Is rust in Warzone 2?

The straightforward answer is no, Rust does not currently exist in Warzone 2. The newly released sequel features the brand new map Al Mazrah, set in a fictional Middle Eastern city. Rust, the iconic compact map from earlier Call of Duty titles, has not yet appeared in Warzone 2 as of its launch on November 16, 2022.

As a long-time Call of Duty gamer and content creator, I have done deep research into Warzone 2’s initial content and post-launch plans. While Rust itself is not playable, there are reasons to speculate that fan-favorite maps could still make their way to Warzone 2 down the road.

Why Gamers Love the Rust Map

For context, Rust is a tiny map set in an oil yard in the Urzikstan desert. It first appeared in 2009‘s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

With its vertical setup and maze of pipes, Rust creates frenetic, close-quarters battles. It has reappeared in several Call of Duty titles since, including Modern Warfare (2019) and Call of Duty: Mobile:

Fans love Rust for its chaotic, high-intensity gameplay in a tiny playspace. According to an article by TheGamer, "This map is so iconic that remakes and re-imaginings of it appear all the time."

So it’s no surprise gamers wonder if it will emerge in Warzone 2, the sequel to Call of Duty’s smash hit free-to-play battle royale.

Al Mazrah – Warzone 2‘s New Map

While Rust is not included at launch, Warzone 2 provides an entirely new battleground for players – Al Mazrah. This dense urban map includes areas like downtown skyscrapers, suburban neighborhoods, an observatory, docks, and an oil refinery.

Early feedback has praised Al Mazrah‘s diversity and detail, offering new gameplay variety compared to the original Warzone‘s Verdansk map.

According to PCGamesN, Al Mazrah may allow for bigger player counts thanks to its scope: "Warzone 2’s map is not only bigger than Verdansk and the sequel’s launch player count, but may potentially support even 200 players."

For now, Raven Software and Infinity Ward have focused efforts on crafting an incredible new locale optimized for Warzone 2. Fans are still learning all of Al Mazrah‘s secrets – which brings us to the next section.

Could Fan-Favorite Maps Still Appear?

Despite Rust not making the cut yet, there is promising evidence that classic maps may emerge in Warzone 2 later on. Per a VentureBeat interview, studio head Patrick Kelly said:

“We have a new map, Al Mazrah, but we will actually be integrating and dropping other legacy maps from the Modern Warfare universe into Warzone 2.0 over time.”

This likely includes maps like Shipment, Shoot House, or Rust itself. Data miners have already discovered Easter egg rooms apparently depicting iconic locales hidden around Al Mazrah. And Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer just introduced re-imagined classics like Shipment and Shoot House.

Bringing legacy maps to Warzone 2 aligns with Call of Duty’s live service model for regular content drops. Events featuring Rust or other maps would attract veteran players through nostalgia. My early prediction is Rust gets added during Warzone 2 Season 2 around February 2023, capitalizing on Modern Warfare 2‘s recent addition.

I estimate at least 2 to 3 remastered maps coming to Warzone 2 during each new season based on previous Call of Duty schedules. This speculation table outlines potential legacy map launches across 2023:

    *Season dates predicted based on Modern Warfare II launch cadence

As a closing note – Call of Duty: Warzone 2 takes the series into a new era with cutting edge visuals and innovations like DMZ. But Activision also understands the value of nostalgia; reintroducing these iconic maps keeps things fresh while retaining that core Call of Duty DNA millions have come to love.

My outlook is bright for fan favorites like Rust to reemerge. But Al Mazrah offers more than enough action until players can squad up once more on those legendary grounds.

Sources:

• VentureBeat Interview
• PCGamesN Article
• TheGamer Article
• CharlieIntel Images
• Al Mazrah Map via GameAtlas