The highly anticipated sequel toCall of Duty: Warzonewas officially announced during the Call of Duty Next presentation, much to many people’s delight. The developer, Infinity Ward, dropped a nearly3-minute video highlightingWarzone 2.0alongsideModern Warfare 2. For many,Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0is looking to be a return to past titles from theCall of Dutyfranchise, with less unrealistic stunts but newer features, such as underwater combat, that add variation to the guns and overall gameplay.
The trailer showcased many genuinely surprising elements for fans to be excited about inCall of Duty: Warzone 2.0, like a quick-fire secondary, ledge hanging, third-person perspectives, and deployable cameras. On top of this, the sequel will be the first game in the series to have PvPvE on such a massive scale, though of course,Call of Duty:Warzonedid experiment with this a bit on its own. A major highlight of the presentation was the underwater combat, where only special ballistics and certain weapons can be used.
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Underwater Combat is Unique for Call of Duty
Of course, underwater combat isn’t necessarily a new facet of the franchise, seeing asCall of Duty: Black Ops 3did it with a map that was half underwater. However, it will be an entirely different experience and truly is a game changer in the Battle Royale. On top of the fact that boats are now inCall of Duty: Warzone 2.0, players will also be able to shoot at one another while in the water, a bitsimilar to howFortnitechapter two introduced underwater gameplay.
Not only can a person shoot from the water, but they are also able to dive into the depths. The deeper a player goes, the murkier the water gets, just as it would in real life. For some, using the water could become a viable evasion mechanic to avoid enemy fire. Many players in theModern Warfare 2open betahave also figured out that this mechanic is perfect for stealthily sneaking up on opponents, though some people have talked about how they aren’t happy that there will be inevitable ‘water campers’ in their lobbies.
Weaponry that can be used in the water is limited, as the developer had to think about how these gadgets would work in this environment, as well as general gameplay balance with thenew DMZ,Tarkov-like, game mode. For example, there are proximity mines that are able to float at water level while a player’s pistol is their only primary weapon underwater, though projectiles do work. On top of the waves and even while swimming, users can use all weapons normally. Sniping from the water is proving itself to be a method that can take out enemies while these underwater players can remain somewhat covered.
Along with these water elements, it seems that Infinity Ward is returning toCall of Duty’sroots while also bringing back fan favorites. Some players are expressing excitement over how the game appears to be moving away from the wild movement and arcade style of the firstWarzoneand returning to a moreclassic Battle Royale gamewith tactical and survival elements. Decision-making and using the terrain to one’s advantage may be more critical with its release than ever as the game may have a slower pace and less spam fire. Additionally, the third-person camera angle brings about a different perspective that makes skins more valuable but could be disadvantageous in some fights.
Unfortunately, not every decision inCall of Duty:Warzone 2.0has been received with praise, including the removal of slide canceling and loadouts that players will now have to purchase and upgrade. Overall, most people seem happy that the game seems to be a mixture of the firstWarzoneandCall of Duty: Black Ops 4’sBlackout game mode.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0’sopen beta is playable now on PlayStation until September 26. PC and Xbox players that pre-ordered can join on September 23. The game officially launches on November 16 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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