Summary
- Warzone’s player counts have improved since the return of Verdansk.
- It’s claimed that the return of Verdansk has exceeded expectations.
Call of Duty: Warzone has reportedly experienced a significant boost in both player count and sales following the highly anticipated return of its original Verdansk map. This report could mark the first and only indication of how Season 3 of Call of Duty: Warzone and Black Ops 6 has performed in the wake of Activision’s extensive marketing campaign promoting the update.
Following the launch of Black Ops 6, both Treyarch’s premium title and Warzone experienced a sharp decline in player numbers, hitting the lowest Call of Duty player count on Steam. This drop, combined with ongoing issues like cheaters, created what many saw as a breaking point for Call of Duty: Warzone – and it significantly affected Black Ops 6 as well. In anticipation of Verdansk’s highly awaited return, the development teams and Activision launched a nostalgia-driven campaign aimed at recapturing the feel of the original battle royale experience.
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In a recent tweet, reputable Call of Duty leaker TheGhostOfHope shared a performance report on Season 3 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone. The report revealed that Activision and Raven Software, the team behind the free-to-play title, were “excited” by the surge of returning players following the launch of Verdansk. According to the leaker, the update had “exceeded expectations.” In a follow-up, he mentioned that player activity on both Xbox Game Pass and the PlayStation Store has reportedly been “off the charts” compared to recent months. This spike also contributed to a noticeable increase in Black Ops 6 sales and downloads, driven by the shared update with Warzone and the highly anticipated return of Verdansk.
Verdansk’s Return in Call of Duty: Warzone Has Been Huge
The report also claims that Activision is considering taking a more measured approach to cosmetic microtransactions in Warzone, including skins and bundles. While crossovers are reportedly still “printing money,” the company is said to be aware of growing criticism from players who feel that Warzone is “starting to look stupid.” This would mark the first time Activision has acknowledged not only the success of Black Ops 6 and Warzone Season 3, but also the impact of overly colorful cosmetics on the game’s perception. If accurate, the report also suggests this is the first time in months that Warzone has seen a significant boost in player numbers. Despite stiff competition from other popular titles on streaming platforms, the free-to-play has regained some viewership, likely fueled by the return of Verdansk and Warzone‘s gameplay adjustments designed to recapture the feel of the original experience.
Despite Black Ops 6 and Warzone‘s Season 3 being delayed, Activision and the Call of Duty dev teams have put significant effort into making Verdansk’s comeback in Warzone a success – aiming to deliver an experience that appeals to new players, veterans, and those who previously enjoyed the battle royale. If the report proves accurate, it suggests that Activision may want to continue supporting Warzone and Verdansk with regular content updates to maintain momentum and keep the player base engaged.
9/10
- Released
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March 10, 2020
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Engine
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IW 8.0 & IW 9.0 (Warzone 2.0)