The Confusing New Era of Call of Duty Warzone

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

As a hardcore fan who has sunk countless hours into Warzone since launch day, the sweeping changes Activision has made to the franchise’s future have left me with mixed emotions. I’m thrilled at the new era of innovation that Warzone 2.0 promises. But is this progress coming at the cost of leaving behind the original game that kickstarted the Call of Duty Battle Royale revolution?

So Wait…Is Warzone 1 Really Not Free Anymore?

The short answer is: sort of. The longer answer is…it’s complicated.

While existing Warzone players can still access the game – now rebranded as Warzone Caldera – completely free of charge, the same luxury is not extended to new players. Ever since the launch of Warzone 2.0, signing up for Caldera now requires new gamers to shell out cash to purchase 2019’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.

So in essence, Warzone 1 continues to be “free” for the grandfathered-in community who downloaded the game earlier. But for the average gaming newcomer who wanders into the Call of Duty universe today? Warzone 1 might as well cost $60.

In the weeks following Warzone 2.0’s triumphant release event that attracted over 25 million influx of new players, I’ve watched countless friends run into roadblocks trying to join me in the original Warzone. These aren’t hardcore CoD fans or FPS veterans. They’re gamers drawn in by the non-stop buzz around Warzone 2.0, hoping to give the franchise’s legendary Battle Royale a shot without committing $60 upfront during tough economic times.

What they quickly find is that Activision’s messaging around “Warzone 1 is still free!” comes with a giant asterisk. And gamers without much discretionary income realize that despite clickbait headlines promising a continuously free gaming experience, hoping into the world of Warzone today costs just as much as buying a fully fledged AAA release.

And while concrete public data on new Warzone 1 players is non-existant, all observable signs point to a dramatic slow down in fresh gamers accessing Caldera. Twitch viewership continues to bleed out. The wide-eyed influx of noobies has slowed to a trickle. Lobbies feel increasingly populated by grizzled veterans who know every Rotation path and Supply Box location by heart.

By locking down Warzone 1 to only those grandfathered into the initial wave of players, Activision has essentially stopped the flow of new blood. For all intents and purposes of someone just now hearing the Call of Duty hype for the first time, Warzone 1 may as well be a $60 purchase.

The complexities around the question “Is Warzone 1 still free?” serve as the perfect encapsulation of the transitional era Call of Duty finds itself in heading into 2023 and beyond…

Warzone Caldera vs. Warzone 2.0: By The Numbers

While PR statements dance around directly pitting Call of Duty’s dueling Battle Royale experiences against each other, the raw data paints a decisive picture. Activision is pushing all their chips towards Warzone 2.0 becoming THE future of the franchise.

Let’s look at some key metrics:

  • Player Count: After bursting out the gates to over 25 million players, Warzone 2.0 was averaging 1.2 million concurrent users just 10 days after launch. Meanwhile despite still maintaining a sizable community, Warzone 1’s peak fell to around 210k— nearly 6x less.

  • Content Updates: All post-launch development manpower has focused exclusively on building out Warzone 2.0 with quality-of-life improvements, limited-time modes, and a staggering amount of cosmetic DLC operators and weapon blueprints. Warzone Caldera has received zero meaningful content drops since the sequel released.

  • Competitive Support: The 2023 Call of Duty League format will be played exclusively on Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2.0. All top Warzone streamers and competitive clubs like FaZe Clan have shifted focus to grinding out the new game. Warzone Caldera has been stripped of any spotlight.

The message from Activision could not be any clearer: Warzone 2.0 is the future. And Warzone Caldera has been put out to pasture.

Why such an aggressive pivot to push players towards adopting a completely new sequel rather than building on the original? Let’s speculate…

Does Warzone Caldera Have a Future At All?

If publicly Warzone Caldera is promised to continue as a supported experience “for the foreseeable future,” reading between the lines of Activision’s actions paints a more ominous fate for the game.

It’s hard to see a world where Warzone Caldera and Warzone 2.0 continue to operate as completely isolated experiences for much longer. Supporting two fully separate Battle Royale environments is resource intensive. And with Activision clearly all-in on Warzone 2.0 becoming the staple experience for years to come, burning cash to keep dated legacy servers online makes little business sense.

My prediction is that Activision sunsets Warzone Caldera entirely heading into 2024. They gave diehard fans a temporary olive branch by allowing existing players to continue enjoying the old game. But reducing costs to focus manpower on improving Warzone 2.0 will override nostalgia.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Activision takes efforts to “merge” the two titles first before ripping the bandaid off fully. Perhaps they allow gamers to carry over Caldera skins and blueprints into 2.0. Or maybe they integrate the fan-favorite Rebirth Island map back into rotation.

But as painful as it might be for Call of Duty veterans who came up gunning down enemies in Verdansk and Rebirth Island over the past three years, the writing is on the wall. Warzone 2.0 is the future.

And ready or not, the future is coming. The Caldera sunset awaits…

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

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