Call of Duty: Warzone 2 hasn’t been officially confirmed, but a number of reports point to its existence. Here’s what we know about the supposed battle royale.
Following the behemoth news that Microsoft will be acquiring Activision for $68 billion, it was reported that Call of Duty: Warzone 2 is quietly in the works. The report comes from Bloomberg, citing “people familiar with the matter.” Given the outlet’s track record (and the fact that other sources corroborated it), we’re inclined to believe it. While there is some precedent to successful live-service games getting sequels, it’s not a usual occurrence. Think of titles like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Rocket League. Warzone is one of the most lucrative and popular free-to-play games of all time, bringing in over 100 million players since its launch. So, given its success, it might seem odd for Warzone to receive a follow-up, but if you’ve played the game recently, you’ll know the current iteration is in shambles, making a fresh take much more necessary. Although Activision has yet to confirm Warzone 2, it’s likely happening, and here’s what we know about it. One of the few pieces of information from the report is that Warzone 2 will launch sometime in 2023, though a window or exact release date isn’t certain. If history is any indication, it’s possible Warzone 2 will launch in March, around the three-year anniversary of the first game. The first Warzone game was built upon the foundation of 2019’s Modern Warfare, featuring the same weapons, movement mechanics, perks, and other features. Given that 2022’s mainline Call of Duty entry is supposedly a sequel to Modern Warfare, it’s likely Warzone 2 will follow suit and will be based on that game. Call of Duty 2022 will probably launch around November, while developer Infinity Ward will take a few months to refine its mechanics and gather player data before launching Warzone 2 sometime after that in 2023. In terms of marketing — including trailers — Activision usually holds details close to the chest until just before the product is set to launch. It didn’t used to be this way, but given the development hurdles introduced with COVID-19, along with specific issues at Activision studios, the company has opted to give itself more time before showing off its games. With that in mind, you shouldn’t expect a trailer for Warzone 2 until it’s closer to launch, possibly a couple of weeks out. It’s likely Activision will tease the new game on social media, or even hint at it within the first Warzone game, but a proper trailer will likely be held until as late as possible, maybe even in 2023.
