Summary
While there are several successful live service titles, ranging from the MMO-RPG hybridDestiny 2to the hero shooterOverwatch 2,Fortnitecontinues to thrive within this area. Not only did it help popularize thebattle royale genre, battle passes, and pop culture crossovers, but Epic Games has done an excellent job of keeping the game relevant for years. New weapons and mechanics as well as huge graphical updates and story content have helped makeFortnite’s continued success possible, and now Epic Games has used nostalgia to win back old players - a trick thatCall of Duty: Warzonewould be wise to borrow.
While the game has rarely been hurting for players,Fortnite’s massive player spikecan be entirely attributed to the return of its original map. Epic Games may have brought back iconic areas like Tilted Towers here and there in newer maps, but the return of all the OG areas simultaneously has brought back a lot of old school fans. Considering thatCall of Duty: Warzonehas experienced some drastic player count drops, it may be time to borrow thisFortnitetrick to help the struggling battle royale game return to its former glory. Just likeFortnite’s OG map was beloved by many, so too is Verdansk.
Verdansk Could Bring a Lot of Players Back to Call of Duty: Warzone
Verdansk’s Popularity Has Not Wained in Recent Years
The only time that Verdansk was unpopular withCall of Dutyfans was before the debut of Caldera, as players only had one map to fight on for two years straight. Fans were desperate for something new, but unfortunately, Caldera proved disappointing in the eyes of many fans. This saw players instantly growing nostalgic for the original map, and though small maps likeRebirth Islandwere popular, a full-scale experience as beloved as Verdansk has yet to release. While Urzikstan could finally replicate that success, it would be a safe play to just bring back Verdansk.
Though Activision clearly wants to push new maps instead of falling back on old favorites forWarzone, the rest of theCall of Dutyseries has always leaned heavily into nostalgia.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s launch map lineupis composed entirely of remasters from the originalMW2, while Nuketown has been remade time and time again in theBlack Opsfranchise. Classic guns reappear all the time, whileCall of DutyZombies brings back Nacht Der Untoten every chance it gets. As such, it only feels like a matter of time before Verdansk returns toCall of Duty: Warzone, and it will surely be welcomed with open arms whenever it does.
While Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile offers a way to play Verdansk, not everyone enjoys gaming on the go. A return of Verdansk on PC and consoles would still be a big deal, and it could give Warzone Mobile a chance to shift to a different map like Caldera or Al Mazrah.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Keeps Verdansk Fresh in Fans’ Minds
Aside from Verdansk being a memorable map that many fans still think about and discuss online, as areas like the prison and stadium are forever engraved in the minds of some fans, the franchise has gone out of its way to ensure that players do not forget about the fictional country. For instance,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s campaigntakes players to Verdansk on a few occasions, first to rescue Makarov from the map’s prison and then to respond to one of his terrorist attacks inside the stadium. With Verdansk still being featured in other content, players are being reminded of its top-notch design.
One thing to keen in mind about nostalgia is that it only grows stronger with time. As such, though releasing Verdansk alongside Urzikstan would be a death sentence for the new map and risks splitting the player base,Call of Duty: Warzonecan just wait until 6 months after Urzisktan’s release when the hype dies down to bring back its most iconic map. While there is no telling if 3 million players will return toCall of Duty: Warzoneif Verdansk were to come back, as the response toFortnite’s OG map returninghas been truly incredible, it would surely win back some fans.
Call of Duty: Warzone
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to Call of Duty®: Warzone™, the massive free-to-play combat arena which now features Urzikstan, Rebirth Island and Fortune’s Keep.Turn the Heat UpPrepare to take the battle to a new metropolis in the all-new Urzikstan map, the new big Battle Royale map. Jump in to celebrate the epic return of Rebirth Island and Fortune’s Keep, two Resurgence maps that are sure to excite veterans and newcomers alike.Loot For RewardsDiscover supply boxes and complete contracts to build your arsenal and gain a tactical advantage.A Game Pass Core subscription is not required to play Call of Duty®: Warzone™. All other online modes still require Game Pass Core.A mobile phone number may be required to be linked to your Activision account to play Call of Duty®: Warzone™.
