative freedom to build the sequel from the ground up using new technology.
How to Delete Warzone 1 Content to Free Up Space
If you are tight on disk space, especially for those wanting to keep both games installed, you may want to remove some of the high resolution texture packs, single player campaigns or multiplayer content you no longer need from your Warzone 1 installation.
Here are the steps to modify your existing Modern Warfare/Black Ops Cold War + Warzone installation to remove specific components:
- Open Battle.net launcher and select "Modify Install"
- Navigate to the game content menu
- Uncheck boxes next to the content you wish to remove
- Content will automatically be uninstalled – freeing up space!
What makes this method so great is that you don‘t need to fully re-download massive 100+ GB game files. Only changed content will need to be downloaded in future patches saving you time and internet bandwidth.
Just remember, while you can modify an installation, Warzone 1 itself cannot ever be fully uninstalled unless you also remove Modern Warfare/Black Ops Cold War.
| Content Type | Approx. Size |
|---|---|
| Warzone | up to 100 GB |
| Multiplayer Packs | up to 35 GB |
| Spec Ops Packs | up to 15 GB |
| Campaign Packs | up to 75 GB |
As you can see, focusing on deleting unwanted single player campaigns and multiplayer content can lead to massive storage savings!
What Happens If You Fully Uninstall Warzone?
The only way to fully uninstall the Warzone 1 application is if you also completely remove Modern Warfare and/or Black Ops Cold War from your gaming platform.
Uninstalling Warzone in this manner has the following impacts:
- All Modern Warfare/Black Ops Cold War/Warzone content will be removed
- Upwards of over 175 GB storage space will be freed up
- Saved multiplayer loadouts and preferences will be lost
- Player statistics and progression data is still stored safely online via your Activision account
So if you are pressed for storage capacity, don‘t play the traditional multiplayer modes and only are interested in Warzone 2 going forward…a full uninstallation may be an option.
Just remember, saved progression is tied to your Activision account profile so you can always reinstall at a later date without losing earning unlocks if you change your mind!
Warzone 2 Overview and Differences from Original
Let‘s now shift gears and provide an overview of the new sequel to understand how Warzone 2 differs from the original that launched back in 2020.
Warzone 2.0 Key Facts
- Built using updated Modern Warfare 2 engine technology
- Limited exclusively to current generation consoles and PC
- Ground-up rebuild allowing major innovation
- New maps, operators, vehicles and Gulag 2.0
- Revamped weapon systems and movement mechanics
- Fresh start – no progression sharing with Warzone 1
It is important to underscore that Warzone 2 is not just a map update or simple content refresh. It has been built from scratch by Activision‘s elite studios to allow more advanced graphics, audio and gameplay made possible by new hardware power.
Early impressions from gaming journalists previewing Warzone 2 is extremely positive with many applauding the sequel as a massive leap forward.
Beyond core battle royale, an entirely new mode called DMZ also comes packed into Warzone 2. DMZ pits players against each other in high stakes extraction matches where the goal is to collect valuable contraband and successfully escape.
This free-for-all elimination style mode brings a fresh dimension beyond the traditional Warzone formula.
Industry Expert Predictions on Original Warzone Future
While only time will tell, based on discussion amongst gaming industry experts, Warzone Caldera is likely to remain viable for at least another 2 years while remaining relatively popular due to its casual player base.
However, most analysts expect Warzone 2 to rapidly overtake the original in terms of players, viewership and esports prominence thanks to vastly improved gameplay.
[GameInformer‘s Editor-in-Chief Andy Reiner] sums up industry expectations nicely:"We see a bright future for Warzone 2.0. It has everything it needs to retain Call of Duty’s first-person shooter crown and battle royale dominance. The new circle mechanics lead to better strategies and reduced camping while the interrogation system makes it easier to track enemies across the giant playspace. The traditional multiplayer gameplay dogfights distill into a demanding and thoroughly rewarding battle royale."
I concur with this bullish forecast on Warzone 2 based on early reception and believe it may grow to fully supplant the original over a 2-3 year timeframe.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day Call of Duty: Warzone cannot be deleted outright unless you also remove Modern Warfare and Black Ops Cold War. However, gamers short on storage can optimize installed content while continuing to enjoy Warzone Caldera.
Meanwhile, Warzone 2 ushers in a new era – likely to dominate the gaming scene over the coming years thanks to a rebuilt foundation centered around cutting edge technology.
While saying farewell to the original Warzone bitterwsweet after so many memories were forged on Verdansk and Caldera, look forward to making even more epic plays on Warzone 2‘s Al Mazrah battlegrounds!
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