COD: Warzone Teases Major Zombies Event & Possible Finale
After weeks of hints and rumors, a zombie-themed event in Call of Duty: Warzone appears to be on the verge of finally happening, as evidenced by a recent video shared on the game's official Twitter account. The event could signal the anticipated "destruction" of the Verdansk map, giving Raven Software the opportunity to replace it with a new one.
Marketing by Raven Software and Activision has pushed the notion that a zombie "infection" is spreading across Verdansk, for instance reaching the map's downtown area. The undead creatures have been encountered by players throughout the map since this infestation began. Meanwhile, leaks have pointed to a map-ending nuclear bomb, presumably being launched to contain the zombies. Various incarnations of a Zombies mode have been popular for years in the Call of Duty series.
The infection plot has been seeded through fictional news broadcasts, but the latest video - again shared on Twitter (via GameSpot) - depicts Verdansk's TV station being overrun. Characters in the video include a news anchor, a doctor, sports figures and a prison guard. Activision has meanwhile changed the game's official webpage, giving it the header "The End Begins" and background art with an obvious apocalyptic theme. Zombies have additionally become more bullet-resistant. Presumably, the situation will become worse in the days leading up to the event.
It's generally believed that Raven is making way for a 1980s-themed map that would tie in with last November's Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. The timing of a nuke event has been unsuccessfully predicted multiple times, though, one rumored date having been March 11. Perhaps the next most likely target is the end of Call of Duty: Warzone's Season 2, which could happen on April 21. Indeed, it would make little sense for Raven to interrupt a season mid-way, since that would deny players a chance to experience all of the available content.
Season 2 has been beset by bug complaints. One of these is an invisibility exploit that forced Raven to remove attack helicopters. A problem with the Bullseye optic is causing frame rates to drop to as little as one frame per second, while also letting players change their weapon and/or continue to fire when downed. A recent patch did implement some requested changes, for example nerfing the AUG and making armor easier to find without buying it.
Some players have complained that Verdansk has become stale, since veterans are now intimately familiar with its layout. The content in Call of Duty: Warzone also contrasts sharply with other battle royale games like Apex Legends and PUBG - the latter has seven maps, all set in different biomes, often with unique vehicle and weapon stockpiles. A new map could revitalize attention in the game.
Call of Duty: Warzone is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Activision, GameSpot