Call of Duty: Warzone – Release date, modes, and everything we know

After months of rumor and speculation, Infinity Ward have officially announced their new battle royale named Call of Duty: Warzone, a free-to-play mode with tons of new features.

Ever since Modern Warfare was released back in November 2019, data miners and leakers have teased the possibility that a battle royale would be added to the popular first-person shooter, continuing the path started by Treyarch with Black Ops 4 and Blackout.

After remaining tight-lipped on the subject throughout Modern Warfare’s lifespan so far, developers Infinity Ward have finally confirmed that Warzone is coming to Modern Warfare, and given fans of the franchise an in-depth look at what they can expect when it launches.

With the mode officially on the way, here’s everything you need to know about Call of Duty: Warzone.

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Warzone player count and game modes

Call of Duty: Warzone will immediately become one of the biggest battle royale titles in the world, with matches set to see 150 players soar through the sky and into the action, which Infinity Ward states offers “the best experience across all platforms.”

While other battle royales like Fortnite and PUBG allow teams of four to do battle, Warzone will only offer solos, duos, and trios at launch, and the developers have yet to confirm if the traditional four-man party will make an appearance in the game.

There will also be two different modes to play, with Plunder, a mode where players search for cash around the map,  joining the traditional battle royale.

Warzone is free-to-play and cross-platform

One of the biggest announcements is the news that Call of Duty: Warzone is free-to-play, meaning that you don’t need to own a copy of Modern Warfare to jump into the action in search of victories. Anyone who hasn’t purchased Infinity Ward’s first-person shooter will be able to download the battle royale separately from their console’s built-in store, or from Battle.net on PC.

On top of that, Warzone will be cross-platform, which means that players can team up with friends regardless of system, and can also find themselves battling against opponents on other platforms.

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When does Call of Duty: Warzone release?

Call of Duty fans don’t have long to wait to get their hands on Warzone, with the battle royale mode set to release on Tuesday, March 10.

The mode will release on all platforms at the same time, meaning everyone can hop into the action at once.

What is Warzone’s Plunder mode?

Battle Royale isn’t the only mode for players to sink their teeth into when Warzone releases, with a second mode named Plunder also included for those who want to enjoy a more “casual” experience.

In this mode, players need to search for stacks of cash that have been littered around the map, with teams trying to accumulate $1 million. Once found, the game goes into overtime, with all cash sums doubled, and the team who has gathered the most money when the clock runs out declared the winner.

• Read More: Call of Duty: Warzone battle royale: Trailer, details, more

Respawn is enabled in this mode, and players will drop money when eliminated. If you want to secure your money, you can make a deposit at helicopter pads, where a chopper will come and take your savings, or at Deposit Balloons which can be found beside a number of Buy Stations.

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Warzone cash system and Buy Stations

Warzone comes with an integrated cash system, completely separate from microtransactions, that allows players to purchase killstreaks or bring back teammates who have previously been eliminated.

Players will drop in with no money to their name, but stacks of cash are hidden around the map in large or small stacks, which you can then take to a Buy Station, which are dotted across the map, to exchange for equipment, killstreaks, or revives.

This is the only way to earn killstreaks, although they can occasionally be found while looting, and players can only carry one at a time.

Killstreaks

Unlike other battle royales, Call of Duty: Warzone does include Killstreaks, which can either be purchased from Buy Stations or found while hunting for loot.

Not all of the killstreaks which appear in Monday Warfare are present in Warzone, but some like UAV could prove to be extremely useful, although it doesn’t show the locations of enemies over the entire map, but rather a small section in your vicinity.

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Health, armor and respawning

Unlike Blackout, there will be no bandages or med-kits in Warzone, with Infinity Ward instead option to include automatic health regeneration like core multiplayer modes in an effort to keep players in the action at all times.

Armor does make a return though, but with no tiers and just one standard version known as the Armor Plate. Every player drops into the map with 100 HP and two Armor Plates equipped, and combatants can equip a maximum of three plates at any time, which will give them a total of 250 HP.

• Read More: Call of Duty: Warzone map – Every location and overview

Gas will be used to close the play area in matches as they progress, forcing combatants to group up towards the end as they battle it out to be the last team standing. Players can use gas masks, which can be found around the map, to avoid taking damage while inside, and is automatically equipped when you enter the gas.

Players will be able to respawn via two methods: A teammate can spend $4,500 at a Buy Station to bring you back, or should you be eliminated early in the match, you may be able to test your skills inside The Gulag, a 1v1 deathmatch with a shot at redemption.

What is The Gulag?

The Gulag is unlike anything we’ve seen in battle royales before, offering players an opportunity to earn their way back into matches they’ve been eliminated from.

Only open during the early stages of the match, players who suffer their first death will be transported as a Prisoner of War to The Gulag, where you’ll take on another eliminated foe in a 1v1 battle to see who makes it back into the fray.

You only get one shot at redemption in The Gulag, but you can still be brought back into the game via the Buy Station should you lose the contest.

Progression System and Loadout Drops

Call of Duty: Warzone’s progression system is linked to Modern Warfare’s, meaning that you’ll be able to rank up your Battle Pass while playing the battle royale. Players who have unlocked cosmetics in normal multiplayer will be able to use them in Warzone, but offer no competitive advantage over those who only have Warzone.

Call of Duty Points also transfer between games, so you can purchase items on Warzone without splashing out extra cash on specific CoD Points for the game.

In-game, Loadout Drops will land on the map like a Care Package, with players able to create 10 custom loadouts that have a chance of dropping from the sky to give you a helping hand.