The Gulag
1v1 Gulag will be returning with the launch of Season 02. With this change, Players will see the return of the original Warzone overtime mechanic – the Domination-style flag control point – in place of the Jailer.
In order to bring this change online sooner – we have edited the existing Season 01 Gulag for better 1v1 combat, but are actively working on a dedicated 1v1 map for future seasons.
We’ve also made some logistical changes to the Gulag experience. Ground loot has been revisited as well as the Loadouts that Players will spawn in with. We’ve updated the pool to include Assault Rifles, Submachine Guns, and Light Machine Guns as Primary Weapons as the Circles progress. Shotguns have been removed from the rotation, while Handguns will remain available as Secondary Weapons.
For those leaving the arena victorious, the Gulag will grant a larger Cash reward to players. This change to cash will allow redeploying players to get back on their feet a bit faster.
Alongside increased victory Cash rewards mentioned in the previous section, the Gulag will now spawn Cash as ground loot to encourage and reward Players willing to prowl the arena.
Cash Economy
In addition to the cash changes to the Gulag outlined above, we are balancing the Battle Royale economy with a slight reduction to cash rewards for completing contracts. Additionally, we are increasing the lowest value of Cash piles from ground loot to $800 and from Cash Registers to $500 (previously $100 minimum).
In addition to this, Cash can be acquired via ground loot, containers, and white Stronghold Supply Boxes throughout Al Mazrah, but can no longer be found in basic and legendary Supply Boxes.
This redistribution should make for quicker, more consistent gameplay in the pursuit of resources.
Loot & Inventory
As announced last week, we’re shifting away from loot windows/menus to floating loot that will now drop out of all containers in the world, similar to loot from Supply Boxes.
This change is intended to improve the pace of gameplay by minimizing time spent navigating the UI and getting Players back in the action faster.
We were excited to see the new Backpack system give Players the agency to customize their inventory for a desired playstyle or role within a Squad. In our continued effort to balance engagements, Medium/Large Backpacks will no longer be available and eliminated Players will drop loot onto the ground rather than loot-filled Backpacks. Every Player will have the same Backpack throughout the entire game which will subsequently reduce the impact of stacking medical supplies, Equipment, and Killstreaks. We will continue to look for feedback and provide updates that streamline the looting experience for everyone.
Loadouts
Loadouts have always been a core part of Warzone’s Battle Royale, and something we pay close attention to. The changes Players have seen with the launch of Warzone 2.0 and since then have ultimately been in pursuit of the most fulfilling experience for the individual, and the team, all while keeping things challenging. As such, we’re making further changes to how Players acquire part of or the entirety of their Loadouts.
Season 02 will introduce customizable Perk Packages! This feature will launch with a slightly reduced pool of available Perks, which we may slowly reintroduce over time. We want to navigate this particular feature as carefully as possible, ensuring that all available Perks provide ample utility and remain viable/balanced options.
Primary Weapons will continue to be available at Buy Stations but now at a more affordable price point so that Players can pursue victory with their most desired Weapons. We also remain happy with the introduction of Loadout Drop Markers, though we have taken a careful look at the price point. The price of Loadout Drop Markers has been slightly reduced so that respective Squad sizes can acquire their full Loadouts at a faster pace. In addition, on extremely rare occasions, Players may find one while looting throughout Al Mazrah. A second Loadout Drop Public Event has been added, which means the drops will now happen on the first and fifth Circles each match.
Additional Changes…
3-Plate Vests
We’re continuously evaluating the pace of combat engagements and have decided to make a change: all Players will now start with a 3-Plate Vest. Varying sizes of Vests will no longer exist in Battle Royale loot. This standardization will bring a more reliable feel to each engagement from the get-go. We’ll continue looking at data about optimizing downtime and improving the ability to recover from a prior engagement.
Movement
We have made an important tweak to movement that should yield better outcomes for Players in combat. Starting with Season 02, Players will be able to bust through doors while plating the way they would if they were sprinting. This change includes a slight increase to movement speed while plating to enable Players to get to cover faster in moments of need.
Buy Stations
In order to make Buy Stations and their goods easier to access, we’ve revamped our approach; spawn locations have been added/adjusted, spawns will be static across the map, and Loadout Drop Markers have unlimited stock at all stations. As always, we will continue to monitor the global balance of our economy and availability of resources as we move forward.
Strongholds
Strongholds provide an alternative gameplay experience with high payoff for those willing to tackle the objective – and for others interested in robbing Players of their rewards. We are committed to providing a balanced engagement for Players who choose to enter Strongholds. Season 02 will bring changes to the rewards Players receive from Stronghold and Black Site completion, as well as additional adjustments to A.I. combatant damage.