It’s fair to say that Verdansk is injecting new life into Call of Duty: Warzone, and the timing couldn't be more perfect. The online community had previously branded Activision’s battle royale, now five years old, as "cooked." However, the nostalgia-packed return of Verdansk has turned the tide. Now, the internet is buzzing, declaring Warzone "back." Even though Activision metaphorically nuked Verdansk in the past, it seems that doesn't matter anymore. Lapsed players who cherish Warzone as their lockdown game are flocking back to the map that started it all. Meanwhile, those who have remained loyal to the game through its ups and downs over the past five years are reporting that Warzone is more enjoyable now than it has been since its explosive debut in 2020.
This return to the foundational gameplay experience was a deliberate move by the developers at Raven and Beenox. Pete Actipis, the game director at Raven, and Etienne Pouliot, the creative director at Beenox, spearheaded the multi-studio effort to revive Warzone. In an extensive interview with IGN, the duo delved into their approach to rejuvenating the game. They discussed the success of Verdansk's Casual mode, whether they contemplated restricting operator skins to mil-sim to recapture the feel of 2020, and addressed the pivotal question on everyone's mind: Is Verdansk here to stay?
Read on to discover more about their insights and plans for the future of Call of Duty: Warzone.
