Author: Nik Ranger

Warzone 2 devs finally announce KV Broadside nerf for Season 2 Reloaded ActivisionWarzone 2 community members finally got their wish, as the developers announced a nerf coming to the KV Broadside as part of the Season 2 Reloaded update. Infinity Ward added two new weapons as part of the Season 2 update, and both emerged as go-to meta weapons. According to WZRanked, The Iso Hemlock leads all Warzone 2 weapons with a 19.5% pick rate, and the KV Broadside is the second most used gun at 12.7%. Warzone 2 players discovered the KV Broadside could take down enemies in just two shots with the Dragon’s Breath attachment. Community members caught wind of the shotgun’s “broken” power and demanded a nerf. The developers listened to the overwhelming feedback and announced a long-awaited nerf for the KV Broadside, coming in Season 2 Reloaded. KV Broadside nerf coming in Season 2 Reloaded On March 10, Infinity Ward announced. “Season 2 Reloaded will include several global weapon balances, including damage reduction to the KV Broadside and Dragon’s Breath rounds.” Season 2 Reloaded begins on March 15, and the developers clarified more will be explained in the full patch notes. Community members have criticized the developers for taking so long to respond. Warzone 2 YouTuber Westie responded, “Can I ask why it’s taken so long to address clear and obvious balance issues?” He added, “fundamentally broken weapons ruin the gameplay experience for everyone. Surely providing a rapid response to issues like these would be beneficial?” WZ2 streamer FaZe Kalei added, “it takes you that long to nerf a shotgun, but the sniper got patched within a day? funny.” A third player argued, “this is nice, but IW should try to push weapon balances faster instead of on seasonal updates.” We will provide an update when the complete weapon balancing notes are released.

Warzone 2 devs finally add more armor plates to Ashika Island ActivisionRaven Software listened to community feedback and released a minor update, adding more armor plates to Ashika Island. Community members have embraced Warzone 2’s new Resurgence map Ashika Island with open arms, despite dealing with turbulence during the map’s launch. It all started on February 15, as the developers rushed out a hotfix to address vanishing armor plates on Ashika Island. The following day, Infinity Ward released a patch for the rampant game crashes plaguing MW2 and WZ2 and addressed an issue with players equipping armor plates. A few days later, the developers responded to a significant revive bug giving free wins away. Ever since embarking on Ashika Island, players have demanded more armor plates on Ashika Island, and they finally got their wish. Warzone 2 players finally get more armor plates on Ashika Island Resurgence differs from the regular battle royale experience as players respawn until the latter stages of a game. With 52 players constantly respawning and dying in such a close-quarters environment, getting the necessary loot can be difficult. Fortunately, the Season 2 update added more cash as ground loot, making it easier to buy everything you need from buy stations, and added chests that resupply on Ashika Island. However, players still had a difficult time looting enough armor plates. The seasonal update also removed medium and large backpacks, making it even harder to stack armor plates than before. Raven Software listened to community feedback and added more armor plates via ground loot across Ashika Island. Warzone 2 YouTuber and streamer TimTheTatman responded, “HUGE.” A second player added, “Love this! Thank you, and we love all the updates yall are making with the changes to things and stuff.” It remains to be seen how much of an impact this update will have on the issue, but community members celebrated the developer’s response.

Warzone 2 devs exploring movement updates and one shot sniping in future seasons YouTube: JoeWoWarzone 2 streamer JoeWo claimed one-shot sniping and updated movement mechanics will be added to the battle royale sequel, and sooner than some fans think. In Season 2, Incendiary Ammunition transformed snipers into lethal one-shot kill weapons. Community members only had one week of enjoying a return to dominance for the class, as Raven Software swiftly nerfed snipers one week later. Players slammed the decision and questioned why it was an issue. The Season 2 Reloaded update accidentally nerfed tactical sprinting. Instead of just a few moments, tactical sprinting took over a minute to reset. Infinity Ward sprung into action and quickly released a hotfix for the issue. WZ2 players were already on edge about the game’s slower mobility, so this brief moment of panic caused an outrage. JoeWo claims one-shot sniping is returning in Warzone 2 Season 3 After getting a taste of one-shot sniping and experiencing fluid movement in WZ1, some community members are growing tired of waiting for change. Fortunately for those frustrated users, JoeWo revealed long-awaited news. During a live stream, JoeWo confirmed one-shot sniping will return in Season 3. “Guaranteed for sure, snipers and movement fluidity. So like all of the corny dives that take five minutes to stand up and shoot. That’s what they said.” Season 2 Reloaded added a Saint Patrick’s Day event featuring a one-shot sniper. JoeWo showed off the exclusive weapon in his latest YouTube video. At the end of the rainbow in Al Mazrah there is a special chest with a one-shot Victus XMR inside. JoeWo said, “this is the most fun I have had in five months.” We expect Warzone 2 Season 3 to kick off on April 12, so fans won’t have to wait much longer if JoeWo is right about his claim.

Warzone 2 devs explain why they won’t nerf Signal 50 despite player complaints ActivisionIn the Season 5 update, the Warzone 2 devs made a number of weapon balancing changes that could have a huge impact on the meta, but they didn’t nerf the Signal 50 despite growing concerns from players — and they even explained why they chose not to. The Signal 50 sniper rifle has been steadily growing in popularity in recent months, to the point that it became a near-essential weapon to carry for World Series of Warzone players while competing in the $1.2m tournament. It grew massively in popularity throughout Season 4, to the point that many players believed a nerf to the sniper was guaranteed to happen. However, in the Warzone 2 Season 5 patch notes, there was no indication that the Signal 50 had been nerfed — in fact, the devs explained why they chose not to nerf the gun. Signal 50 nerf “not necessary” “We are aware of concerns surrounding the Signal 50 in Warzone,” they explained in the blog post. “While our data does not suggest the Signal 50 is out of the normal range in performance, its experiential impact for Players is equally important to us. “At this time we do not feel it is necessary to make changes to the Signal 50, but we will continue to monitor the data and your feedback closely.” This will not be the news many players were waiting to hear, especially in Warzone ranked modes where the Signal is starting to really take over the meta. Outside of the Signal 50, there were a number of weapon buffs and nerfs in the Season 5 update. The VEL 46, BAS-P, and Fennec SMGs all got buffed, while other weapons, such as the meta Cronen Squall and Lachmann Sub, received nerfs to bring them more level with the rest of the weapon pool. Evidently developers Raven Software are aware of concerns surrounding the Signal 50, but whether they actually act on it and change something soon remains to be seen.

Warzone 2 devs disable feature after creating accidental God Mode bug ActivisionWarzone 2 devs have had to disable spawn protection in the battle royale title after it bugged out and essentially gave players God mode, allowing them to be immune to damage for extended periods of time and be unkillable. Spawn protection in battle royale games has always been a thing, giving players dropping into the game a chance to better protect themselves and at least have a chance of survival rather than being immediately picked out of the sky. This is especially true in small-scale, Resurgence-type modes where everything is much closer together and it’s impossible to avoid flying into enemy players. In the Season 3 update, some changes were made to Spawn Protection according to the patch notes, making it expire after 10 seconds of being airborne. Spawn protection God Mode bug However, something seems to have gone wrong with the changes, as the protection was simply not ending when players land sometimes. As you can see in the clip above, streamer Speros laid dozens of bullets into his opponent with absolutely no reward, giving the other player ample time to spin around, focus his attention on Speros, and finally take him out in the normal amount of time. Before long, though, developers Raven Software had become aware of the issue and started to seek out why it was happening and how to fix it. Eventually, they decided to temporarily disable spawn protection in the game entirely, unable to push a hotfix in the time they will have wanted to. At the time of writing, there has not been an update from Raven on whether they have managed to source and fix the problem, so this is likely to still be an issue until they find the root of the bug.

Warzone 2 devs confirm major looting changes coming in Season 2 ActivisionWarzone 2 developers Infinity Ward have revealed the first of what is set to be several major overhauls coming to the Call of Duty battle royale title, with sweeping changes coming to the much-bemoaned looting system in the game. In Warzone 2, Infinity Ward changed up looting to make it more similar to other battle royale titles, separating it from Warzone 1. Rather than the former explosive-style looting, where loot would simply disperse when someone died for example, in Warzone 2 players have had to search through chests and opponents’ backpacks to find the loot they want to carry. This definitely became a common complaint for much of the player base, as well as issues around the loot available across the map, such as stacking self-revives. Infinity Ward looks set to address much of the player concerns in Season 2, confirming plans to give looting a bit of a facelift, with more details arriving in a blog post next week. “Player eliminations and all loot containers will now pop floating loot out onto the floor!” they said in a January 20 tweet. With some huge changes promised amid the Season 2 delay, with Infinity Ward saying they’re responding to player feedback, it remains to be seen exactly what major changes will arrive in Warzone 2 and Modern Warfare 2 when the season launches. Looting is definitely a big step forward, but with many complaints around Buy Stations, TTK, the meta, and more, there will definitely be some players who still aren’t satisfied.

Warzone 2 devs confirm cash and buy station price changes for Season 2 Activision BlizzardWarzone 2 developers announced an overhaul for buy station prices and cash looting coming in Season 2. Activision confirmed that WZ2 and MW2 both received a delay until February 15. The decision disappointed fans, but the developers lifted spirits by teasing significant changes coming to the upcoming season. Infinity Ward and Raven Software listened to community feedback and announced 1v1 Gulag matches, major loot changes, and Hardcore mode returning to MW2. All three changes address issues raised, and players have reacted positively to each announcement. Warzone 2 players have voiced concerns over steep loadout prices and sparse cash ground loot. Fortunately, the developers unveiled a plan to combat both issues. Warzone 2 cash and price changes coming in Season 2 On January 23, the Warzone 2 developers announced, “There’s now more lootable cash available in Battle Royale, and prices are getting balanced to give you more bang for your buck.” Loadout Drop Grenades currently cost $32,000, which is a lot to fork over, considering the limited amount of lootable cash. Buying back a squad member costs $4,000. Players only find money on Al Mazrah in cash registers, loot crates, or loose on tables or shelves. Limited cash makes it difficult to buy back teammates or purchase valuable items from buy stations. Completing contracts always provides a viable option to make a quick buck, but looting enemy bodies is the only reliable option in the later stages of the game. Activision did not specify what specific changes are coming, but buying back teammates and purchasing valuable items should become more accessible when squads need it most for the final circle. We will update you when we learn more about Season 2 in the upcoming studio blog.

Warzone 2 devs already backtracked on new Season 4 feature ActivisionWarzone’s new Vondel map launched with Dynamic weather. But one week into Season 4, Raven Software already dialed back the new feature. The Warzone devs added dynamic weather to Al Mazrah as part of the Season 3 Reloaded update. The outskirts of the desert map were engulfed in a sandstorm that reduced the visibility for operators in the area. Reduced visibility made it easier for players to move around an area previously devoid of much cover. However, some community members complained about its addition and celebrated its removal at the start of Season 4. Warzone’s latest Resurgence map also launched with dynamic weather. But just as in the case with Al Mazrah, the devs have already started the process of removing it based on similar complaints. Raven Software cuts back on Vondel fog Season 4 marked the introduction of Vondel. The small-scale urban Resurgence map takes place in the Netherlands. Fans have generally given positive reviews to the new environment but didn’t hold back from celebrating less fog. The dynamic weather event would force players from fighting in the streets to hiding out in buildings until the fog subsided. Or squads would attempt to trudge through, only to get shot down by enemies barely visible in the distance. On June 26, Raven Software announced: “A minor update for Vondel Resurgence has gone live to reduce the chance of Fog appearing during the match.” Some Warzone community members wished the devs went one step further and removed fog entirely. One player responded, “Great, but let’s remove it from resurgence/BR altogether. The map has perfect visibility and vibrant colors, no reason to ruin that.” A second user added: “Get rid of fog completely! The map is beautiful as it is. NOBODY wants fog.” And a third player really nailed home the point: “The map is beautiful and its colors vibrant, but we can’t see it because of the amount of fog.” For now, players can do nothing but wait and see if the devs decide to remove it entirely from Warzone.

Warzone 2 devs address unlimited lethal equipment exploit ActivisionRaven Software took measures to remove the unlimited lethal equipment exploit in Warzone 2. Season 3 Reloaded added Perk Packages, which can be acquired through looting, eliminating enemies, or at a buy station. Before the mid-season update, the only way to get Perks was through looting a loadout drop. This sometimes made it a nightmare, as multiple teams pushed one spot with the same objective. Making Perks more readily available reduces unnecessary traffic jams around loadout drops. However, the new feature unintentionally broke Warzone 2’s meta. Players abused Perk Packages to earn unlimited lethal equipment items. Fortunately, Raven Software stepped in and resolved matters before they got even more out of hand. Warzone 2 devs release a temporary fix for unlimited lethal exploit The Bomber Perk Package included Bomb Squad, Stong Arm, Resupply, and Survivor. Eliminated players drop Perk Packages they are carrying, so if a player loots or purchases a package when they already have one, it enters the player’s backpack. Stowing Bomb Squad allowed players to throw unlimited lethal equipment items. Endless barrages of Drill Charges plagued matches and even helped squads earn easy victories. Community members especially took umbrage with players abusing the exploit in Ranked Play matches, which negatively impacted their Skill Rating. Warzone 2 streamer Speros originally unearthed the exploit on May 10. On May 15, Raven Software announced: “We’ve released a minor update to disable the ability to stow Perk Packs in Backpacks.” Players can still purchase and loot Perk Packs but only equip one at a time. Instead of stowing additional packages, they will become loot on the floor. It’s important to note that this isn’t a permanent solution. Raven Software elaborated: “This is a temporary measure that will reduce the impact of abusing the Resupply Perk while we work on a more permanent fix slated for later this week.” We will provide an update when the developers announce the permanent fix later this week.

Warzone 2 devs address tactical sprint bug plaguing Season 5 ActivisionWarzone 2 players thought they were going crazy when tactical sprinting appeared to be broken in Season 5. However, the devs confirmed their suspicions. Season 5 finally implemented long-awaited movement changes in Warzone 2. The latest seasonal update decreased slide time and increased slide velocity, making it easier for players to cover a greater distance in a shorter amount of time. Also, players can fire sooner after initiating a slide. Additionally, a small increase in the lateral velocity boost while jumping and a small reduction in the landing slowdown penalty while landing made movement feel more fluid. With any change, plenty of detractors claimed it didn’t do enough. But, for many, this was a positive step in the right direction. Unfortunatley, that goodwill quickly soured, as a tactical sprint bug made players feel like they were in quicksand. Warzone 2 devs launch investigation into tactical sprint bug On August 3, the Warzone 2 devs announced: “We are actively working on a fix for a bug affecting tac sprint behavior.” JoeWo was one of the first prominent community members to take note of the issue on Season 5’s launch day. The streamer claimed: “Am I crazy to say Movement in the update got NERFED and not buffed? It seems like I can’t tac sprint as much anymore.” There was no mention of the exact issue or what caused it, but community members praised the devs for issuing a quick response. One player responded: “I wondered why the movement felt off. Glad to see this.” Warzone 2 streamers Repullze and LunchTime kept it short and sweet with their responses. Repullze added: “ILY (I love you) for that,” and LunchTime gave the devs a W for their efforts. Professional Warzone player Intechs wasn’t as receptive to the news. He urged the devs to prioritize fixing the night vision glitch instead, which also popped up in Season 5. While the bug gets patched out, players can track the investigation process on Raven Software’s Trello Board. And for more on Warzone 2, make sure to check out the full Season 5 patch notes.

Warzone 2 devs address stats incorrectly tracking in Plunder game mode Treyarch/ActivisionPlunder is finally available as a playable game mode in Warzone 2, but a stat-tracking bug complicates matters. Being able to track stats in Warzone 2 has been an ongoing saga. Activision initially planned to introduce leaderboards in Season 1 Reloaded but ultimately pushed it back until Season 2. Players felt cheated, as none of their wins or kills were tracked before the game’s second season. Next, community members criticized the developers for mixing stats on Al Mazrah and Ashika Island into the same leaderboard. Players called for the numbers to be separated, as Resurgence gameplay is much different than the standard battle royale experience. Raven Software was then forced to launch an investigation when wins and losses stopped tracking after the Season 3 update. The developers were once again called into action as a familiar issue arose in Plunder matches. Warzone 2 Plunder matches track stats incorrectly Warzone 2 added Plunder as a playable game mode on April 26. The fan-favorite game mode tasks squads with gathering as much in-game cash as possible, only winning when they become the first team to collect $1 million. Cash can be earned by eliminating enemies, completing contracts, partaking in events, or clearing out Strongholds and Blacksites. Plunder suits a more casual playstyle, as teams can technically win without ever needing to engage in a gunfight. In WZ1 some players used the mode to level up weapons quickly, and community members praised its refreshing pick-up-and-play approach. There is an ongoing joke in the CoD community that less-skilled users only play Plunder. The game mode launched and unintentionally applied the mode’s stats to a player’s overall Warzone 2 KD. Raven Software announced it is working on a fix to prevent stats from tracking in the game mode. The developers leaned into the long-running joke and claimed: “Some of you are about to have very sus K/S. Just saying!” Some players will surely take advantage of the causal game mode to boost their stats before the fix is implemented.

Warzone 2 devs address community TTK concerns ActivisionIn a call with content creators, Infinity Ward and Raven Software talked to WhosImmortal and others about the community’s Warzone 2 TTK concerns. Warzone 2 players have been critical of the game’s time-to-kill speed (TTK), which is the amount of time it takes for a person to kill or get killed by an opponent. Some community members believe WZ2’s TTK is too fast, resulting in gunfights coming down to who shoots first. JGOD compared the TTK speed of every Warzone season and concluded that WZ2’s long-range TTK is actually in a good place, while close-range engagements are a problem, and players die too fast. The Warzone 2 developers gave content creators the inside scoop on their decision-making behind the game’s TTK speed. Infinity Ward explains thought process behind Warzone 2 TTK Before the launch of Season 2, Infinity Ward and Raven Software spoke to content creators about content plans for Season 2, 3, and beyond. WhosImmortal broke down the possibility of TTK changes in the future. “When it comes to the TTK, the spot it’s at now is a good medium ground, but it’s not something set in stone. It could evolve over time, but there are consequences to how you tweak the TTK.” The YouTuber elaborated, “when you slow down the TTK, Infinity Ward said that their data shows it hurts a wider variety of players and is going to have a larger impact on the casual player base when you slow down the overall TTK.” WhosImmortal gave an example of a weapon killing in 800 milliseconds instead of 600. An increased TTK favors skilled players because players with worse aim would struggle to take down enemies as consistently. The developers fear hurting most of their player base in favor of appealing to a small percentage of competitive players. “Infinity Ward and Raven’s stance on the TTK is that they are aware of how many people are asking for changes to it, but they have to consider their options in both directions of who it affects most.” WhosImmortal didn’t rule out TTK changes in the future but told players not to get their hopes up when it comes to drastic changes.

Warzone 2 player cosplaying as a decoy is doing things right Activision BlizzardAs if the Inflatable Decoy wasn’t bad enough, Call of Duty: Warzone 2 players will now cosplay as decoys to trick enemy combatants. The Inflatable Decoy exists in Modern Warfare II and WZ2, functioning as a Field Upgrade that can often offer tactical advantages. A decoy can prove most useful for drawing out hidden foes, then taking them down when they make a move on the inflatable. Snipers in MW2 have especially put this tactic to good use, deploying a decoy on a rooftop to pick off foes at ground level. Now a new level of trickery has taken root in the Warzone sequel. Players learns that some Warzone 2 decoys aren’t inflatable “These inflatable decoys are getting out of control,” Redditor M_RiGGz said in a post accompanied by footage of a pretty genius decoy trick. In the gameplay video, the Reddit user enters a house whose kitchen area seems to be occupied by a decoy. The player shoots the presumed inflatable, only for it to turn and start firing back. Had the decoy cosplayer acted a bit quicker, they might have gotten the drop on M_RiGGz. Instead, the latter managed to eliminate their clever opponent sustaining too much damage. Unsurprisingly, many Reddit users said they fell for the decoy ruse when watching the clip. One person wrote, “genuinely had me thinking that he was a decoy for a good second lol.” “I had to watch this multiple times to figure out if it was a decoy or not,” someone else said. Another Redditor argued the move made the fake decoy the “smartest player” in Warzone 2. With this in mind, Warzone 2 users would do well to be more mindful of both inflatables and user-controlled copycats.

Warzone 2 December 19 update: Updated cost of loadout weapons, bug fixes, more ActivisionThe Warzone 2 developers have released a wave of quality-of-life improvements in the December 19 update, garnering praise from community members. Warzone 2 players voiced concerns over the “horrific” Season 1 Reloaded update. The update increased the amount of Strongholds and nerfed AI enemies, but players demanded more, and Activision heard the criticism loud and clear. Two days after the mid-season update, a small patch doubled the amount of Buy Stations per match and made the Loadout Drop public event occur in the second circle instead of the third. Both changes made it easier for players to access their loadout weapons faster, which players were pleading for. The December 19 update also increases access to loadout weapons by decreasing the cost of primary weapons at buy stations. Primary weapon price decreased at buy stations The biggest change is reducing the cost of primary loadout weapons to $2500, down from $5000 at buy stations. A reduced price not only makes it easier to get a loadout weapon but also makes it easier to buy back teammates potentially. The price to buy back a teammate is $4000. A common complaint from the community is limited money in ground loot. The issue has prevented players from being able to buy back squad members, forcing them to sit in the lobby doing nothing. The inability to earn money quickly is especially prevalent for players that solo-queue, because it’s less likely a random player will wait to be bought back at a buy station. Players no longer need to make the difficult call between buying back a teammate or purchasing a loadout weapon as frequently. Warzone 2 December 19 update patch notes Here are the full December 19 update patch notes. GLOBAL BUG FIXES Fixed an issue where players were able to save Blueprints from Private Matches and Showcase. – Fixed an issue that could affect Basilisk bullet spread when ADS. – Fixed an issue with Gaz Operator skin (Grass Ops) not appearing as purchased once unlocked. – Fixed an issue that caused lingering smoke to disappear while in ADS during active S.A.E.. – Fixed an issue which prevented Players from selecting a Blueprint after leaving a match early. – Fixed an issue that caused Steam friends to appear as their SteamID64 rather than their intended nickname. – Fixed an issue preventing Players from selecting the correct number of Battle Pass Tokens to purchase. – WARZONE 2.0 GAMEPLAY Buy Station Reduced the cost of Primary Loadout Weapons to $2500, down from $5000 – – BUG FIXES Battle Royale Fixed an issue that caused the Champion’s Quest element negative effects to remain on screen after dropping them outside of playable boundaries. –

Warzone 2 Day 1 patch notes: Game modes, map, playlists & more Call of DutyBefore you drop into Warzone 2, make sure you’re up to speed on what weapons, perks, and loadouts have gotten buffs in the initial patch notes. After months of anticipation, the Call of Duty battle royale Warzone’s sequel is finally live for everyone to squad up and drop in. Warzone 2 will introduce plenty of new weapons, loadouts, equipment and killstreaks, AI enemies, and a new DMZ mode. All your favorite streamers, pro players, and friends are going to have their opinions as to what is strong or weak, so make sure to check out the Modern Warfare 2 patch to see all the necessary information on weapon balance. But if you want to know about the changes unique to Warzone 2, you need look no further! Contents Warzone 2 patch notes: Playlists – Warzone 2 patch notes: Modes – Warzone 2 patch notes: New map – Warzone 2 patch notes: Gameplay – Warzone 2 patch notes: Quality of life changes – Warzone 2 patch notes: UI/UX changes – Warzone 2 patch notes: PC settings – Warzone 2 patch notes: Playlists Battle royale Solos Max Players: 150 – Assimilation*: Off – Duos Max Players: 150 – Assimilation*: Refill – Quads Max Players: 152 – Assimilation*: Refill – Third Person TriosMax Players: 150 – Assimilation*: Refill – – Unhinged TriosMax Players: 150 – Assimilation*: Up to 6 Players Per Squad – – Warzone 2 patch notes: Modes Battle Royale Core Best in-class. Drop into Al Mazrah to experience all of the new features in Warzone 2.0. – Third Person For the first time in Warzone history, players can now play with the camera fixed behind their Operator model and have the ability to swap between the left and right shoulder when aiming. Players will have to entirely rethink how they approach movement, engagements, and their overall strategy. – Unhinged Break the squad limit boundaries by using Assimilation to grow your squad up to 6 players! Alliances are fragile in this game mode and you may find yourself out numbered at any point. – DMZ In DMZ, the conditions for winning are your own– you decide the stakes. Players choose missions from three factions which level-up as you complete objectives. Each mission has a unique reward and missions get progressively harder. – Squads can pick up contracts in-world for extra cash and XP. – The many locked spaces in Al Mazrah can be opened with specific keys found around the map. – If you’ve had your fill and want an even harder challenge you can go after other operators and harvest whatever they have looted. – Exfil is always the ultimate goal. – When gearing up players can choose between their Insured Weapons which are built from Gunsmith progression unlocks or from their Stash of Contraband Weapons. If an insured weapon is lost in the DMZ, it goes on a cooldown. Players can wait for this cooldown or they can extract cash to speed up the time it takes to get their insured weapon back. Contraband weapons are weapons extracted from the DMZ. These cannot be changed and if they are lost, they are lost for good. We look forward to players diving into the DMZ. We’re excited to see our community map out the many locked areas and we can’t wait to see all of your battles over the Weapons Case. Al Mazrah is a dangerous place… Our recommendation to all of you: conserve your ammo, stay with your squad and watch your six. Good hunting. Trios Max Players: 66 – Assimilation Setting: Up to 6 Players Per Squad – Solos or Duos can elect not to fill – Warzone 2 patch notes: New map Welcome to Al Mazrah Al Mazrah is a massive new landscape that comprises the metropolitan area and rural outskirts within the Republic of Adal. This new map includes 6 Sectors, 25 Zones, 18 Major Points of Interest, dozens of Minor Points of Interest, strategic Landmarks sprinkled across the battlefield… all brand new for you to discover! As the biggest Battle Royale map we have ever made, we are certain you will find a drop that suits your playstyle. Major Points of Interest Oasis – Taraq Village – Rohan Oil – Al Safwa Quarry – Al Mazrah City – Zarqwa Hydroelectric – Mawizeh Marshlands – Sattiq Caves – Zaya Observatory – Al Sharim Pass – Ahkdar Village – Sa’id City – Hafid Port – Sawah Village – El Samman Cemetery – Sarrif Bay – Al Bagra Fortress – Al Malik Airport – Landmarks Ammo Cache – Bank of Adal – Burger Town – Comms Tower – Fire Station – Gas Station (Land) – Gas Station (Marine) – Grocery Market – Police Station – Medical Center – New Gulag This abandoned medieval fortress off the coast of Al Mazrah has been repurposed for sinister games by Shadow Company. Warzone 2 patch notes: Gameplay New Strongholds & Black Sites Strongholds are a brand new, multifaceted feature that are going to fundamentally change the way some players choose to spend their time. They represent a high-risk opportunity for teams to get a full Loadout early and a localized UAV for strategic positioning. Teams that are the first to clear a Stronghold will be granted a single Black Site key – an invitation to challenge fortified enemy combatants for the most valuable loot Al Mazrah has to offer. Black Sites are only found in Battle Royale. – New Gulag Experience This new 2v2 Gulag offers different pathways to ensure redeployment including an unprecedented co-optional one. Duos can choose to eliminate the enemy squad to secure release before overtime. Players will spawn with a Pistol or Shotgun, one Lethal Equipment, and one Tactical Equipment. Superior ground loot will spawn towards the center of the map, getting progressively more valuable over match time. Once Overtime kicks in, The Jailer will spawn. Players will have the choice to work together to eliminate this foe, rewarding all 4 Players with redeployment to the battlefield. Ultimately, however you choose to win, you’ll redeploy with everything you looted for another chance at victory. – New Multi-Circles At random, and at any point during a Battle Royale match, the circle can split into upwards of 3 smaller circles, which will ultimately remerge for the final showdown. With mobility being a crucial factor here, we’ve put an emphasis on player choice as far as vehicles go and whether your team travels by air, land, or sea. – New Loadout System Custom LoadoutsCustom Loadouts can be built in the Gunsmith menu and are composed of a Primary Weapon, a Secondary Weapon, a choice of Lethal Equipment, a choice of a Tactical Equipment, and a choice of a Perk Package designed around preferred playstyles. – – Buy StationsThe Primary Weapon that players design for their Loadout will be available to purchase via Buy Stations found throughout Al Mazrah. – – Stronghold Crates New Landmark RewardsIn Battle Royale, if players want to access the entirety of their Loadout early, they’re going to have to work for it. Full Loadouts can be earned as a reward for completing one of the three active, AI-defended Strongholds found throughout the map. – – Loadout Dropsnot willing to brave an early Stronghold? A new mid-game Public Event will drop a limited number of Loadout Drops for players to claim. It’s worth noting that an individual Loadout is only usable once per player on a team, but will remain on the field for other teams to loot. – – New Looting System Players will have access to the new Backpack & Inventory system, uniquely adapted to Battle Royale and DMZ modes, which allows for a more strategic approach to looting. – In Battle Royale, loot will pop out of Supply Boxes onto the ground, allowing players within close proximity to automatically pick it up. This will either stack with existing slots or fill new ones. – In DMZ, players will be presented with the entirety of the new Backpack, having to carefully choose when to loot and how to manage their inventory. – Loot containers can come in different shapes and sizes, including but not limited to: duffel bags, cash registers, weapon lockers, and medicine cabinets. – Player opponents will also drop a lootable Backpack upon elimination that uses this system. – New Contextual Loot Containers and ground loot can be found in logical locations across the mapi.e. Self Revives can be found in medicine cabinets, while plate carriers may be found at a police station. – – New Movement DivingPlayers are now able to dive. – – SwimmingOperators are now able to swim! Leverage this new feature to hide, reposition, or engage in submerged aquatic combat using your Handgun. – – Leaning Out of VehiclesPassengers in a vehicle can now lean out of the window (that is if your door remains intact) to engage in combat using any selection of equipped Weapons. – – Climbing Onto Moving VehiclePassengers in a vehicle can now climb out of the window and onto the roof while in motion. – – Wall HangingPlayers can now grab onto wall ledges or the top of vehicles and choose to peak or even fire their Handguns before climbing over. – – New Buy Station Buy Stations have been upgraded and adjusted.Item inventory and stock may vary from one station to another. – Custom Primary Weapons can be purchased for a considerable fee. – The Firesale Public Event will add new items to Buy Station inventory. – In Battle Royale, Players will find an option to buy back their fallen allies. – In DMZ, Players will be able to purchase Contraband Weapons, as well as sell items they’ve looted throughout the world. – – New Armor Plate Carriers Players will infil with fewer default slots for wearable Armor Plates. Players will have to search the battlefield for upgraded Armor Plate Carriers in order to unlock additional slots, with a maximum of three. Players who have a maximum of three Armor Plates equipped will be resistant to damage that would otherwise down them in one shot. – New Enemies In Battle Royale, Al Qatala forces can be found in a variety of areas including the Gulag, Strongholds, and Black Sites. These enemy combatants range in difficulty, from basic reinforcements to unique, boss-style Juggernauts. – New Assimilation Mechanic This brand new interaction allows players to prompt opponents to join their squad, with a max squad size that varies depending on the game mode. – This feature enables squads who have lost a player to fill the empty spot for a fair chance at victory. – New Interrogation Mechanic Reveal enemy players, enemy equipment, and earn a $1,000 reward by successfully interacting with a downed opponent before they are eliminated. – New Proximity Chat Players are now able to interact with other players (if enabled) they encounter in a match via proximity voice chat. – New Perk Packages While creating a Custom Loadout, players will be prompted to select one of the following Perk Packages that are adapted to various unique playstyles: VanguardDouble Time | Bomb Squad | Resupply | High Alert – – CommandoScavenger | Strong Arm | Fast Hands | High Alert – – SpecterDouble Time | Tracker | Spotter | Ghost – – ScoutScavenger | Strong Arm | Focus | Ghost – – SentinelBattle Hardened | Bomb Squad | Cold Blooded | Overclock – – WardenDouble Time | Strong Arm | Fast Hands | Overclock – – Weapons SpecialistOverkill | Strong Arm | Spotter | Survivor – – ReconDouble Time | Tracker | Focus | Birdseye – – The new Perks that are found within the Perk Packages detailed above are as follows: BirdseyeUAV and Radar pings show the heading of the enemy. – – Bomb SquadTake reduced damage from non-killstreak explosives. Reset fuse timers when picking up live grenades. – – Fast HandsReload, use equipment, and swap weapons faster. – – FocusExtended hold breath duration and reduced flinch when ADS. – – OverclockField Upgrades are rechargeable and you can store an additional charge. Charge rate decreased by 20%. – – ResupplyStart with an additional Lethal. Recharge equipment over 30 seconds. Previously known as Restock. – – Strong ArmThrow equipment further. See a preview of the trajectory. – – SurvivorEnemies that down you get automatically pinged. Get revived faster by allies. – – New Equipment TacticalShock StickElectrical device that sticks to surfaces as well as opponents. Electrocutes enemies, destroys equipment, causes opponents to fire their weapon uncontrollably, and causes vehicles to go haywire. – – – Shock Stick – LethalDrill ChargeCharge with a thermal lance that can burrow into surfaces before exploding. – – – Drill Charge – New Killstreaks Cluster MineThrow a device that launches a cluster of smaller mines within the immediate area. – – Mortar StrikeSignal several waves of mortars to attack a location. – – New Field Upgrades Battle RageAn experimental stimulant that gives you an adrenaline rush resulting in quicker Health regeneration, resistance to enemy Tactical Equipment and explosives, and a constantly refreshed Tactical Sprint. This effect persists through damage. – – DDoSActivates a device that deactivates electronics, and disrupts enemy sensors in the immediate area for a short period of time. – – Inflatable DecoyA proximity activated decoy mine that violently deploys a kevlar target to confuse and distract opponents. – – Portable RadarEmits a periodic radar ping to detect nearby enemies. – – Revive PistolEquip a revive pistol capable of reviving downed teammates or yourself. Hits to critical locations may be harmful to hostile targets. – – Suppression MineA trip mine that, when triggered, emits a constant sound wave that disrupts enemy vision and slows their movement. – – New Contracts SafecrackerBlow open three marked safes full of enemy supplies. – – IntelLocate a hard drive containing enemy intelligence and deliver it to the marked upload station. – – New Vehicle Durability Certain heavy and medium vehicles are more likely to go into a “Disabled” state when hit with explosives, rather than being outright destroyed, to better allow for counterplay opportunities. – New Vehicle Fuel & Repair System FuelMost vehicles use gas as fuel which is consumed over time, eventually rendering the vehicle unusable. – – Gas Stations (Land and Marine)Can be used by players to repair and refuel vehicles. – – Gas CansIn addition to parking at a Gas Station pump, vehicles can be refilled by using Gas Cans which can be found throughout the map. These can be stored in your backpack and used while operating the vehicle. – – RepairsVehicles can be repaired by parking them at Gas Stations located throughout the map. Damaged tires can also be repaired by interacting with them. – – New Vehicles Land VehiclesChop TopThis open-air, off-road vehicle provides little protection but can be used for rapid movement between objectives. – – GMC HUMMER EVFast and quiet, this all-electric supertruck is engineered for off-road traversal. – – HatchbackFour-door civilian vehicle without any significant protection. Good luck. – – LTVA specialized light combat vehicle designed to handle extreme terrain and unconventional combat. Available with and without the mounted .50 Cal machine gun. – – SUVAll-terrain civilian 4×4 with a boxy frame for quick extraction. – – – Chop Top – Aerial VehiclesHeavy ChopperA heavily armored search and rescue helicopter. Can transport troops to the combat zone and deploy flares when targeted by anti-aircraft ordnance. – – – Heavy Chopper – Aquatic VehiclesArmored Patrol BoatReinforced aquatic vehicle with mounted .50 Cal machine guns. – – RHIBManeuverable tactical boat designed for Special Forces. – – – Armored Patrol Boat – Warzone 2 patch notes: Quality of life changes Console Field-of-View Slider Consoles now have the option to adjust their field-of-view setting up to 120 degrees. – Improved Footstep Audio The audio team has made significant improvements to the audio system to address this key area. – Squad Score in the UI Players will now be able to see the total scores for their entire squad in the in-game Scoreboard. – Join In Queue Players are now able to join other Players while they are queued up. – If a Player joins a full squad that is already queued, the squad will be removed from said queue. – Stowed Weapon Infil To guarantee a fair match start, weapons are stowed while skydiving during initial deployment. – Ascenders Players now can look around and shoot their weapon while using an ascender. – Players can now attach to an ascender while falling. – Parachuting Players who are parachuting can now mantle and ledge hang. – Ledge Hanging The new ledge hanging mechanic makes it easier to traverse over large obstacles. – Automatic Item Pickup Backpack slots occupied by stackable items will automatically pick up additional copies until that stack reaches max capacity. This works great when players want to plan ahead for future ammo needs. – Warzone 2 patch notes: UI/UX changes New Menu Features Tactical Ping Wheel Players can now hold the Ping keybind to communicate via custom visuals and voice lines including:General Ping – Attacking Here – Watching Here – Looting Here – Regrouping Here – Stay Quiet – I Need Help – Assimilation Related – – Looking For Party This feature now includes the following preference filters:In-Game Communication Style: Voice Chat, Text Chat, Ping – Main Language: Select up to 3 language preferences – Playstyle (Primary, Secondary): Competitive, Casual, Objectives, High Kills – – To access this, click “Find A Party”, select the mode you want to play to access a lobby, and find your team based on preferences. – Warzone 2 patch notes: PC settings Stow KeybindBy default, you hold the “Scoreboard” key to stow and “Interact” to equip. Now you’re able to set a different keybind for Stow. – – Gyro AimingYou’re now able to aim using your gamepad’s gyroscope. – – “Backpack Behavior: Mixed” This new option makes it possible to use the backpack with toggle (cursor) and hold (no cursor). – – Ledge Hang BehaviorThis option changes the inputs required to perform a Ledge Grab. – –

Warzone 2 Data Heist event: How it works & rewards ActivisionWarzone 2 Season 2 has brought Data Heists to the battle royal title – a brand new public event. Find out what it is, what it does, and what rewards you can get for doing so in Warzone 2. The headline attraction for Warzone 2 Season 2 is unquestionably the arrival of Ashika Island as the much sought-after Resurgence mode returns to CoD. Whereas Battle Royale is a last-man-standing format with an emphasis on no respawns, Resurgence plays a lot more like traditional Call of Duty multiplayer with a focus on respawning. Ashika Island aims to bring this back in Warzone 2 Season 2, but it’s also delivered a new public event in the process called Data Heist. To help you better understand the Data Heist event better, we’ve whipped up a handy guide to help you in Warzone 2. What is the Warzone 2 Data Heist event? The Data Heist event is a public event that is currently exclusive to the new Askiha Island Resurgence map and is guaranteed to take place in every single match. The devs have said that Data Heist will take place “during the second circle collapse” and will make three uplink stations around the map active to players. From there, players will need to head to one of them and download the intel buried internally within the device. Do note that resistance will arrive in the form of AI Shadow Company enemies. Killing the soldiers will speed up the process, but your hard work can be undone by opposing enemies being within close proximity to the machine or using the DDOS Field Upgrade. As with Strongholds and other events of this sort of nature, there are risk and reward elements for you to consider, but one of the major positives to consider is the goodies you get for completing the Data Heist event. Warzone 2 Data Heist event: Rewards If you are able to successfully crack a Data Heist event in Call of Duty: Warzone 2, then you can be richly rewarded with items that will help you en route to a Resurgence victory such as cash and Killstreaks. What’s more, if you have the nerve to complete two or even all three uplink machines, then your rewards will only get better and better. Here is the full list of rewards that you could get for completing the Data Heist event in Warzone 2: Advanced UAVs – Cash – Killstreaks – Tactical Equipment – XP – Again, in the heat of battle with tons of teams around you, it’ll be up to you and a potential squad to decide if the event is worth pursuing. Hopefully, our Data Heist public event guide answered any questions you may have had about it. If you want more Warzone 2 guides, then there are more to check out: Best Warzone weapons: Ultimate tier list with meta loadouts | Best Warzone 2 loadouts: Meta weapons and classes to dominate in Al Mazrah | Call of Duty 2024: Early leaks, concept art, Warzone 2.0, Treyarch & more | Call of Duty 2023: Early leaks, Modern Warfare 2, Warzone 2, more | Best M4 Warzone 2 loadout | How to get free Combat Pack in Modern Warfare 2 & Warzone 2

Warzone 2 data expert explains why you are using battle rifles wrong ActivisionBattle rifles don’t get a lot of love in Warzone 2, but YouTuber TrueGameData revealed a trick to make the class viable. Warzone 2’s second season begins on February 15. We got an early look at what’s coming, but the developers have not yet tipped their hand on an impending weapon balance update. Historically, the battle royale’s meta drastically changes after a seasonal update, forcing players to find the next best thing. It’s certainly no mystery that most players use either an RPK or Fennec in the current meta, and community members expect a nerf to both popular choices. LMGs, ARs, and SMGs will still be the three go-to classes no matter what the balancing update does, but that doesn’t mean other classes can’t be just as viable. Battle rifles are a new class in Modern Warfare 2, serving as a hybrid between an AR and a marksman rifle. Al Mazrah’s desert environment perfectly suits this new category, but most players haven’t come around yet. TrueGameData explains toggle fire damage profiles Using data from sym.gg and TrueGameData, the YouTuber compared damage profiles for battle rifles in single-fire and auto-fire modes. Most battle rifles, besides a few exceptions, have a default single fire. TrueGameData explained why you should change to auto-fire for the Lachman-762, SO-14, TAQ-V, and FTAC Recon in close-range combat. “For the vast majority of these single-fire weapons, they are trying to reward precision when you use single fire, so you get much more headshot damage in general and more consistent body damage on automatic.” TrueGameData elaborated, “up close, anywhere inside 40-50 meters, you are always going to want to be on the full auto mode for the TAQ-V, and any of these guns because the time to kill is going to be effectively much faster unless you can hit headshots and be very precise. You can watch the full YouTube video for individual damage profile stats and time-to-kill speeds. The next time you pick up a battle rifle as ground loot or create a loadout, press b on PC or left D-pad on console to change the weapon’s fire mode when needed.

Warzone 2 players warn of crashing and freezing bugs in airport area Activision BlizzardCall of Duty: Warzone 2 players warn others of the crashing and freezing errors that plague the game’s airport area. Warzone 2.0 hit the ground running last week, allowing Call of Duty players to drop into a brand-new map. The release brought with it a host of previously unseen content offerings, including the increasingly popular DMZ mode. However, the free-to-play shooter has also experienced some growing pains, chief among them being lagging and freezing issues. Thus far, it seems one area of the map, in particular, has let players down the most with respect to Warzone 2’s performance. Beware of crashing problems in Warzone 2’s Al Malik Airport At least two separate threads on Reddit have pointed out freezing issues at the Al Malik Airport area in Warzone 2. Redditor edocean shared details about the bug on November 22, noting that three separate visits to the locale on Xbox resulted in their “game freeze[ing], then crash[ing] completely after 20 seconds.” Another person, Lma0-Zedong, reported encountering similar issues earlier today, November 23. According to this Redditor, though, the problem seems specific to an area in the airport’s top-right corner. PlayStation and Xbox users in both threads say they’ve stumbled across the same exact problem. And a few people claimed the lag can become especially egregious in the DMZ mode. “Whenever I start there in DMZ, it’s barely usable,” one person replied to the second post. Others have said the latest patch seemed to fix this particular Warzone 2 crashing issue for them, yet other recent responses suggest those who explore the airport may still encounter hiccups here and there. Hopefully, these errors get resolved sooner rather than later, especially as new people continue to join the experience. Call of Duty: Warzone 2 is out now on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.

Weird Warzone 2 crashing bug makes sniping impossible Activision BlizzardA Call of Duty: Warzone 2 player has encountered a strange bug that disconnects the game whenever they try sniping enemies from afar. Sniper-centric builds constitute one of the fan-favorite loadouts for Call of Duty’s popular battle royale title. As such, recommendations for the best sniper loadouts make the rounds within the community quite often. Unfortunately, there are times when the power behind carefully-thought-out rifle setups provide no battlefield advantage because of gameplay hiccups. And it seems one particular bug has caused quite a few problems for one Warzone sniper who can’t catch a break. Warzone 2 bug causes game to disconnect when sniping “I know the devs hate snipers but this is a bit excessive,” wrote Redditor Kenja_Time upon posting a clip of the Warzone sequel randomly crashing mid-match. The video shows two separate instances of the player firing off a shot from a sniper rifle, only for Warzone 2 to suddenly crash. Both times, the user was met with an error message that read: “DEV ERROR 11588.” While the above footage depicts the disconnection happening with a PC version of the Warzone sequel, console players have encountered the exact same issue. One user in the Reddit thread linked to a SoCaLove stream from a few days ago, wherein the content creator’s game disconnects right after they try sniping an opponent. “It’s 100 percent a sniper glitch,” the streamer said while waiting for the main menu to load. As of now, what causes the glitch and how widespread it’s become for Warzone 2 is not yet known. Along with the “broken” KV Broadside, this serves as another hiccup that players will want developers to fix fast.

Warzone 2 could finally get firing range to test weapons & loadouts ActivisionSince Warzone was originally released back in March 2020, one key feature that players have clamored for has been missing, but it could debut in Warzone 2 instead. Testing out a loadout in Warzone can be an arduous task, having to rely on regularly running into people, finding enemies and, hopefully, getting a few gunfights in before eventually being sent to the Gulag. For most players, testing out new weapons or builds is resigned to modes like Plunder or Resurgence, where you can easily spawn back in with a different loadout. That said, it can still be tedious, but at this point in the game’s lifecycle, many players have given up hope on a firing range arriving in the title, similar to Apex Legends or Fortnite’s Creative mode. Players might not have to wait too much longer, though, as Warzone 2 may be getting one when it arrives in 2022/23, around the same time as Modern Warfare II. Read More: Best Warzone weapons – Popular leaker TheGhostofHope posted a tweet on April 28 saying that “Modern Warfare II will have a firing range,” which was obviously great news for fans of the multiplayer. He then followed that tweet up, saying that he assumes Warzone 2 will also get the firing range, answering the years-long prayers of players. Can only assume this also will come to Warzone 2. https://t.co/FsYJOo6aIK — Hope (@TheGhostOfHope) April 29, 2022 It’s worth noting that as this is a leak, it should be taken with a pinch of salt, especially since Ghost only “assumes” the firing range will also be in Warzone 2. There aren’t many details regarding Warzone 2 that have become available, but we do know it’s being built from the ground up, completely separate from the current iteration of Call of Duty’s battle royale hit. With new features like a firing range, Warzone 2 will be looking to exceed its predecessor in as many ways as possible.

Warzone 2 could be amazing with these dynamic weather and snow effects Reddit/ActivisionAn amazing new video circulating the Warzone community shows what the CoD battle royale would look like with dynamic weather effects and players want it to become a reality for Warzone 2. Not much is known about Warzone 2 so far, but it seemed like only a matter of time before Activision began work on a sequel to one of the most popular BRs of all time. Of course, while finding a solution to the ongoing hacker problem is a big task for the second game, one other area players want to see improved upon are visuals. In a popular post on Reddit, one player took it upon themself to add snow and other effects to Warzone to show what the game would look like with an upgrade. Warzone looks great with dynamic weather In a post by ‘Western_Digital,’ the Redditor took a Warzone victory and amplified it by adding snow and dynamic lighting to, in their words, “make it look like a (sh*tty) snowstorm.” Warzone with snow and other weather elements could make for quite an interesting battleground. Using the snow to hide may have some advantages, but it could also result in players leaving snowy footsteps that might cost them. Users liked the weather effects and noted how there is a lack of snow in CoD titles lately, which was odd considering how many operators are dressed in white. “I find it ridiculous how the season 2 battle pass has a snow theme with operators dressed in white but there is only one snow map in Vanguard and no snow on Caldera,” one wrote. “I would love to see a snow map. Or a desert map for that matter. I just really need the damn trees and bushes to be gone,” another remarked. Hopefully, fans get their wish and the next iteration of Warzone makes some huge improvements to diversify how the battle royale is played.

Warzone 2 confirmed for 2022 release with Modern Warfare 2 reveal ActivisionAlongside the blockbuster Modern Warfare 2 reveal, Infinity Ward and Activision confirmed that the Warzone sequel will be arriving in 2022, putting an end to rumors that it may not launch until 2023. Modern Warfare 2 is one of the most highly anticipated CoD titles in recent franchise history, a direct sequel to 2019’s Modern Warfare, which proved hugely successful. Warzone, though, was even more successful, becoming one of the most popular games in the world when it launched in March 2020. It brought together players from all different games and backgrounds, with Verdansk becoming a common meeting ground for friends and foes alike. Now, they’ll be hoping Warzone 2 can replicate similar successes. Warzone 2 coming 2022 After months of rumors, with some believing that the game may not arrive until 2023, several months after Modern Warfare 2, there has finally been confirmation that the game will actually launch this year. The developers said: “Fans everywhere can look forward to a new Warzone 2.0 experience releasing this year, the evolution in Battle Royale with a brand-new play space. Expect a massive calendar of free content post-launch featuring evolving gameplay with new maps, modes, seasonal events, community celebrations, and more.” An exact release date wasn’t provided, though the Cold War and Vanguard integrations arrived in Warzone in December of each year, so that could be a month to look toward the sequel’s launch. Warzone 2 will be a “separate experience” from Warzone Activision confirmed in an official blog post that Warzone 2 will have a brand new progression system and inventories and the current Warzone will be its own separate experience. It states in the blog post, “Warzone 2 will feature new Modern Warfare 2 content and systems with brand-new progression and inventories. To add, today’s Warzone will continue as a separate experience that includes a continuation of player progression and inventories within that Warzone experience.” Modern Warfare 2 is bringing a number of major changes to the Call of Duty world, including a refined AI system, a Gunsmith overhaul, and a big update for RICOCHET anti-cheat, and it looks like they’re all going to impact Warzone 2, too. For now, though, we’ll have to wait for more details. For more Modern Warfare 2 exclusive stories, check these out: MW2 world reveal trailer | EMP gets rework in MW2 | Lethal AI bots coming to Warzone & MW2 | Campaign details revealed | Water rework for MW2 & Warzone maps | New Multiplayer default classes | Major Gunsmith changes | 5 Multiplayer maps confirmed | New MW2 equipment | How to pre-order Modern Warfare 2 | Anti-cheat for MW2

Warzone 2 Christmas Event 2022: Everything we know ActivisionWondering whether Warzone 2 will have a Christmas event? Well, our hub has everything you need to know about the potential festivities. As the festive season fast approaches, many Warzone 2 players will be wanting to know if the game will have a Christmas event. After all, there is nothing better than wrapping up warm, squading up, and indulging in some winter-themed modes. While official details on the Warzone 2 Christmas event remain scarce, there is a lot of speculation as to what could be included. So, here’s everything we currently know about the potential release date, modes, and more. Contents Will Warzone 2 have a Christmas event? – Is there a Warzone 2 Christmas event release date? – What will be included in the Warzone 2 Christmas event? – Will Warzone 2 have a Christmas event? Activision has yet to reveal whether Warzone 2 will have a Christmas event. However, the original Warzone famously featured Festive Fervor, a limited-time Christmas event that saw various modes and Holiday bundles added to the game. Whether Festiver Fervor will return to Warzone 2 remains to be seen, but given that developers have previously released winter-themed modes, it’s likely that they will do something similar for a new release. Of course, this is just speculation and we’ll likely hear more information in the weeks to come, so be sure to check back here regularly. Is there a Warzone 2 Christmas event release date? There is no official start date for the Warzone 2 Christmas event. However, the previous Festive Fervor event ran from December 17 to January 4. As result, we could expect a similar run time for this year’s in-game festivities. What will be included in the Warzone 2 Christmas event? We currently don’t have any information on what will be included in Warzone 2’s Christmas event, but we’d expect to see the usual festive bundles, events, rewards, and features that lead up to the New Year. During Warzone 1, players were introduced to Krampus – a nightmarish AI that could eliminate players in Caldera if they dared to get too close to him. There was also the addition of Elf Team Six, an elite unit of holiday helpers that rewarded players with various items for eliminating them. There was also the addition of Twelve Days of Deals that cut the prices of Warzone Bundles, giving players the chance to get some cheaper cosmetic items. Lastly, Festive Fervor included challenges that could be completed to unlock a Weapon Blueprint. Whether Festive Fervor will return to Warzone 2 remains to be seen, but for now, that’s everything we know about the Warzone 2 Christmas event. Make sure you check out our Call of Duty page for all the latest news and guides.

Warzone 2 cheaters getting free wins as infinite gas mask glitch returns ActivisionJust a couple of weeks into Warzone 2.0, players have already discovered an infinite gas mask glitch that lets them win games easily, by simply staying in the gas and out of the way of unaware enemies. The infinite gas mask glitch is not one that will be new to veteran Warzone players. Even as far back as the original Verdansk days, players were finding different workarounds to survive in the gas and cheat their way to wins. Unfortunately, this hasn’t changed with the launch of Warzone 2, and players have once again found an exploit never to lose their gas mask, making it last for as long as they need it for. The glitch works similarly to the max money glitch that was recently discovered in both Warzone 2 battle royale and DMZ. We won’t go into the details on how to do the glitch, as it grants such an unfair advantage over your opponents, but it does give you over 116 million percent of a gas mask, so it will basically never run out unless there are multiple players in the final circle doing the same thing. This rings similar not only to previous gas mask glitches, but many players will also remember the unlimited stim shot glitch which allowed players to survive endlessly in the gas in Verdansk. The Warzone developers have not yet addressed this issue, though they’ll definitely want to get on top of it before it gets out of hand and hordes of players start abusing it more than they already are.

Warzone 2 change makes Ashika Island more “hectic” than Rebirth Island ActivisionWarzone 2’s Ashika Island plays very similar to its Resurgence predecessor Rebirth Island, but JGOD discovered a distinct pacing difference. Season 2 introduced Warzone 2’s first Resurgence map, Ashika Island. The game mode was a fan favorite in WZ1, providing a faster paced battle royale experience. Rebirth Island was the first resurgence map, followed by Fortune’s Keep. Community members praised both environments, but fans were especially devestated when the devs removed Rebirth Island. JGOD compared the map sizes of every Resurgence map and discovered Ashika Island is the second smallest Warzone map, with Rebirth Island being the smallest. While WZ2’s Resurgence map does feel a bit more expansive, both maps share a lot in common. Fans loved Rebirth Island for it’s frantic pace. One would think Ashika Island would play slower, being larger, but JGOD noticed a subtle difference that actually makes WZ’s resurgence map more “hectic.” JGOD discovers pacing difference on Ashika Island JGOD compared the length of matches between Rebirth and Ashika Island and came to the conclusion that Ashika Island matches last 65 seconds longer. Because the matches are longer, the YouTuber believes the first 3 circles are more hectic, with more chances to get into gunfights. Ashika Island matches last 15 minutes, compared to 13 minutes 55 seconds on Rebirth Island. The subtle change may not seem like much of a difference, but longer matches allow for players to respawn more in the first three circles and engage in combat. Most community members in the comments section supported the change. One player responded, “Mindless resurgence just hits different. There are way more laughs with the fellas and more crazy moments.” A second user added, “They also (obviously) added more ways to decrease redeploy timers, so if you’re squaded up, you rarely ever have to wait more than 20 seconds which is nice.” By killing enemies and looting chests, teammates respawn even faster than previous Resurgence maps. Infinity Ward delivered a fun and unique hybrid between multiplayer and battle royale, and the extra time in matches has opened the door for players to go on crazy kill runs.

Warzone 2 built from ground up on new CoD engine after original Warzone struggles ActivisionAfter years of working under the constraints of Warzone’s original build, Activision has confirmed Warzone 2 is being built from the ground up on an entirely new engine. From innovative features to an FOV slider on console, here’s what we know. When Warzone launched in 2020, it did so as part of Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare 2019. The same engine was utilized across both projects as the battle royale component even slotted into Modern Warfare’s launcher, rather than serving as its own separate title. Ever since, each new yearly installment has attempted to bring new content and features from different engines. Treyarch’s Cold War and Sledgehammer’s Vanguard both came with their own set of “significant challenges,” when integrated with Warzone, Infinity Ward’s Pat Kelly has now explained. With various limitations impacting Warzone’s progression, developers have now made the bold call to jump ship. Warzone 2 is being “built from the ground up” on an entirely new engine. Rather than iterating on Warzone for another year, a full-fledged sequel is now in development. Warzone 2 is set to mark a “massive evolution” for the CoD battle royale experience in a number of ways. As a completely new build, certain technological improvements now appear possible. After years of console players struggling without a Field of View (FOV) slider, Warzone 2 seems to be taking that leap. Despite ample “investigations and performance tests” from the devs, an FOV slider simply isn’t coming to the original Warzone. “We are not going to add it,” the team has now confirmed once and for all. Read More: When is CoD Warzone Mobile coming out? – However, the upcoming sequel could be leaving that issue in the rearview mirror. It’s expected that Warzone 2 will feature FOV improvements to some degree on new-gen hardware. Moreover, the Warzone sequel is also set to feature a unique “sandbox mode” upon arrival. While details are scarce, this “all-new play space” also appears to be an area of innovation that isn’t quite possible on the game’s current engine. Read More: Everything we know about Warzone 2 – Warzone 2 is on track to “come with Modern Warfare 2,” devs confirmed. Though it’s currently unclear if this means the sequel will arrive at launch, or further into the next CoD cycle. After all, the first Warzone launched in March 2020, a whole five months after Modern Warfare 2019 hit store shelves.

Warzone 2 bug makes it impossible to use blueprints ActivisionWarzone 2 players have been plagued by a new bug that makes it impossible to use custom blueprints and hard-earned attachments. Season Two of Warzone 2 brought a huge amount of new content to the battle royale combined with balance changes, bug fixes, and other quality-of-life adjustments. But with new content come new problems and through the second season of Warzone 2, players have continually run into new bugs and glitches that were not present in the previous season. A player reported to the CoD Warzone Reddit that their own blueprint got locked and lost access to their own attachments. Warzone 2 bug locks access to the user’s own weapon builds Other players in the thread reported similar issues. “Did this for me for one of my Mp5 classes. I have every gun max level but it locks my custom blueprint and says I need to level the Lachman 556,” said one. “My mp5 is locked too saying I need to get LACHMAN to level 18 which I already have it at max level. It’s just a bug,” added another. Other players used this post to take a lighthearted stab at the developers of the game. “They’re gonna use it for their next blueprint and make you pay for it to get it back,” joked one. While others yet were less than amused with the state of the game. “This happened to a few of mine too, just another bug for the long list.” With the frequency of this bug being reported hopefully the developers resolve the issue with a patch or a hotfix.

Warzone 2 bug disconnects and shadowbans players when they get too many kills Activision BlizzardRampant shadowbans plague Warzone 2, but now a bug is triggering these bans when a player gets too many kills. Warzone 2 is amidst a shadow ban crisis, unintentionally banning innocent players. On December 27, community members pleaded for a fix to the “ridiculous” shadow ban feature. Call of Duty streamer DougIsRaw, blamed the problem on the new public report system failing to do its job correctly and demanded a fix. However, the issue persisted, and a shadowban on January 4 stunned Nadeshot. Although it was reversed, his ban was only the tip of the iceberg as other community members have provided video evidence of shadow bans occurring after racking up too many kills. Warzone 2 players shadowbanned for getting too many kills Jake Lucky reported, “there’s a bug in Warzone 2 where if you get 10 kills, you get disconnected and shadowbanned” with video evidence to prove his assertion. The first video shows a player getting disconnected from a match after getting 10 kills and claiming they were shadowbanned. In the second clip, Warzone 2 streamer IceManIsaac provided a first-hand experience of getting banned after racking up 10 kills. Many other players took to the replies on Twitter, saying they suffered similar bans due to this bug, with one chiming in that “it’s a complete joke of a game at this point.” Activision reviews each shadowban and determines whether the user is guilty. Nadeshot’s ruling was quickly overturned, but there is no clear timetable for how long these bans last. Raven updates its official Trello board for known issues in the game, but the developers have not yet addressed the wave of bans. We will provide an update when more clarity is provided.

Warzone 2 Black Sites: How to get Black Site key and free Weapon Blueprints ActivisionWarzone 2 Black Sites can increase your win rate if your squad is successful, so here’s everything you need to know about this new mechanic. The Warzone 2 AI-controlled Strongholds and Black Sites are features that reward players with Custom Loadouts and Weapon Blueprints. This new system can lead to some extremely dangerous firefights, but the rewards often make it worth the risk. After all, having access to Warzone 2’s best guns and Weapon Blueprints can give you a huge advantage in the game. So, if you’re wondering what Black Sites are and how you can get the Black Site key, then our handy guide has everything you need to know. Warzone 2 Black Sites explained To put it simply, Black Sites are a more dangerous form of Strongholds. However, unlike Strongholds, they reward players with a permanent Weapon Blueprint and even more valuable items. This makes them extremely popular amongst players looking to unlock the game’s Weapon Blueprints. As result, squads can expect to see much more advanced AI and a greater deal of enemy players, so be prepared for fierce firefights. How to get the Black Site key In order to get a Black Site key, players will need to gain access to the game’s Strongholds. During each Warzone 2 match, several Strongholds will be activated around the map. Essentially, Strongholds are areas on Al Mazrah that feature AI enemies. The first team who manages to successfully disarm the bomb and eliminate the enemies within the Stronghold will receive a Black Site key. Once a Black Site Key has been acquired, simply use the key at the designated location to claim your rewards. So, there you have it, that’s everything we know about Black Sites in Warzone 2. Make sure you check out our Call of Duty page for all the latest news and guides.

Warzone 2 August 16 update patch notes: TAQ-V & Signal 50 nerfs, M16 buff, more ActivisionAfter dominating Warzone 2’s long-range meta in Season 5, the TAQ-V and Signal 50 finally see nerfs in the latest update. Fans will get a long-awaited first look at Modern Warfare 3 during the Shadow Siege event in Warzone 2. Festivities kick off at 10:30 AM PT on August 17, and players can earn the new M13C AR by completing the event. In preparation for Shadow Siege, the WZ2 devs rolled out an update that contains the content required for the event. Additionally, Raven Software unleashed a lengthy list of nerfs and buffs that’s sure to shake up the battle royale sequel’s meta for the latter half of Season 5. Let’s jump right into what players can expect from the August 16 update. Warzone 2 TAQ-V and Signal 50 nerfs In the absence of one-shot sniper rifles in Ranked Play and the World Series of Warzone, the Signal 50 has taken over as the rifle of choice. However, it reached a point where it became a near necessity for at least one squad member to carry one during matches. Despite that, Raven Software argued: “At this time, we do not feel it is necessary to make changes to the Signal 50.” The devs had a change of heart and nerfed the weapon’s damage multipliers. Next, according to WZ Ranked, the TAQ-V currently stands head and shoulders above every other weapon with a 20.2% pick rate. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the battle rifle saw a substantial nerf. And finally, B1inkin used sym.gg to discover that the ISO Hemlock had a TTK speed of 872 milliseconds from 50 meters away with .300 Blackout ammunition. The Warzone 2 devs made sure to nerf that ammunition as part of the update. Warzone 2 August 16 update Here are the full Warzone 2 August 16 patch notes. General This patch contains necessary updates and content for the Shadow Siege event. Tune in for the global reveal of Modern Warfare III at 10:30am PT on August 17th in Warzone. – The benefit of tuning for Recoil Control-related stats has been reduced slightly – Bug Fixes Fixed an issue where some Players could not access the Battle Pass, but would still lose CP after purchasing it – Fixed an exploit allowing Players to go prone instantly – Fixed an issue where Akimbo challenge progress was not tracking correctly for the FTAC Siege – Fixed an issue where an invisible object could interact with lethals, tacticals, and explosives on Mercado Las Almas – Fixed an issue affecting key binds when adding settings as Quick Settings – Fixed an issue where the buttons for ‘Preview’ and ‘Quick Equip’ hide when trying to press them by mouse input in the Events tab – Fixed an issue where the Tonfa melee weapon had outdated unlock conditions – Fixed an issue where the SFX from the Semtex dropped by the Chain Reaction modifier in Havoc would not play as intended – Fixed an issue where equipping the “Battle Buddy AI” Gun Screen could cause an error – Weapons » Assault Rifles « Chimera Mid Damage increased – Neck Damage Multiplier increased – Upper Torso Damage Multiplier increased – – FR Avancer Maximum Damage decreased – Close-mid Damage increased – Head Damage Multiplier increased – Neck Damage Multiplier increased – Upper Torso Damage Multiplier increased – Lower Torso Damage Multiplier increased – – Lachmann-556 Head Damage Multiplier increased – – M16 Maximum Damage increased – Close-mid Damage increased – Limb Damage Multipliers increased – – » Battle Rifles « FTAC Recon Maximum Damage increased – Maximum Damage Range increased – – Lachmann-762 Limb Damage Multiplier increased – – SO-14 Head Damage Multiplier increased – Neck Damage Multiplier increased – Upper Torso Damage Multiplier increased – – TAQ-V Maximum Damage decreased – Close-mid Damage decreased – Minimum Damage decreased – Neck Damage Multiplier decreased – Upper Torso Damage Multiplier decreased – Lower Torso Damage Multiplier decreased – Limb Damage Multipliers decreased – – » Marksman Rifles « Lockwood MK2 Mid Damage increased – Minimum Damage increased – Upper Torso Damage Multiplier increased – Lower Torso Damage Multiplier increased – Limb Damage Multipliers increased – – » Shotguns « Expedite 12 Mid Damage increased – Mid-far Damage increased – Close-mid Damage Range increased – – Lockwood 300 Close-mid Damage increased – Mid Damage increased – Maximum Damage Range increased – Close-mid Damage Range increased – – MX Guardian Maximum Damage increased – Close-mid Damage increased – Mid-far Damage Range decreased – – » Submachine Guns « Fennec 45 Maximum Damage increased – Close-Mid Damage increased – Minimum Damage increased – – » Sniper Rifles « Signal 50 Neck Damage Multiplier decreased – Upper Torso Damage Multiplier decreased – – Ammunition ISO Hemlock .300 Blackout (All Types) Close-mid Damage decreased – Mid Damage decreased – – – .300 Blackout (All Types) – – ISO Hemlock – Additional Bug Fixes Fixed an issue preventing some players from entering DMZ – Fixed an issue where some PS4 Players would experience a game freeze in a specific section of Al Mazrah – Fixed an issue where Buy Station icons could display on the Tac Map during the Battle Royale pre-lobby – Fixed an issue in DMZ where a Tac Map image could display on the ground near Al-Safwa Quarry in Al Mazrah – Fixed an issue where Players could become stuck in an ATV near a UAV tower in DMZ – Fixed an issue that caused the Player’s screen to remain affected by the Plutonium element despite not being near it – Fixed an issue where Players would not be kicked for being idle in Vondel Lockdown (look for this mode to return in this week’s Playlist update) – Fixed an issue in Warzone Ranked Play where the Top 250 button was locked –

Everything coming in Warzone 2 Ashika Island: Release date, all POIs, redeploy drones Infinity WardAshika Island is the new resurgence map coming to Warzone 2, as players seeking gameplay similar to what was in Warzone 1’s Rebirth Island and Fortune’s Keep rejoice. Here’s what we know about it. Rebirth Island was wildly popular in Warzone 1, especially after Caldera replaced Verdansk as the main battle royale map, and wasn’t received quite as warmly as the original map was. They then introduced Fortune’s Keep in the final months of Warzone 1 which, while not as popular as Rebirth, definitely had its fair share of players who were looking for more fast-paced BR action on a smaller map. For a long time, players waited to find out what the future of Resurgence would be in Warzone 2, and now it’s been revealed that Ashika Island is what players should be anticipating. Contents Ashika Island trailers On February 1, we got our first look at a match on Ashika Island. Ashika Island release date As confirmed by developers Infinity Ward, Ashika Island will be arriving alongside the launch of Season 2 on February 15. The new small map will be available for both Resurgence and DMZ at launch, according to Infinity Ward. Ashika Island POIs & setting Infinity Ward revealed Ashika Island’s main POIs on January 31. The developers followed up by unveiling every nook and cranny of the new environment in a blog post. Tsuki Castle – Town Center – Beach Club – Port Ashika – Shipwreck – Residential – Oganikku Farms – Ashika Island is part of a small archipelago located in an undisclosed location somewhere in the Asian Pacific. Ashika Island new features On February 8, Activision unveiled the Season 2 Roadmap for Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 and went into more detail on Ashika Island. When a player dies on Ashika Island, squadmates can pick up their dog tag, awarding cash, and a single UAV ping, which marks enemies and supply boxes. In season a new contract called Search and Seizure has players reclaim a stolen vehicle guarded by AI enemies. Once players have the vehicle, they need to drive it to a drop-off point and fend off AI on their way to the spot. A new public event called Data Heist is also coming in season, in which players can gain XP, cash, tactical equipment, and even random killstreaks. During the second circle collapse, players can download data from three uplink stations that AI enemies guard. Redeploy ballons return to Warzone 2 in the form of Redeploy drones during Season 2. The drones work the same as balloons, allowing players to shoot up into the sky and reposition themselves in a different area of the map. However, the drones are able to reposition with each circle collapse, and players can destroy the drones with lock-on missiles. Lastly, Ashika introduces a new AI enemy that specializes in close-quarters combat. It’s definitely an exciting time for the Rebirth demons who have felt like Al Mazrah isn’t quite perfect for them, despite the map itself being fairly well-received in comparison to Caldera.

Warzone Armor Plate Carriers explained: Comms, Medic, Stealth, Tempered ActivisionWarzone introduced a game-changer with Armor Plate Carriers, adding extra layers of strategy with their effects and bonuses. Dive into our detailed guide on utilizing Armor Plate Carriers in Warzone & DMZ to your advantage. Since their addition in Season 4 Reloaded, these carriers have significantly altered the game’s previously straightforward armor system. While the idea started with just Tempered Armor Plate vests, three more additions were introduced to give armor real variety and allow players to better customize their playstyles around each vest’s strengths. These vests remain an important part of Warzone, and this is our breakdown of what all the Armor Plate Carriers do and why you should be taking advantage of them. How do Armor Plate Carriers work in Warzone? Armor Plate Carries are a former DMZ exclusive feature that provides players different advantages based on their type. These passive perks vary but are impactful and can be the difference between winning a game and losing it. Here are all four types of Armor Plate Carriers currently available in Call of Duty: Warzone: Comms – Increases the effectiveness of UAVs by showing all enemy players’ direction and bearing on the minimap even if they are using Ghost or a similar perk. – Medic – Increases the speed at which Players can revive downed Squad members, and also decreases the delay before health regen triggers. – Stealth – Protects the Player from enemy UAVs and other targeting devices, effectively acting as a superior alternative to Ghost as it also provides immunity to Birdseye. – Tempered – Acts as an improved armor vest that protects the same protection as the 3 Plate Carrier while only needing 2 plates. This vest makes it faster and cheaper to heal up. – Players can get all of these Armor Plate Carriers as loot on the map, or from dead enemies. Best Warzone weapons: Ultimate tier list with meta loadouts | Call of Duty 2024: Early leaks, concept art, Warzone, Treyarch & more | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III — Everything we know | Best M4 Warzone loadout | Modern Warfare 3 best settings on PC for FPS, graphics, visibility, more |

Warzone 2 AR dominates with “absurd” TTK that beats meta SMGs ActivisionWith Warzone 2’s Ranked mode now taking over, the Chimera looks to be an ideal weapon of choice, especially as it has an “absurd” TTK that matches some SMGs. Over the last few weeks, the meta in Warzone 2 has shifted a little bit following a few rounds of big weapon balancing and changes from the devs. While the ISO Hemlock did, initially, fall down the rankings a fair bit, the assault rifle has now picked back up and is once again a popular weapon – much to the annoyance of some players. Despite that, there are some other viable ARs out there. The Kastov 762 and STB 556 are popular options for players looking to break away from the Hemlock and M4 dominance. Though, you may also want to consider the Chimera and its “absurd” TTK now that Ranked play is here. Best Chimera loadout for Warzone 2 Ranked That’s at least according to IceManIsaac, as the Warzone 2 stats guru highlighted the assault rifle in his May 9 video, noting that it can be a top-tier sniper support thanks to its “insane” headshot multiplier. If you’re hitting all headshots, the Chimera has a TTK of around 375ms, which is in the range of both the Kastov-74u and Lachmann Sub. Though, it doesn’t suffer a damage drop-off after 10 meters as they do. It’s a similar story with body shots, the Chimera’s TTK comes in at 525ms, and doesn’t drop off until the 30-meter mark. Even then, it’s still outdoing the SMGs. “This Chimera kills at the same speed as a Lachmann with all headshots. That is absurd,” Isaac said. “Big picture, it beams for one, and two, it fries. It kills so unbelievably fast.” Muzzle: TY-LR8 (+0.31, +0.28) – Barrel: 10’ SA Phoenix (+0.40, -0.15) – Laser: VLK LZR 7mw (-0.29, -6.85) – Optic: Slimline Pro – Magazine: 45-round mag – The Chimera has always been a bit of a fan-favorite and, as per WZRanked stats, remains on the fringes of the meta as the 12th most-used weapon in the game. That should see a little bit of a boost before long, so, make sure you give your Chimera loadout a bit of a tweak if you haven’t already. Join on board the wave.

Warzone 2 AR dominates like a SMG with rapid TTK that hasn’t been nerfed ActivisionThere’s an assault rifle in Warzone 2 that actually operates better as an SMG and, despite its lightning-quick TTK, has yet to be significantly nerfed at any point. Between the original Warzone and Warzone 2, players have found a handful of weapons that are better suited to acting like a different weapon type entirely. There have been pistols that are akin to SMGs, assault rifles more suited to being a sniper, and plenty of others. They’re the type of weapons that are music to the ears of the more experimental battle royale players amongst us. If you fall under that label, well, there’s an assault rifle in Warzone 2 that you might want to stop overlooking as it has a TTK to match the best SMGs around and keeps avoiding nerfs in the weapon balancing updates. Best Kastov-74U loadout in Warzone 2 Season 3 Reloaded That’s right, it’s the Kastov-74U, which was highlighted by Warzone 2 stats guru WhosImmortal in his May 22 video. “The Kastov-74U has been a top-tier, absolute meta close-range option since day one of Warzone 2 and it hasn’t been nerfed,” he said. “This thing, for a rifle, is so good between 0-30 meters, it just fries.” His build is focused on turning the AR into an SMG, fully embracing its speed and power. It also helps that the TTK remains as strong as other rifles, which means it is stronger than other popular SMGs too. That makes the Kastov a deadly all-around choice that can compete with the best weapons in the game. Barrel: BR209 Barrel – Laser: FSS Ole-V Laser – Magazine: 45-round mag – Stock: Markeev R7 Stock – Rear Grip: Demo-X2 Grip – As the YouTuber notes, the Kastov has been a popular pick at times, but it has fallen off the radar a little bit recently. As per WZRanked stats, it only has a 0.6% pick rate right now, making it the 28th most-used gun in the battle royale. Given that it’s not been nerfed, and remains in a position where it is unlikely to take a hit anyway, it’s worth embracing the AR-turned-SMG in your loadouts. It’s in a perfect and powerful sweet spot.

All Al Mazrah POIs in Warzone 2: Classic Modern Warfare 2 maps & more ActivisionThe Warzone 2 map has officially been revealed as Al Mazrah, and it comes loaded with fresh gameplay features and a bunch of new POIs pulled from classic Modern Warfare 2 maps. Here’s everything you need to know about the map and its locations. Warzone 2 was revealed at the Call of Duty Next event on September 15, as hundreds of creators landed in Los Angeles to try out the new battle royale, as well as the upcoming title Modern Warfare II. With the next generation of Call of Duty due to drop across October and November, there are some huge changes coming to the franchise, one of the biggest of which is the all-new Warzone map. Al Mazrah is a city in the fictional Republic of Adal in Western Asia, where players will be dropping in to 18 different POIs to get the better of their Warzone 2 opponents. Warzone 2 map Al Mazrah POIs Here’s the full list of Al Mazrah POIs, including details of those taken from classic Modern Warfare series maps: Oasis – Taraq Village – Quarry (from Modern Warfare 2) – Rohan Oil – Al Mazrah City (includes Highrise from Modern Warfare 2) – Caves – Hydroelectric – Marshlands – Port – Sa’id City – Observatory (Modern Warfare 3’s Dome) – Al Sharim Pass – Cemetery – Akhdar Village (CoD 4: Modern Warfare’s Showdown) – Sawah Village – Sarrif Bay – Fortress – Airport (Modern Warfare 2’s Terminal) – There’s a good mix of classic maps that longtime CoD players will recognize, as well as new POIs that players will be able to get to grips with and sink their teeth into, including Sarrif Bay which is also a Ground War map in Modern Warfare II (2022). It has already been leaked that Warzone 2 won’t have any small, Resurgence-inspired maps similar to Rebirth Island or Fortune’s Keep at launch, but that one will arrive in-game midway through 2023. Whether that one also includes classic MW maps remains to be seen.

Warzone 2 players warned of Black Site crashing the game completely ActivisionWarzone 2 players are suffering through frequent lobby crashes in Al Mazrah, and after a lot of playing, streamers such as Swagg and Aydan believe a particular Black Site might be causing it. Warzone has not been without its issues since launch, and that is no different with Warzone 2. Bugs and glitches are to be expected in any game, but these can be especially frustrating in games like Call of Duty, where you can spend 30 minutes grinding for a win just to lose to something particularly frustrating like the unlimited Gas Mask glitch. After mass reports of AI causing lobbies to crash during World Series of Warzone qualifiers, causing Activision to delay the tournament while they work on a fix, it appears something else is making lobbies crash now. Downtown Black Site causing crashes According to both Swagg and Aydan, one particular Black Site is causing games to crash completely, which is especially frustrating in Ranked Play. Both players have attributed these crashes to the Black Site in downtown, as Al Mazrah City becomes impossible to play once players complete it. This is obviously a huge issue if accurate, and definitely, something developers Raven Software will want to look into to get fixed as soon as possible. For now, though, we would advise avoiding this Black Site in particular — and prepare to be annoyed if you see players going to complete it.

Warzone 2 surpasses 25 million players in just five days Activision BlizzardAccording to new data, Call of Duty: Warzone 2 managed to surpass an incredible 25 million players just five days after launching. As many would expect, this year’s Call of Duty installments have enjoyed remarkable success out of the gate. Modern Warfare 2, for example, topped $800 million in sales revenue in only three days, making it the best entertainment launch of 2022. The recent launch of Warzone 2.0 primes the brand for even more record-breaking accomplishments. And the latest news out of Activision suggests someone is already popping champagne in celebration. Warzone 2’s number of players is nothing to scoff at In a Twitter post on the official Call of Duty account, Activision announced that Warzone 2 has reached the 25-million player milestone. The sequel accomplished such a feat only five days after going live on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. 25 million constitutes an especially noteworthy figure when considering how many players Warzone reached in the same time frame two-plus years ago. Warzone hit 15 million users within three days of its March 10, 2020 rollout on consoles and PC. Within 10 days, that number had ballooned to an astronomical 30 million users in total. At present, the math suggests Warzone 2.0 is on track to either match or outpace its predecessor. The next five days or so will tell the tale. Activision deployed the newest iteration of Warzone last week. Though the typical growing pains – server issues, technical woes, etc. – have plagued the experience, players seem to be enjoying themselves. The all-new DMZ mode has especially won over longtime fans and newcomers alike. It’ll be interesting to see which parts of the experience remain among the community’s list of favorites as time goes on. Call of Duty: Warzone 2 is playable now on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.

Warzone 2 “1000 IQ” gas mask tip is a game changer for final circles ActivisionThis Warzone 2 gas mask tip completely changes the game when it comes to surviving outside the safe zone. Warzone 2’s gas is potent. It can ruin a game lightning-fast for any player caught in it, even if only for a few seconds. Anyone who has ever lost a game due to being a little too far from the safe zone knows just how harsh it can be. While gas masks do provide temporary relief from the oppressive force that slowly shrinks the lobby, sometimes one is not enough to save the day. Luckily, one player has discovered that fallen players’ masks could be the key to surviving an otherwise impossible scenario. Warzone 2 gas mask trick counters popular Solos final circle strategy There’s a popular strategy in Warzone where players attempt to win Solo matches by flying a helicopter above the final circle and relying on a combo of gas masks and self-revives to keep them alive after it finally closes. As seen in the video below, it’s hard to shoot down someone who is flying directly overhead, so it’s relatively safe to try. Then when the circle closes, that player can fly the helicopter deep into the gas to get away from their opponents and hideout with a veritable treasure trove of healing items. Whether you’re dealing with one of those situations or you’re just stuck in the gas and stumbling upon a trail of bodies, looting masks from dead players will extend the amount of time you can stall them out. Gas masks that are on other players’ dead bodies do not lose their effectiveness, so as long as there are corpses around there’s always a chance to extend your life. While it’s not something that can be relied on every time, it’s handy to know for the next time the gas begins to encroach and you’re not sure how you’re going to make it out.

Warzone 2.0 players demand Rainbow Six Siege and PUBG feature to fix game crashes ActivisionWarzone 2.0 players have called on Infinity Ward to add a simple PUBG and Rainbow Six Siege feature to stop game crashes and internet issues punishing players. Warzone 2.0 dropped back on November 16, meaning players have now had ample time to figure out the tweaks and changes they want to see Infinity Ward implement in the near future. From learnable weapon recoil patterns to snipers that can one-hit opponents, there are a fair few aspects of the sequel BR that CoD fans want altering. Another has surfaced in the community, as issues with game crashing and connectivity continue. Specifically, players have called on Infinity Ward to emulate a simple feature from rival shooters and BRs, like Rainbow Six Siege and PUBG, that allows players to reconnect to the match they were previously in if they disconnect. Warzone 2 players ask for Rainbox Six Seige style ‘reconnect’ feature The topic was broached by one player on the game’s subreddit, who said: “I really wish they would add a reconnect feature if your game crashes. Played some DMZ and Warzone last night and we both were experiencing crashes… In PUBG you were able to rejoin the match after a crash, be really nice if you could do this in CoD considering how frequent crashes can happen.” It joins other posts in a similar vein, with players stating that game crashing makes such a feature even more important. Another player, in a slightly earlier post, said: “If you can’t fix crash, at least give us the ability to reconnect in DMZ. This is the sixth time I lost maxed out loot due to it.” A third commented: “Come on bro PUBG released in 2017 and had it since the start and you can’t even implement it after almost 2.5 years of development of Warzone 1? This is not combining well with the crashes people are experiencing, especially in DMZ.” Right now, Infinity Ward has not offered a comment on whether Warzone 2.0 or its DMZ mode will receive such a feature, but the clamor for it from the player base is obvious. There is scope for it to come in the future, especially given the lengthier life cycle we expect from Warzone 2.0.

Warzone 2.0 changes could make reporting cheaters much harder despite “upgraded” RICOCHET ActivisionCall of Duty players have shared concerns that Warzone 2.0’s changes might make it more difficult to report hackers and cheaters, as concerns about fair play in the CoD battle royale continue. It’s long been known that Call of Duty: Warzone will be succeeded by a second version of the battle royale. Warzone 2.0 details are rapidly stacking up and, thanks to September’s CODNext event, we got our first proper look at gameplay, the Al Mazrah map and more. It’s also been confirmed that the game will launch with an “upgraded” RICOCHET, the long awaited anti-cheat system that dropped in Warzone at the end of 2021. However, fans have some concerns that it could be harder to report players for cheating and hacking as a result of a major overhaul to the way spectating works. Warzone 2 spectator change could harm cheater reporting In the BR sequel, spectating killcams offer a third-person view, rather than the first-person perspective featured in the first Warzone. While the change itself has attracted some praise, players have raised concerns that it could make identifying cheaters more difficult. Not seeing the first-person perspective means those eliminated might miss an obvious wallhacker or aimbotter. One player made the point via Reddit, where plenty of others agreed: “It doesn’t give a 1st person view of the player, which is cool. But I see a problem when you suspect someone of hacking or cheating. You can no longer spectate them and see in 1st person how their aim is. Instead, you now see a crosshair and over the shoulder view.” They suggested petitioning the devs to ensure both spectating options are available, so players can still assess whether they were eliminated legitimately or by someone manipulating the game’s mechanics to their own advantage. Of course, it wouldn’t work for all cheats with some, like the Cronus Zen, notoriously difficult to detect. It’s not just Warzone that fans are worried about, with Modern Warfare 2’s pre-launch Beta even experiencing its own issues with cheaters. Infinity Ward have promised to “take action” against those involved, a stance players want to see hardened and extended when the full game drops on October 28.

Warzone $100k CDL Rebirth tournament already ruined by hackers in day 1 qualifiers ActivisionActivision have put together a $100,000 CDL Resurgence tourney, bringing together top Warzone competitors alongside prestigious Call of Duty League talent — but the open qualifiers have kicked off under much scrutiny. The CDL Resurgence Warzone tournament has two stages of qualification before the main stage on April 24. Open qualifiers officially started on Tuesday, April 5, as the CDL Resurgence quads playlist landed in Warzone. Any player can sign up and play in the open qualifiers, with aspirations of competing for the top $100k prize. Therein lies the issue, though: any player can sign up, and as a result, it’s become a hotbed for hackers trying to ruin everyone else’s fun and chances of qualifying. While some players will automatically qualify due to their involvement with CDL teams — you would imagine players such as Aydan and Tommey would represent New York Subliners and LA Thieves respectively — many of even the most accomplished players will be fighting through the qualifying playlist. One of those was Subliners content creator Swish, who said that the tournament is already “chalked” as hackers with fresh accounts run rampant. this CDL rebirth qual tourney is chalked. Fresh accounts, hackers, streaming isn’t required, CHALKEDDDD — Em (@Swishem) April 5, 2022 She’s not the only one, though. Myst3ry Gaming on Twitter said that he has “never seen more cheaters in my life than I have tonight in the CDL Quads Resurgence Playlist.” He added that the game was “not even close to being playable.” @RavenSoftware never seen more cheaters in my life than I have tonight in the CDL Quads Resurgence Playlist. Not even close to being playable. — Myst3ry Gaming (@Myst3ry_Gaming) April 6, 2022 This Open qualifiers stage doesn’t last long, being closed on April 6 ahead of qualification stage round 1 from April 11–14. It’s unclear whether developers Raven would make a change or some fixes to try and stop the infiltration of hackers into the CDL Resurgence playlist, but there’s not long now before the official qualification stages get underway.

Warzone devs explain decision behind “big L” 100-player count ActivisionWarzone developers have explained the reasoning behind the 100-player count for the Urzikstan map. Warzone Season 1 for Modern Warfare 3 will officially kick off on Wednesday, December 6, ushering in a whole host of changes. Chief among them is the arrival of a brand-new map, Urzikstan. The all-new map will introduce a variety of locales, including those of the urban, rural, and suburban varieties. And as the release date draws near, even more information about Urzikstan has surfaced online. Most notably, CharlieIntel reports the WZ map will launch with a player count of 100. This could prove beneficial since Urzikstan is reportedly 20 percent smaller than Al Mazrah. However, some fans aren’t taking the news well. Warzone devs explain why Urzikstan’s player count stops at 100 According to Twitch streamer Smixie, the smaller player lobbies for Urzikstan amounts to a “creative choice” on the development team’s part. Because of the smaller map and faster circles, along with the addition of flares and gulag tokens, the hope is that 100 users will serve the map well. The streamer noted, however, that developers are open to adjusting the player count over time if such a change proves necessary. Warzone faithful have already expressed their displeasure in the player count news for Urzikstan. Wrote one person beneath the CharlieIntel post, “Big L. The map is huge, never gonna see other teams.” Another fan responded, “Only 100, what the hell?” Many suggested the number should increase to at least 120 players per match. However, some see the smaller map and player count as a perfectly good improvement. Reads one such comment, “Thinking [about] how deserted and unpopulated the whole northwest of the Al Mazrah map was. This is a huge improvement.” Others pointed out that if nothing else, the smaller lobbies should help with queue times. Soon enough, players will be able to determine for themselves whether or not these changes improve upon the experience. Warzone’s new map arrives with MW3 Season 1 on December 6.

Warzone 1 is finally back online but not quite how you remember it ActivisionThe original Warzone is now back online after a few weeks of inactivity as the sequel came into focus. However, the first CoD Battle Royale isn’t quite as you remember it as Caldera is now the only map in effect. When Warzone 2 was first unveiled, a full-fledged sequel rather than just a standard update, many raised concerns over what would become of the original game. Would this new BR run on a separate application? Would weapons and skins transfer over? Can players still access the first iteration if they prefer? At first, Activision was slow to address these questions. Many details remained under wraps until one particular blog post revealed the base game will be rebranded as Warzone Caldera. After a brief stretch of downtime while Warzone 2 launches, the original would return just with this Pacific-era map. Now, a few weeks on from the sequel’s release and exactly that has happened. The original Warzone experience is now available once again, though a great deal has been stripped from what made the classic BR shine. When logging into Warzone Caldera now, players are greeted with just the one map. Absent are the bite-sized BR maps in the exceptionally popular Rebirth Island and Fortune’s Keep. Similarly, a number of fan-favorite playlists have also been pulled from the game. All that remains at this point in time are standard BR Quads and BR Solos options. Also of note, there currently appears to be nothing in the pipeline to support Warzone Caldera moving forward. As it stands, there’s no Battle Pass to grind through, no new content in the shop, and seemingly nothing on the horizon. It’s purely an instance of the classic BR without any further bells and whistles. There’s no telling if plans will change anytime soon, but it certainly looks as though Warzone 2 is the sole focus moving forward. With millions having migrated during the downtime, it only makes sense. But for those who were hopeful the original experience would live on, it’s now lacking in many key areas.

Wacky Warzone bug turns briefly turns player into Machamp Activision / The Pokemon CompanyCall of Duty: Warzone has seen many different operator skins and collaborations through its existence. However, a new visual bug has people laughing as a player was lending a helping hand and turned into the Pokemon, Machamp. There’s always something brewing in Verdansk and with Season 5 Reloaded around the corner, there is tons of new content to come. However, with every update, there are always bugs that come with it. Some Warzone glitches can have a huge impact on the outcome of the game. Anywhere from FOV bugs to Loadout Drops falling through the map, most can play a role in the outcome of a game. With plenty of bugs ruining gameplay, it’s nice to see one that everyone can sit back and crack a little laugh at. Warzone bug gives player an extra hand On a lighter note of Warzone glitches, this one is certain to take the cake. A Reddit clip posted by ‘acoolrocket’ shows one of the funniest glitches you’ll see in Verdansk. In this clip, you can see while the player is dropping in when they suddenly gain an extra arm. Instantly, it has you wondering, how on earth does this happen? After reviewing the footage again you see the player had the Kali Sticks equipped but before they were able to pull their parachute the game decided it was right to lend a helping hand to the player. It goes away almost immediately and provided no advantage for the player in any way. However, it didn’t stop people from imagining how a third arm could be really useful in Warzone. Players would be able to throw grenades why still aiming down sights or even have three akimbo weapons at once. There are endless possibilities, but unfortunately, this is just a visual bug and Warzone operators will not be getting three arms.

VP of OpTic parent company Infinite throws shade at eUnited’s popularity There is no end in sight for the rivalry between OpTic Gaming and eUnited, and now a senior member of OpTic’s parent company has gotten involved in the war of words. Jacob ‘Maelk’ Toft-Andersen, Vice President of Esports at Infinite Esports & Entertainment, has thrown some shade at eUnited in a reply on Reddit. A user had posted a message on Reddit accusing eUnited CoD coach Brian ‘Saintt’ Baroshka of openly badmouthing OpTic and singling the org out. “I swear, out of everyone, the person who talks the most shit about OpTic in the CoD scene is eUnited’s coach, Saintt,” the post read. “I feel like whenever OpTic is mentioned, he has to find a way to throw shade. In Clay’s [eUnited’s Clayster] chat, he was talking about how OpTic’s popularity doesn’t transcend outside of CoD.” In his reply, Maelk wrote: “He’s so used to eUnited being just as popular in every other title as they are in CoD.” The sarcastic remark is clearly a dig at eUnited’s popularity outside of the sphere of competitive CoD, insinuating that the org is not as well-known in the other esports they’re involved in. 400https://www.reddit.com/r/CoDCompetitive/comments/9uwl2h/optics_vp_about_eunited_popularity/ This follows what has been a lengthy rivalry between the two organizations in recent weeks, which essentially started off on Halloween, when eUnited poked fun at OpTic’s poor placement at the recent 2018 CWL Champs. A retaliation from OpTic CoD captain Scump on Twitter led to a can of worms being opened, with multiple members on each side getting involved in the war of words. Even just recently, the two orgs were embroiled in controversy when OpTic refused to replay a critical round of Hardpoint during the semifinals of the first NA CWL 2K tournament.

Vonderhaar reveals why leaderboards might NOT appear in Black Ops 4 Leaderboards are one of the most request features in Black Ops 4, but it looks like their inclusion in the game isn’t a guarantee. Despite not showing up in the game upon its release on October 12, Treyarch did make good on adding in the requested feature after release. Still missing, though, are global leaderboards (currently you can only compare stats to those on your friends list), and that’s something that might not be coming to the game anytime soon. Treyarch Studio Design Director David Vonderhaar was responding to a fan on Twitter when he provided a grim update for those hoping to see the feature added to Black Ops 4. Not sure. Would have to talk to the systems lead and see where he is at with this one. At the time, many moons ago during the design phase, we made a decision to NOT do it for a few reasons (social, performance, others.) Things may have changed since then, however. — Lord Vonderhaar (@DavidVonderhaar) November 28, 2018 From the looks of it, leaderboards weren’t much of a priority for the team, with the feature being cut during the design phase. Like many developers these days, putting an emphasis on performance over anything else is the main goal. Given the smoothness of Black Ops 4’s launch, this looks to have been a successful pursuit. Nonetheless, Vonderhaar doesn’t outright say the feature will never be added to the game, assuring the fan that he’d follow up on it with the systems lead. Vonderhaar also made it clear, however, that leaderboards “are just stats” and players shouldn’t focus on them too much at the end of the day. You’ll certainly have a clear indicator of rank from the competition and esports features / events. Leaderboards are “”just”” stats and anyone who can play a lot to have high stats is not necessarily better, (s)he just has more free time. — Lord Vonderhaar (@DavidVonderhaar) November 28, 2018 While global leaderboards could, of course, end up in the game one day, it certainly doesn’t look to be much of a priority for Treyarch.

Vonderhaar reveals new item looting system is coming to Blackout Treyarch’s Studio Design Director David Vonderhaar has revealed that a new system for player looting is coming to Blackout. First shown on Twitter by Vonderhaar himself, the system will allow players to choose between holding a button to loot – which is how players currently pick up items – or having the game prioritise looting over reloading, requiring players to just press the loot button. According to Vonderhaar, the new process is currently going through “normal quality assurance and integration steps”, but will be rolled out as quickly as possible once it is ready for players. The changes to looting are being implemented after fans who played the Blackout beta complained about the slowness of the looting system. Fans felt that it took too long to pick up new items, which could put them at a disadvantage if they were attempting to pick up a weapon while being chased, or trying to acquire health items when weak. This may prove to be a disadvantage in some situations. Due to the fact that the game prioritises looting over reloading, if you attempt to reload while standing close to items, the game will pick those up first before you reload. Sir David Young and team have created this peace offering. It still needs to go through the normal quality assurance and integration steps. But, ASAP. I promise. Just don’t yell at me when you turn this on but can’t reload after a hot drop! pic.twitter.com/hw2BB4ouMQ — Lord Vonderhaar (@DavidVonderhaar) October 3, 2018 “Just don’t yell at me when you turn this on but can’t reload after a hot drop,” joked Vonderhaar, referencing the potential downside of the system. Blackout releases alongside Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 on Friday, October 12. It’s currently unclear whether the new looting system will be available when the game mode officially launches.

Vonderhaar explains why Black Ops 4 League Play is delayed as complaints pour in Treyarch Studio Design Director David Vonderhaar has explained why the release of Black Ops 4’s League Play mode has taken longer than expected, as fans continue to voice their frustrations at the wait. On January 8, Treyarch announced that League Play would be finally coming to Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 before the end of the month, delighting fans of the competitive scene who were eagerly anticipating its release. Now into February, Black Ops 4 players have yet to see any sign of the inclusion of League Play in the near future, with no confirmed release date announced by the developer, and the wait is causing frustration amongst the game’s fans. Replying in the comments to a Reddit post on the /r/BlackOps4 subreddit, David Vonderhaar responded to criticism, and attempted to explain why League Play has been delayed past the expected January release date. “League Play is taking longer than we expected because we are addressing the community feedback on it in advance of launching it,” wrote Vonderhaar. “Thus, when it does come out it will more closely match your expectations. We are doing the very things you gave us feedback on. The development of major game systems like this one takes a lot more than most other features.” “I truly and completely understand the frustrations around it. All of us do. Things happen. Tough decisions on priorities have to be made. Things change that are not totally within our control. The studio is working its ass off to make good on its commitments to our fans,” wrote Vonderhaar in his post. While Vonderhaar confirmed that the studio were working hard on getting League Play out, he didn’t reveal when fans could get their hands on the mode. He did say that Treyarch hoped to address the issue head-on in a video update that will take place soon. While updates haven’t included League Play, Treyarch have been pumping out bug fixes and improvements for the game, including the February 5 update for Black Ops 4 that brought new game modes to both Multiplayer and Blackout.

Vonderhaar explains the reason for Blackout’s new camo system [UPDATED] Call of Duty’s battle royale Blackout underwent a major change on Thursday, January 31 with the inclusion of weapon skins that can be unlocked and used in the game mode. The way that players earn camos in Blackout is much different from the way they are obtained in normal Call of Duty multiplayer, where new skins are unlocked by killing enemies with headshots. Instead, Blackout requires players to find paint cans which have been hidden around the map, thus allowing them to earn kills without having to search for a specific weapon and then get kills with it. Call of Duty fans can now unlock their favorite camos in Blackout. A number of Call of Duty fans are not convinced by this new system, but Treyarch Design Director David Vonderhaar has tweeted to explain why they implemented this new system instead of the classic version fans are accustomed to. “In my opinion, headshots for camos doesn’t work when you don’t have Create-a-Class, loadouts and respawns,” posted Vonderhaar. “You would be so mad at me right now if you couldn’t find a gun for which you were trying to complete challenges. “The idea that challenges drive you to use other weapons you may not typically use is great feedback. However, we don’t need to use camos to do that.” The idea that Challenges drive you to use other weapons you may not typically use is great feedback. However, we don’t need to use Camo to do that. — Lord Vonderhaar (@DavidVonderhaar) February 1, 2019 UPDATE After Blackout’s new weapon camo progression system began receiving more criticism for its apparent lack of competitiveness, Vonderhaar explained to the masses that the mode was not meant to be competitive in the first place. “In all seriousness, Blackout is not competitive Multiplayer. We are going to things that live somewhere between Multiplayer and Zombies. Some will dig it, some will not. It’s all good. Character unlocks are not always skill-based either. Let’s have some fun and trying some new things.” Blackout’s camo progression system was added in an update on Thursday, January 31, and works well for players who may not be able to find lots of kills in a single match, instead relying on their looting skills to find new looks for their weapons. Just like multiplayer, players can also unlock some special camos for the weapons, and you can use our full guide on how to unlock Gold, Diamond and Dark Matter camos to make sure you know how to get your hands on them.

David Vonderhaar drops hint about Armor change in Blackout Armor in Call of Duty’s Blackout battle royale mode is set for a change. That’s according to a hint dropped by Treyarch Studio Design Director David Vonderhaar. Vonderhaar, who has been very active on social media in leading up to the release of Black Ops 4, has recently confirmed on Twitter that Armor will be receiving a nerf ahead of the full launch of Blackout. “I’ve been to the future,” he tweeted. “I’ll tell you what happens. You are all very pleased with the nerfs we did to the armor in Blackout,” Although Vonderhaar’s comment is not specific, there are numerous ways that Armor could have been nerfed, such as the damage prevention threshold, rarity on the map, structural integrity, and more. Considering that Vonderhaar says “you are all very pleased” would suggest that Treyarch has made the specific changes that the player-base asked for in their feedback, which was to considerably reduce the protection offered by Level 3 Armor. However, one thing that players can be sure of is that Level 3 Armor is here to stay, as Vonderhaar confirmed in a recent interview that the studio does not feel it would be right to remove it from the game.

Vonderhaar apologizes to Infinity Ward for SBMM jokes in deleted tweets David Vonderhaar made some jokes about skill-based matchmaking in Call of Duty, but then found himself needing to give apologies to several members of Infinity Ward, the developers of Modern Warfare. Skill-based matchmaking has become on of the hottest topics of discussion among the Call of Duty player-base since the release of the Modern Warfare beta back in mid-September. Although Infinity Ward have never confirmed or denied its existence in their 2019 title, players are convinced SBMM is very much embedded in the game after several tests were performed by YouTubers and enthusiasts. It again took centerstage on November 13, when Treyarch’s Studio Design Director David Vonderhaar, one of the most recognizable names in CoD, tweeted about it as a joke. Retweeting a post about the seven-year anniversary of Black Ops 2 release, he tweeted “See. I told you skill-based matchmaking wasn’t evil. (I am teasing. Connection > all, you pub-stomping monsters.) However, what Vonderhaar intended as a joke was actually taken quite seriously by several Call of Duty players, who immediately began tagging Infinity Ward’s Co-Design Director Joe Cecot and Senior Communications Manager Ashton Williams. After seeing this, Vonderhaar began to do what many have since perceived to be some “damage control”, as he tweeted out that he wasn’t trying to fire shots at the other developers and was just joking around. “No, I didn’t know this was a thing and was teasing Jordan,” he explained. “Guess I screwed up. IW matchmaking is insanely good for especially cross-platform. No shots fired. Quote me.” In another tweet, he wrote: “You are nuts. We all go through this every year and it might be making me mental. IW is connection-based and they have fantastic matchmaking. I’m the one taking notes.” However, the comments from fans just kept on coming, to the point where the longtime developer decided it was best to delete all of his posts and tweet out an apology directly to Cecot and Williams for the maelstrom of backlash he’d created on Twitter. “Sorry pals, feel bad,” he wrote. “Guess I am tone deaf, was just teasing Jordan. Regardless of whatever YouTube train someone jumped on, I think it’s fantastic and I’ve never had a problem. The cross-platform situation is no joke and you all slam dunked it.” It seems that Vonderhaar was simply not caught up on all of the controversy surrounding SBMM when he sent that initial tweet, because it’s certainly been something a lot of players have complained about in Modern Warfare. The main frustration is that the system puts higher skilled players against each other, meaning that if you’re a good player then you probably will have to constantly be facing tough opposition in public matches, making them less casual and more high-effort.

Vondead praised as one of “the best things” Warzone has done ActivisionWarzone community members have labeled Vondead as one of the game’s best-ever events, In the same class as the Haunting of Vondel. Infinity Ward pulled out all of the stops to send off Modern Warfare 2 in style with The Haunting. Multiplayer fans received Halloween-inspired maps and modes, including Zombies Infected, which puts a unique spin on the fan-favorite mode. As for Warzone, Zombie Royale served as the headline act. The beloved event flips the traditional battle royale formula on its head, transforming dead players into zombies. The last living player wins in what always proves to be an exhilarating experience. However, in a surprising twist, Zombie Royale has found itself in the shadow of Vondead, as the nighttime version of Vondel stole the show. Warzone community members praise Vondead game mode Vondead is a nighttime version of the Resurgence map Vondel. Most notably, the redesign removes water from the map, adds easter eggs, and changes POIs to get in the Haloween spirit. Reliable COD leaker TheGhostOfHope claimed: “Vondead is one of the best things Warzone has ever done.” Community members flooded the comment section in agreement. One player responded: “I was pleasantly surprised with how much they changed for the event. The mall stores are changed, the market is totally transformed, some sunken buildings in the canals, every building has several signs it has changed, and they added multiple Easter eggs.” A second user added: “It’s genuinely fun. I’ve never felt that with a regular warzone. Also helps having a game that doesn’t look the same as everything else all the time.” “It looks so nice at night. I wish they’d make a zombie map that looked that good,” a third community member added. If there is one complaint, players did raise concerns about one-shot shotguns plaguing the game mode. Fortunately, the most recent weapon tuning update nerfed the Lockwood 300 and other popular Warzone weapons.

Viral Warzone video proves why camping can be a magical team experience ActivisionThere is perhaps no strategy more controversial in Call of Duty: Warzone than camping. But, while people prefer fighting, a viral video is showing why camping can truly be a delightful time for your team. Very few people like rats. They seem dirty, they hide in the darkest corners, and they can freak you out when they appear. A Roze skin hiding behind a desk with a shotgun in hand, waiting for you to walk by? There’s a reason Warzone players don’t like ratty players. But, rather than simply hating on campers, sometimes it’s good to try and understand them — what makes them tick and why they are the way they are. This is best explained in Sun Tzu’s legendary “Art of War,” where he explains: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” So, whether you’re pro- or anti-camper, it’s useful to understand the mindset. Fortunately, there’s a viral video from a camping team’s POV and, boy oh boy, it makes camping seem funner than you might expect. playing COD w/ the right niggas be funny as hell 😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/siovMCJROe — u’ryan. (@yg_thedrummer) June 17, 2021 It’s really everything you can hope for out of a camping clip. A full team with full coordination, deciding what weapons to use (in this case: none), taking screenshots of themselves, and eagerly awaiting enemies. The squad of four drops their weapons and waits in ambush at the top of the elevator, ready to beat up incoming foes. And, to their delight, those foes came in perfect order — two victims unprepared for a proper jumping. Most Warzone players are familiar with the camping types who like to hang out in the Airport tower, but few know just how jovial those campers can be. While it’s frustrating getting sniped from the tower and knowing you can’t zip up there safely, there is a plus side here: at least we know that the campers are having fun. That’s what the game should be about, after all.

Viral Warzone TikTok turns a 1v2 into slow-mo cinematic masterpiece Pexels / ActivisionA new Warzone TikTok video has gone viral because it’s an absolute piece of art. Editing a 1v2 gunfight clip, the cinematic masterpiece is causing millions of people to admire the game on an aesthetic level. Call of Duty gets its hate, and Warzone gets hated on too, but sometimes players just want to look on the bright side of life and appreciate the little things. That’s what TikTok’s ‘itsAzimi’ did when, instead of thinking about hackers, they edited a little 1v2 clip of theirs and released it into the world. The clip, dramatically set to Sarah Cothran’s cover of Matt Maltese’s “As The World Caves In,” shows a fast-paced play — but slowed down and edited to the rhythm of an ethereal soundtrack. It’s about 25 seconds long, even with the slow motion, showcasing just how quickly Warzone plays start and finish. With over 1.9 million views on TikTok alone, players are obsessed and love just how well it displays the movement and tension in Warzone. https://twitter.com/DexertoIntel/status/1413932800537935872 On the original TikTok, itsAzimi captions his video simply: “Guy tried to break my camera, so I broke his.” But there’s more to it than that. Azimi is swapping from Kar98 to MP5 as a veritable demon slides around a corner in front of him. He weaves past, turns, and slide cancels right as the cracked enemy 180s and jumps back toward him. Azimi downs this caffeinated opponent and then quickly weaves in and out of a doorway, slide-canceling and jumping into shots against another enemy, who tries to pull off an instant snake on him. Azimi and his opponents pull off an absurd amount of movement techs in the short clip and the TikToker slows down each moment in pace with the background music. A floating, emotional song about romance, one wouldn’t expect this song to match Warzone — but it somehow does. With a world of cracked enemies caving upon Azimi and Cothran singing in the background, commenters agree that this slowed-down clip turns Warzone into a piece of film. It may just be a game, but the sensations are real and Azimi’s clip struck a chord. It’s a short, little video about some buttons being clicked, but the reactions all center around “beauty” and “poetry.” And they’re right, sometimes this game is poetry in motion — slide-canceling, bunny-hopping, head-glitching motion.

Viral Warzone TikTok shows victim’s POV as pro Aydan destroys them mid-tourney Andbox / ActivisionHave you ever wondered what facing a Warzone pro would look like in-game? A viral TikTok answers that question, as a team shared their POV while getting absolutely demolished by Aydan. Aydan ‘Aydan’ Conrad is the highest-earning Call of Duty: Warzone player of all time, but he’s not done yet. And one team found that out the hard way, as they suffered the misfortune of being in his way during a $20K tournament. During the tourney, Aydan went rogue and had a pretty wild play where he 1v3’d an entire squad with some nasty movement. That’s not very rare for the battle royale star, but seeing it from his victims’ perspective is. In a TikTok, ‘toodaloo.mf’ shows how the play looked from their perspective. Despite knowing where Aydan was and pre-aiming the stairwell, their entire squad still got melted in 17 seconds. It really looks like they’re playing two different games. Ever wondered what facing a Warzone pro looks like? A TikTok shows the POV of a team who was in @aydan’s way during a $20K tourney 💀 pic.twitter.com/PfAIfdAorf — Dexerto Esports (@DexertoEsports) July 17, 2021 Staring down the stairwell, toodaloo somehow gets killed before they can even get a bullet off. What follows is a series of “what the f**k” and “this guy is a f**king pro” callouts as the team gets demolished. One teammate realizes what happened, mentioning that it was Aydan who killed them. This is foreign to toodaloo, who asked if Aydan is “some streamer.” As for Aydan’s POV, the play still looks absolutely nutty — but is just another day at the office for the talented pro. And here’s the same play from Aydan’s POV: pic.twitter.com/MlYu9CDtKi — DEXERTO Call of Duty Esports News (@DexertoIntel) July 17, 2021 Contrasting the two perspectives is quite interesting. Call of Duty is known for having “broken cameras,” where mechanics from one player’s POV result in completely different visuals for their opponents. What looks fairly common on Twitch from Aydan’s POV then looks entirely diabolical from the casual players’ perspectives, as the streamer is barely visible on screen for more than a split-second between kills. Ultimately, Aydan went on to win that tournament with Rated and Mayappo — adding to his hefty earnings. And for normal players out there, at least now we know what it looks like when you get between a pro and their wallet.

Viral Warzone TikTok shows devastating MG42 loadout with zero recoil ActivisionLMGs have never been as popular in Warzone as Assualt Rifles or Sniper Rifles, usually because of their poor accuracy. Luckily, a viral TikTok has revealed how to set up an MG42 with no recoil whatsoever, turning it into an absolute laser. Whereas SMGs and Assault Rifles always find ways of sneaking into the Warzone meta, it can be far harder to make an LMG as devastating. With Warzone Pacific Season 1 underway, these bulky weapons are still quite a rare sight. Despite their generous ammo capacity and fire rates, the poor mobility and crazy recoil mean they are often overlooked. Vanguard’s integration brought a handful of new LMGs into the fold, and the MG42 has quickly established itself as the pick of the bunch. Thanks to a viral Warzone TikTok, we can help you pick a ridiculously accurate MG42 loadout with zero recoil. Contents As seen in a clip by klproductionsog on TikTok, the MG42 can be set up to eradicate any movement while firing. The player in the video can be seen shredding players from both medium and long-range, with virtually every shot landing on its intended target. At the beginning of the clip, the poster shows off just how accurate this setup is. Without even touching the controller, the LMG unloads a barrage of bullets into the river while the recticle barely moves. Warzone MG42 no recoil attachments If this sounds like something you’d be interested in using in Caldera, here is the full list of attachments: Muzzle: F8 Stabilizer – Barrel: VDD 890mm 32M Luftschutz – Optic: G16 2.5X – Stock: VDD 54M 32M – Underbarrel: M1941 Hand Stop – Magazine: 6.5 Sakura 125 Round Drums – Ammo Type: Lengthened – Rear Grip: Stippled Grip – Proficiency: Fully Loaded – Kit: Tight Grip – Although LMGs do tend to be a little wild, the MG42 is already one of the more accurate weapons in the class. But with this selection of attachments, it can go toe-to-toe with any other gun in the game. Best perks and equipment If you’re going to be running this in your next Warzone matches, you’re also going to need to pick the right perks and equipment to compliment the loadout. Here’s what we recommend: Perk 1: E.O.D. – Perk 2: Ghost – Perk 3: Amped – Secondary: Top Break – Lethal: Semtex – Tactical: Stim – Ghost is vitally important, helping you keep your position hidden from UAVs so you get the drop on your opponents. Meanwhile, E.O.D and Amped both protect you from explosions, while also allowing to switch weapons faster if need be. Your lethal and tactical are mostly down to personal preference. However, using Stims as your tactical is the perfect way to keep yourself in the fight longer, to make use of your MG42’s devasting damage. If you want to keep updated with all the latest Warzone and Vanguard news and guides, then be sure to head over to our Call of Duty page.

Viral Warzone TikTok “reveals” two most overrated weapons ever ActivisionEvery big name likes to profess every Warzone loadout as the next “OP” thing, but it doesn’t always pan out that way. A viral TikTok has revealed the two most “overrated” Warzone weapons of all time, and it’s divided players somewhat. There are over 100 weapons in Call of Duty: Warzone and the list is about to grow with the Vanguard integration. Content creators and players love hyping up loadouts for each gun when they drop — even if they flop on the tier lists. Before moving on to the slew of new weaponry, a viral TikTok looked back on the last 18 months of Warzone, revealing the two guns that didn’t live up to the hype, and dividing players in the process.. Viral Warzone TikTok shows two most overrated weapons TikToker ‘TCaptainX’ released a video claiming the LC10 and AX-50 are not as good as people make them out to be: “These are the two most overrated guns in Warzone.” Click here if TikTok fails to load. For the LC10, TCaptainX claims “it has one of the slowest TTKs of all SMGs and all it has going for it is no recoil and clean ironsights.” He said when the gun was released it was viable, but was nowhere close to being the meta. According to WZRanked, the submachine gun’s pick rate currently ranks ninth out of 22 weapons in the class and has a depressing 0.85 K/D ratio. At its peak, it was a top 10 picked gun for two months, but quickly fell off. The other weapon TCaptainX said is overrated is the AX-50 sniper rifle: “There are six other snipers that are far better options than it.” Some of the issues with the AX-50 the TikToker mentioned include its slow bullet velocity, along with how heavy the gun is, which slows down your mobility on the map. Better options include the Kar98k and Swiss K31, which have been Warzone’s most popular snipers for over six months and are very mobile. The choices have divided players in the comments, with some swearing by their mainstays, while others have backed up the TikToker. Maybe things could change with the addition of Vanguard weapons but players will need to wait until December 8 to find out themselves.

Viral Warzone TikTok reveals secret Rebirth Island room with god-tier loot & free blueprint ActivisionCall of Duty: Warzone fans on Rebirth Island have had their minds blown by a new viral TikTok which shows how you can access a secret easter egg room where you can secure incredible loot and a free blueprint. Rebirth Island is the smallest Warzone map around and within its waves of densely packed chaos lies hidden treasure. Like the original Verdansk’s code-locked bunkers, there’s a secret chamber with tons of goodies on the little isle of mayhem. As revealed in a now-viral TikTok with hundreds of thousands of views, a room in Rebirth’s Headquarters area can be accessed and, once inside, there’s loot aplenty. From gold chests and Specialist Tokens to kill-streaks and a legendary blueprint, the room has it all. While some people already knew about the locked room, many did not, and even fewer knew how worthwhile it was. We’ve explained how to open the yellow door in the past, but TikTok’s ‘biggringg’ shows just how much it has in store. Rebirth Island’s secret easter egg room Like some sort of CoD Robin Hood or Rebirth Island sherpa, biggringg leads viewers to a promised land filled with glorious loot. But you can’t use the code that they do, as opening the door requires a number of steps — all of which we’ve explained in our aforementioned guide. Once inside, biggringg’s squad showed just how much loot you can secure — with thousands upon thousands of dollars, alongside goodies like a Gold Gas Mask, Specialist Token, and, perhaps most enticingly, a legendary blueprint of the Milano SMG. While this room may not be a secret to many, as it’s been around for months, it’s still shocked millions of viewers on TikTok. And, for those who may have missed its reveal back then — or perhaps for those who are simply now nostalgic for easter eggs and bunkers, the video is most certainly intriguing. The Milano remains a quality SMG, so there’s reason to finally take a crack at this.

Viral Warzone TikTok reveals hidden “Batcave” full of loot Activision, Warner Bros. EntertainmentPlayers are learning new details about Warzone’s new map – Caldera – all the time. The latest cool find is an apparent Batcave that is home to loot and even a mysterious secret too. The location has been found and shared by a TikTok user that shows where it is and how to get in. Verdansk always had some cool spots for players to go to hide away from players or score some nice loot. Caldera is still very much in its infancy in Season 1, and it will take a while to find all of its secrets and awesome locations. But arguably the coolest one yet has been found, and it looks to be a nod to the classic Batcave. The super-secret hideout of the famous vigilante Batman, the Batcave acted as Bruce Wayne’s detective lair. Now, it seems like Caldera has its own mini-version that doesn’t quite have the state-of-the-art technology that the Batcave does, but it does have some useful goodies. The location of the Warzone Caldera Batcave has been made public knowledge by TikTok user Spartan3319. Their 15-second TikTok video revealed all: its location, what’s in it, and how to get inside of it. The spot in question can be found just south of the Power Plant POI, and the player will come across two waterfalls next to each other. If the player walks into the left waterfall, they will enter a secret area – the ‘Batcave’. Inside are a couple of supply chests, and what Spartan3319 thinks is a “bunker that might open up in the future.” The name Batcave comes about because, in the Batman Begins film, Batman flies the Batmobile through a waterfall in order to access the Batcave. Spartan3319 believes this is the perfect spot to “pull off a Most Wanted contract or just to lie low.” Obviously, the location isn’t going to remain a big secret for too long, and you may have to watch out for competing players vying for those two chests.

Viral Warzone TikTok reveals Ghost perk is completely broken right now Instagram: jessiejadecooks / ActivisionA viral TikTok from Warzone streamer Jessie Cooks has caught the attention of many popular players as the “broken” Ghost perk cost her a run during a recent Twitch Rivals event. Warzone has obviously had its fair share of issues in recent months. From an abundance of hackers to game-breaking bugs, it’s all led to a recent ‘war’ as many of the most popular figures jump ship to different games. Now joining the growing list of issues is a critical bug tied to the Ghost perk. On paper, Ghost is supposed to hide your icon on the minimap. When an enemy team calls in a UAV, you should remain hidden if Ghost is part of your loadout. That wasn’t the case for Jessie Cooks during her run in the latest $75K Twitch Rivals Warzone event; in a TikTok clip that has since gone viral, the streamer showcased how Ghost is “broken” in Warzone Season 4. “We died to HusKerrs, JoeWo, and Mutex in Twitch Rivals [because] Ghost doesn’t work,” she shared on July 28. In the clip, their Trio can be seen equipping loadouts with Ghost in the vital perk 2 slot. Moments later, they were suddenly tracked down by the opposing team. While they thought their positions were masked, HusKerrs and his allies knew where they were all along. Evidently, the Ghost perk didn’t work as intended. In fact, without serving its sole purpose, the entire perk was rendered useless. As part of a $75K tournament, every lobby was vital in the custom format. However, the Ghost bug ultimately led to their downfall in that particular match. Read More: What is the average K/D ratio in Warzone? – Gaining traction across social media, even Warzone expert JGOD took note, claiming that the bug “makes no sense.” Not sure how that would work @Bartonologist something we could test if you have people that want to find out if it locks in the 1st Perks and Ignores the 2nd loadout considering all those are in Private matches. — James – JGOD (@JGODYT) July 28, 2021 After looking through all player POVs in an effort to examine the bug, JGOD came to the conclusion that the format may have played a role. “Likely a private match bug,” he explained. Further testing is underway to determine whether the bug extends to public lobbies as well. But for now, you might want to swap out Ghost for another perk to ensure you’re actually getting some benefits with your loadout.

Viral Warzone TikTok confuses everyone as player enters The Matrix to dodge a sniper Activision / Warner Bros.A viral Warzone TikTok is catching fire across social media as the Call of Duty community has been left stumped by a player that seemingly entered The Matrix to dodge a bullet. We all have our epic moments when playing Warzone. Whether it’s a flashy 1v1 or a huge squad wipe to clutch up for your team, these heart-pounding plays are what keeps us dropping back in. But every now and then, a new highlight trumps everything before it. That’s exactly what happened in the first week of 2022 as an unbelievable play caught the attention of the entire Warzone community. With a sniper locked on from afar, it seemed all but inevitable in ‘ritoreef’s’ TikTok that the headshot would connect. What happened next, however, defied all Warzone logic as the enemy ducked their head at the perfect moment. Right as the shot was fired, the Operator dipped their head to the side. Imitating Neo from The Matrix, it looked as though entered another dimension. Somehow they could feel the bullet soaring through the air and knew just when to get out the way. This is no usual animation either. Leaning to the side like that isn’t something a player can manually trigger in Warzone. As a result, the TikTok quickly spread across social media, confusing just about everyone that saw it. “This player took the red pill,” FaZe Clan streamer Swagg joked on Twitter. “Man’s living in a different universe than us,” JaredFPS responded. There’s no telling exactly how this miracle occurred, but we have a decent guess. Being right on the edge of the zone, there’s a good chance the gas mask animation played a role. Warzone automatically pulls this mask on for you. Therefore, it makes sense that equipping it changes your stance for a split second. Another possible explanation is that a new Warzone bug just came into effect. The character model looked identical to an Operator mounted up behind a wall, after all. While there was no cover nearby, perhaps a glitch forced them into an awkward angle while aiming down sights. There’s no telling for certain, hence why this one in a million clip is sending the internet into a frenzy. For now, let’s just hope this doesn’t become a feature if a new Matrix bundle arrives soon in Warzone.

Viral Warzone TikTok breaks down 1v3 with uncensored Sherlock Holmes commentary Activision / BBCCall of Duty: Warzone players are notorious for creative TikTok content, but a new bar has been set. Like some blend of Sherlock Holmes and Deadpool, a user has narrated their 1v3 in a mini, slow-mo action movie. Every game of Warzone has the potential to feel like an action movie. Sometimes it’s a tragedy where you, the main character, die early on to an overpowered enemy. Sometimes it’s a tale of triumph and perseverance when you camp your way to a victory. But TikTok lets players amplify the cinematic experience, with people turning Warzone plays into comedies and others turning them into moments of beautiful slow-mo action. The latest creation out of ‘thestonystark’ is a blend of those two, as he earned over 7 million views for a breakdown of a wild 1v3. From referencing Batman to adult actresses, the clip is a rollercoaster. The narration of this… cinematic experience is versatile, to say the least. While stonystark has a raspy tone akin to Batman, he also gives off Sherlock Holmes and Deadpool vibes. From “deductive reasoning” to getting “f**ked from behind,” the player’s brain knows no barriers. He breaks the play down live, giving a glimpse into the head of Warzone players everywhere. It’s a stream of consciousness, much like the Sherlock television show, with the game going into slow-mo as he makes split-second decisions: “180 on this b***h like Tony Hawk.” People were all about the action on TikTok. While some probably appreciated the reloading and door-closing advice, the majority were more focused on the narration. From James Bond, to Holmes, to Deadpool, stonystark’s commentary summoned a lot of different feelings from a lot of different people. However the video made you feel, there’s one clear learning lesson for everyone in Verdansk: be careful breaking windows in the early game, because someone might turn you into a TikTok seen by millions of people.

Viral Warzone streamer reveals how he wins gunfights with musical instruments Activision/DeanoBeanoStreamer DeanoBeano is known for using instruments like pianos and drum kits to play Call of Duty but the innovative player has just gone viral again for winning a Gulag match with a recorder. Twitch streamer DeanoBeano has gone viral in the past for using instruments to play Call of Duty games, a feat which most people cannot say they’ve accomplished. He famously used a drum kit to get a some kills in a Modern Warfare clip a while back and then gained recognition again for using a piano to net some kills in the same game. Now, it seems like he’s eager to try out some harder instruments, as DeanoBeano is now using a recorder to make his moves in Warzone. Specifically, he used the instrument to nab a win in the game’s Gulag, allowing him to get a second chance in Verdansk. Using a recorder of all instruments to get a kill is impressive, though it wasn’t ever clear how he was using it as a controller, considering there are no obvious ways to “plug” it into his PC. Thanks to an interview with CharlieINTEL, however, we now know exactly what’s going on. “I use instruments that I plug in to convert MIDI signals to keyboard commands, and acoustic instruments I control using pitch to MIDI, then MIDI to keyboard commands. The bongos were actually a controller from the GameCube games Donkey Konga and Donkey Kong Bongo Bash,” DeanoBeano said. MIDI is what allows instruments to connect to computers and helps send signals. MIDI-enabled instruments have essentially become the industry standard now for musicians, considering most make their music on computers, allowing them to more easily capture and perform how they want. While the actual gameplay isn’t all too crazy considering it’s just him aiming in one spot and getting the kill, it’s still insane when considering what he’s actually using to control his character. With the usage of the recorder, who knows what he’ll use in the future.

Viral Warzone clip shows why smoke grenades are underrated ActivisionA clip from Call of Duty Warzone went viral for showing just how underutilized the smoke grenade is, and how useful it can be, as the player notched an impressive triple-kill. Smoke grenades are one of the more underappreciated items in all of Warzone. They can provide coverage for yourself and your team when moving in and out of heavily contested zones on the map, and come in clutch by blocking the enemy’s line of sight. But, pairing them with a specific attachment on your sniper makes them even more deadly. One Warzone player understood just how strong smoke grenades can be, when combining them with a thermal scope. How to use smokes in Warzone The viral clip comes from Reddit user awhite90, who came across a house with a supply box inside. Opening the box gave them a Long Arm rifle with a thermal scope. Realizing they’d been seen entering the building, they dropped a smoke right at the front door. The smoke blocked vision around the door, and as they moved through the smoke out of the house, scoped out three quick kills using the rifle. The thermal attachment allowed them to see right through the smoke they had dropped in front of themselves. The scope highlighted exactly where the enemy players were located, and with some impressive aiming ability, were able to gun down the enemy players without any danger. The enemy players were seriously far away, barely specks of white on the screen through the thermal scope as awhite90 sniped them down with some steady hands and immaculate aiming capabilities. Because the thermal sight isn’t so common in Warzone anymore, you’ll find that many players don’t use the Cold Blooded perk to counter it. This move was an ingenious way of using the smoke grenade and thermal scope combination, one of the more underused combos in all of Warzone. Smokes often get ignored in Warzone matches, as it is easy to forget they are even in your inventory at all. This clip going viral is a reminder that if you ever find yourself in a pinch, remember to use those smoke grenades sitting in your inventory as they could certainly come into use.

Viral video shows Warzone’s Nail Gun is even wilder in real life ActivisionCall of Duty: Warzone and Black Ops Cold War’s Nail Gun is a wild gun in-game, but a viral TikTok shows that it might just be even nuttier in real life. A video of the Nail Gun’s IRL features has players buzzing. Most Warzone players might know that Nail Guns are not just in-game oddities, but in fact really useful tools for construction workers. Even then, of those who know that Nail Guns are real things, most probably haven’t seen them in action. In comes TikTok creator ‘the_tarmaster,’ who makes great use of a Nail Gun for tasks like applying shingles to roofs. And, with great nail-gun experience, comes a greater responsibility to show people how it looks in the real world. Responding to comments asking to see how the Nail Gun reloads in real life, tarmaster demonstrated his POV reloading the tool and firing off some rounds. With over four million views, people were stunned that the game seems to somehow undersell the tool-turned-weapon’s attributes. In Warzone, the Nail Gun is a slow-shooting, high-damage SMG with a very small magazine size (20 rounds) and a slow reload time. While, thankfully, tarmaster doesn’t test out the tool’s damage profile — he does show off some of its other traits. It turns out that the ammunition situation is a virtual creation, as real-world nail guns not only have fat ammo drums, but also can be reloaded quite quickly. Tarmaster shows off how fast the gun reloads alongside the size of the mag, before rattling off a few shots in the distance. MG82 & Nail Gun meta?@TBE_Newbzz just erased 54 victims during the @DallasEmpire #Warzone $100K 🤯 pic.twitter.com/4dE6EAkrqf — Dexerto Esports (@DexertoEsports) June 17, 2021 Impressively, the in-game Nail Gun actually sounds a lot like the real-world version and the firing rate feels pretty spot-on as well. While we’re happy that no one has tested the gun’s damage out IRL, one has to wonder if Warzone’s devs over at Raven Software or Treyarch will consider adding a drum magazine. At the moment, the Nail Gun is considered a “specialty” weapon that has zero attachment options. It was recently nerfed after being considered OP, so a mag size change could help balance the gun if devs want to take this IRL video as inspiration. Update (August 2, 8:40 p.m. ET): As a helpful commenter has pointed out, the nail gun used in the TikTok is actually a “roofing nailer,” while Warzone’s is a “framing nailer,” hence the difference in reload styles. Just in case anyone gets any ideas, no, you should not play with Nail Guns in real life. This TikTok user is a trained professional with years of experience.

Viral TikToks show why $12 CoD & Warzone edits are worth every penny Activision / PexelsThe latest viral trend in Call of Duty: Warzone TikTok seems to be trying your luck by buying cheap edits of your highlights. And, looking at the results, it’s clear that these editors should be charging way more than $12. It’s not exactly clear where the budget edit trend came from, but one Valorant clip was surely ahead of the pack. Just a week later, a whole batch of viral Warzone TikToks are popping up in the same style. While we can’t be sure people aren’t simply editing these themselves by this point, we’ll allow everyone the benefit of the doubt. All of these videos seem to follow the same structure: someone says they paid a small amount (usually $20 or below) for an edit and asks if they should get a refund. Moments later, you’re watching a video with the most obnoxious editing in montage history. Viral Warzone TikToks on a budget Breh the @ROKKR got an absolute steal with this @Blazt edit 😭pic.twitter.com/TdDdQSB4Ah — Dexerto Esports (@DexertoEsports) September 30, 2021 As you can see in the tweet above, the Call of Duty League’s Minnesota ROKKR say they enlisted an editor for $12 to make a video using their content creator Blazt. With Russian music blaring in the background, the beat drops as the snipes land and boom — a handsome squirrel dances on the screen. It’s a wild experience and, by this point, people seem almost as fond of the squirrel and in-your-face editing as they are of the impressive highlight. But some of these break the recipe, including TikTok’s ‘moutainface,’ who was driven to ask if they should demand a refund. They apparently spent $20 and the editor gave them a postmodern piece of art. The most ridiculous content $20 can buy It’s meta, it’s abstract, it’s a literal Toyota commercial splashed midway through a Modern Warfare highlight. Oh, and at the time of writing, it’s been liked 2.2 million times on TikTok — meaning it’s been seen millions more. So, if you’re wondering where we’re at with viral Warzone TikToks in October 2021, there’s your answer. The cool montages and funny narrations have ceded the spotlight to… commercial-filled, squirrel-filled edits. While we unfortunately can’t tell you where to go for a purchase from this mysterious budget editor, we can instead wish you good luck getting the song out of your head.

Viral TikTok reveals easiest way to get M13B in Warzone 2 DMZ ActivisionThe M13B is the crown jewel of DMZ and this viral TikTok showcases the easiest way to add it to your Warzone 2 collection. Call of Duty’s brand-new DMZ mode brings a touch of extraction-type shooters like Escape From Tarkov to the world’s biggest FPS franchise. There are tons of quests to complete over in Warzone 2’s secondary mode, but none are as attractive as unlocking the M13B, as it’s a mode-exclusive weapon and requires players to dive in and take on a deadly NPC if they want to claim it. While you could always do this the standard way, there’s a viral TikTok making the rounds that showcases a super easy solution that could save you a massive headache. Viral TikTok shows off easy way to get DMZ-exclusive M13B in Warzone 2 Anyone who wants to claim the M13 for themselves has to square off with a supercharged AI enemy called The Chemist, who appropriately waits inside of a high-radiation zone that will damage players over time. If you’ve played DMZ before, you’ll know that these boss-type enemies are a lot tougher than your standard NPC fare and it takes a good amount of skill to walk away from a fight against one of them. Unless you rig the game in your favor of course, and that’s exactly what this TikTok encourages players to do. Instead of taking on The Chemist in head-to-head combat, you can actually just splatter him with a vehicle and skip all of the heavy lifting. Of course, even after doing this, you’ll still have to make it back to the Exfiltration zone and escape the DMZ in one piece, but it certainly takes all of the hard work out of the equation. If you’re successful in pulling this off, you’ll unlock the gun for use all across Modern Warfare 2.

Viral MW2 TikTok sums up why players hate Santa Sena Border Crossing map ActivisionA Call of Duty TikToker is going viral for showcasing exactly why players are fed up with Modern Warfare 2’s controversial Santa Sena Border Crossing map. Modern Warfare 2 introduced plenty of new maps and while players are generally in favor of most of them and are enjoying the game, one map has stood out as the absolute worst and for good reason. Santa Sena Border Crossing takes place on a narrow highway littered with cars and right off the bat when players first got a look at it, they were in complete disbelief. Now that they’ve had time to play it for themselves, their worst fears have come true with the map’s bizarre layout making for some of the worst experiences in CoD history and one TikToker had summed it all up perfectly. MW2 TikToker’s Santa Sena Border Crossing experience goes viral In a short 28-second TikTok video, user yrg_monkey showed off how brutal the map is after dying five times in under half-a-minute. While the TikToker’s account has since been deleted, the video received over 4 million views in under 12 hours and was reuploaded by Twitter user ‘wraiIs.’ The clip begins with the player running for a bit before ADSing and immediately having his head blown clean off. Not deterred, the gamer respawned only for a grenade to blow his legs off soon thereafter. The third time wasn’t the charm either. After respawning yet again, not seconds later, another explosion went off, killing the player for the third time in just ten seconds. A few moments later, yrg_monkey was able to run a bit farther on the highway, but just like an inexperienced n00b playing Frogger, it proved to be fatal as yet again, he was blown sky high. Finally, to end the clip, the user came back to life and paced himself only to yet again go boom in a hilariously brutal finale. Needless to say, the user felt trapped between a rock and a Hardpoint. While it’s still early days for MW2, hopefully, the general hatred for this map can lead to some significant changes down the road as players’ patience grows thinner by the day.

Viral Modern Warfare 2 TikTok reveals crazy XP glitch to level up fast ActivisionA new viral TikTok video has exposed a Modern Warfare 2 glitch that allows players to rack up unholy amounts of XP in Infinity Ward’s recently released title. After months of fan anticipation and excitement, Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare 2 finally dropped globally on October 28. While many have been loving the opportunity to drop into the latest CoD installment, others have found their early experiences tainted by invasive bugs and glitches. From the infamous ‘Scan and Repair’ problems to parties and attachment tuning crashing matches altogether, there’s plenty for the devs to iron out in the coming days and weeks. MW2 Ground War glitch allows players to farm XP A new glitch has surfaced in MW2’s Ground War mode too, allowing players to accumulate incredible amounts of XP in mere seconds. Naturally, this means players can rank up much faster than is intended. Highlighted in a viral TikTok, Twitch streamer Move_Mind realized that throwing a Suppression Mine on an enemy tank gives players thousands of XP in seconds. The Suppression Mine is a Modern Warfare 2 Field Upgrade that, when triggered by an enemy, emits a sound wave that distorts vision and slows movement. Throwing it on an enemy tank naturally brings it within range of a number of enemies and, as a result, currently gives players incredible amounts of XP. The glitch’s ridiculous ability was clear in the TikTok, levelling up the streamer within seconds. Currently, the video has over 94,000 likes on the social media platform. While it’s certainly not the most serious problem affecting Modern Warfare 2 at the moment, its in-game power means that we do expect Infinity Ward to drop a quick patch in the coming days.

Viral Modern Warfare 2 clip shows how absurdly powerful rotational aim assist is ActivisionModern Warfare 2’s aim assist reignited tensions between console and PC players, and a viral video put the feature’s power on full display. Aim Assist is a gameplay mechanic for console shooters that aims to level the playing field between controller and keyboard users. The feature provides a small amount of guidance toward an enemy, making it easier for console players to snap their crosshairs on a target. Some players believe aim assist is too powerful in Modern Warfare 2. OpTic Dashy claimed nerfing aim assist could improve CoD forever, and Scump argued — “they took to out so much of the skill in aiming.” Rotational aim assist builds upon aim assist and lends even more of a helping hand to console players. The feature first appeared in Modern Warfare 2019, and Infinity Ward controversially brought it back for MW2. Is rotational aim assist overpowered? So what is rotational aim assist? Players are pre-conditioned to aim with the right stick while using a controller. However, for rotational aim assist, only using the left stick or slightly touching the right stick makes the game do all the leg work for you. Reddit user Bduckets recorded a video of his hands on a controller and aiming down sights at the same time. Without touching the right stick, rotational aim assist locked his crosshairs onto enemies just by slightly pushing the left stick. One player responded, “it would be nice if we could have controller-only and mouse and keyboard-only lobbies.” Since 2019, every CoD has featured cross-platform functionality. Its introduction did wonders for uniting the player base, but it failed to accurately take into account aim assist. A second user added, “the two inputs are completely different from each other, and they’re impossible to balance. Certain areas controllers are at an advantage and disadvantage and vice versa.” Separate lobbies for different inputs solve the aim assist balance issue, but it defeats the purpose of having cross-play. There seems to be no end in sight for this debate unless a developer somehow manages to crack the code.

Viral CoD Vanguard TikTok uncovers a big mystery for attachments ActivisionActivision have released a load of details on Call of Duty Vanguard ahead of its November 5 release date, but players are picking holes in its story already. The game is being developed by Sledgehammer Games, who have said it is “rooted but not beholden” to the World War 2 timeline. On August 25, during Gamescom, new gameplay was released showing off a number of new weapons and elements, with some members of the game’s online community left unimpressed by the graphics. Next on the list for scrutiny, apparently, is how the title doesn’t exactly look like a World War-inspired experience. CoD Vanguard mystery goes viral on TikTok As many will know already, the previous installment in the series – Black Ops Cold War – was targeted by critics claiming that there were a lot of inaccurate historical details. Not a lot of them affected gameplay. However, that’s not exactly the case in CoD Vanguard. In a TikTok clip that’s since gone viral, from spectrexgaming, the user has spotted another big mystery. The captain of the video says: “If red dots weren’t deployed until 30 years after WW2, how are they in Vanguard?” They’re not wrong, either. According to the original inventor of the red dot sight, Aimpoint, they released their first version in 1975, some 30 years after the Second World War concluded. While this may look like an embarrassing mistep from the game’s developers, they did cover their tracks by suggesting the latest Call of Duty story was not beholden to the timeline. It begs the question, though: How far will they stretch that for the title’s features? Next thing you know, RCXDs might be spinning around the map. Jokes aside, here’s a full list of Vanguard’s perks, equipment, and streaks.

Viral CoD Vanguard TikTok proves how “broken” shotguns are ActivisionA Call of Duty player has gone wildly viral across social media, leading fellow fans in disbelief at them achieving a V2 Rocket killstreak in just over 30 seconds with a shotgun loadout. When a new Call of Duty title releases, there are always a few weapons that dominate in the first few weeks – be it because they’re just naturally strong or something bugs out and makes them OP. Plenty of CoD fans will point back to the likes of Modern Warfare 2’s akimbo Model 1887’s, World at War’s round drum MP40, and Black Ops’ G11 and either laugh fondly or sweat profusely at what has come before. In the early goings of Call of Duty: Vanguard, players have been left frustrated by the power of the shotguns. However, one loadout has taken things to a whole new level – and it has blown social media away. With players competing to grab the quickest time to unlock the V2 Rocket killstreak – 25 kills in a row – shotguns have been the go-to weapons of choice. While some fans have managed to use Das Haus and their shotgun of choice to achieve one in just under 40 seconds, TikToker Zexafy managed to do it a shade over 30 seconds with a clip that has racked up over 2.2 million views. Zexafy’s highlight has also done the rounds on Twitter, grabbing around 1 million views there as well as players can’t believe it. “What the fuck allowed this to happen?” asked one player. “This is absolutely disgusting, I would’ve thrown my console at the tv if this happened to me,” added another. “Instant uninstall.” Plenty of other players simply tagged Activision and Sledgehammer Games in the replies demanding a fix. As Zexafy pointed out on TikTok, he showed off the clip to get the devs to make some changes, noting the loadout is even faster without a stock. We’ll just have to wait and see how long that takes.

Viral CoD TikTok shows off “cursed” sniper shotgun loadout for Modern Warfare & Warzone ActivisionThe concept of converting Modern Warfare shotguns into strange, misfit snipers isn’t a new concept in that fame or in Warzone, but this take on an old classic makes it funnier than ever. The 725 has been the source of head-scratching long-range builds for most of Warzone’s lifespan but this version is a good reminder of how silly Call of Duty can be. While there are other versions of this gun that will actually produce some good results, this particular version of the classic shotgun is designed to be “cursed” and it passes that test with flying colors. Also, the loadout works for both Modern Warfare and Warzone, so you can pick it up in either one if you’re looking to get into some absolute shenanigans. Cursed Shotgun sniper loadout from Modern Warfare Now, consider this a proper warning: this nightmare will be equal parts lethal and frustrating. As seen in the TikTok embedded below, sometimes it produces magic and cleans up kills with no problems, but it will also likely cause you to pull your hair out with some ‘how in the world could that have possibly missed?’ moments. If you’re still motivated to give it a shot, here’s the full loadout: Optic: Sniper Scope – Stock: Sawed-off Stock – Barrel: Sawed-off Barrel – Underbarrel: Merc Foregrip – Magazine: Slug Rounds – This long-range build really only works because of the Slug Rounds which turn it more into a projectile launcher more similar to the Crossbow than a true shotgun. The coin-flip results are mostly outweighed by the hilarious distances in which you can rack up kills, but you’ll never forget you’re playing with an imperfect monstrosity the whole through

Viral clip exposes Warzone hackers shooting at the ground for kills ActivisionA viral clip has showcased Warzone hackers being able to get kills by shooting at the floor, making it seem as if their bullets are ricocheting into enemies. Ever since Warzone launched over a year ago, Raven Software have had a tough task in eradicating hackers from the battle royale. They’ve shut down cheat-selling websites and dished out plenty of bans to hackers, but if you drop into a match on Verdansk or Rebirth Island, you’re likely to find a wallhacker or an aim botter. Some cheaters manage to slip through the net and avoid detection in a number of ways, and now, it looks as if some are trying to do so by shooting at the floor. Warzone streamer RayTheGreat posted a clip that has since gone viral of a hacker taking him and his teammates down by shooting at the floor. In the clip, the hacker in question jumps through a window and waits for Ray to appear on their screen. Once the streamer does so, the bizarre sequence commences where he’s taken down by shots that ricochet off the floor. On Ray’s screen, some shots appear to fire off normally without hitting the floor, but there are plenty that appear to bounce off the floor as well. The streamer was clearly bemused by what had happened, screaming in confusion by how the shots were hitting the ground and killing him. Read More: Is Terminator coming to Warzone? – He called on Activision and Raven to do something about it, but, as of writing, it’s unknown if they have. It remains to be seen if this tactic of shooting at the ground becomes more widespread, or if it’s just a one-off. But either way, it’s clearly absurd.

Vinicius Jr playing Warzone “every day” ahead of Real Madrid vs Liverpool final Wikimedia / ActivisionReal Madrid star Vinicius Jr. has been spotted playing Call of Duty Warzone with a Twitch streamer just days before the Champions League final against Liverpool. Carlo Ancelotti’s men have already won the La Liga title this season, finishing a whopping 13 points clear of domestic rivals Barcelona. When Los Blancos lock horns with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in Paris, on May 28, they have the chance to make history again – and secure the Spanish club’s 14th European Cup. To do that, though, they are going to need their best players to be on top of their game, like Vini Jr. The Brazilian winger is a known gamer, having assembled a number of star-studded Ultimate Team lineups and sharing them with his fans in the past. However, it’s not virtual football practice that Vinicius has been trying out in the run-up to his biggest game of the season. Instead, he’s been playing Warzone non-stop. Vinicius Jr playing Warzone ahead of Madrid vs Liverpool final The 21-year-old flying forward has been spotted playing the Call of Duty battle royale game with a Madrid-based streamer. Ana Marrero, a Team Heretics creator with over 125,000 followers on Twitch, linked up with the player on May 24. During a conversation posted to TikTok, she asked about how preparations for the big game is going – and he responded by saying the media attention has been wild. He said: “Today there was press in our training. I was talking about football for an hour and a half…” joking that they always ask about Kylian Mbappe, who recently turned down a move to Spain to stay at Paris Saint-Germain. When asked about how many he will score in the final, he added: “Pfftt, I don’t know (nervous laugh). Complicated… One [goal] and a victory is alright.” After that, Ana asked about whether he’d play Warzone with her – so he jumped into the lobby. “I play every day,” he replied. Vini also said that he often jumps into the battle royale with Brazilian teammate Eder Militao, who also plays for Real Madrid. He played along with Ana during a two-hour special stream, showing off his callout skills, but on May 28 the only skills he’s going to need is those on the pitch. With Liverpool looking to round off a treble of trophies, it’s going to be a difficult game that requires a lot of concentration to get over the line. Maybe, just maybe, Warzone helps with that.

Vince Staples pokes fun at Call of Duty pro Scump at Modern Warfare Pro-Am Wikimedia CommonsAfter a Domination match at the Modern Warfare Game Fuel Pro Am, celebrity competitor Vince Staples had something to say to rapper T-Pain and Call of Duty pro Seth ‘Scump’ Abner during the post-match interview. Six celebrities and six pro gamers have come together at the Modern Warfare Game Fuel Pro Am to showcase the new Call of Duty title. And with people from esports, sports, and music backgrounds meeting in an environment like this, it was bound to get competitive. The six duos faced each other in a game of domination, and after his team lost, Vince Staples wasted no time in calling out some of his opponents. Vince addressed his fellow rapper T-Pain first, after they both had a less-than-stellar performance on Gun Runner. “T-Pain, I’m coming for you. I just want you to know, I done smacked you a couple of times but it’s okay, we’re gonna be friends after this.” Then he turned his attention to famed CoD pro Scump, offering a half-warning half-plea to the 2017 world champion. “Scump, stop chasing me. It’s not cool, you do this for a living. Stop chasing me. I’m sorry about the two times I shot you. Just let me play.” The Modern Warfare showcase turned into the Scump showcase on that map, as he dropped 52 kills and only gave up 14 deaths. Scump’s celebrity teammate, Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves, also showed up, with 20 kills himself. To make Vince’s time worse, KAT was also consistently talking smack after almost every round. He’s no stranger to talking trash. The broadcast caught up with Vince later in the competition, patching into his comms while in-game. He clearly was still perturbed by the pro level play of Scump, saying “Scump’s a bully.” He also shared a tidbit about his unique style of play. “I don’t use killstreaks, cause I’m organic. Like Whole Foods out here. Sprouts. Trader Joe’s. The farmer’s market.” The celebrities and pro players continue to fight it out for a $25k donation to their charity of choice.

Villainous Warzone pro uses streamer’s fiancee as bait for easy kill Activision / PexelsCall of Duty: Warzone players need a blend of mechanical skill and strategic know-how. And pro player Almond showed off the latter when he devilishly realized he could use another streamer’s fiancee as bait. Most of the Warzone pros know each other fairly well. Ever since the game’s March 2020 release, these players have familiarized themselves by playing with and against each other on a weekly basis. And now, Ben ‘Almond’ Rosendahl has used that personal knowledge for his own gain. Almond and Rhys ‘Rated’ Price are both among Warzone’s top 10 earners and have spent countless hours interacting. As such, Almond is familiar with some personal details of Rated’s life. More specifically, he knows Rated’s fiancee by name and gamer tag. So, in a twist of villainous brainpower, the pro used their relationship for his benefit. It’s part funny, part evil, and part a lesson in why you should strategically assess your enemies. Warzone pro uses streamer’s love life against him Still can’t believe @Almxnd_ used @Rated_COD’s fiancee against him like this 💀pic.twitter.com/inGbd0Z6O0 — Dexerto Esports (@DexertoEsports) October 13, 2021 As you can see in the clip, Almond downed someone and — right before finishing them off — suddenly paused. A moment later, he let out a chuckle and let viewers know he recognized the gamertag: “Wait… I’m pretty sure this is Morg and Rhys, hold on.” After quickly hiding, waiting for Rated to come and rescue his damsel in distress, Almond heard the revive and popped back out. Then, in the blink of an eye, he had downed both and started teabagging Rated’s body. From the sudden trap to mid-teabag laughter, this is about as much supervillain energy as you can get in a game of Warzone. In the replies to Almond’s tweet, people easily understood why his tactic worked out. As one user responded, “love is powerful.” Rated’s fiancee, Morgan, laughed it off too. With Almond and Rated both nestled among the game’s best, the relationship between the three is familiar so no one took things personally. But, for casuals, there’s something to learn from this strategy. While players are unlikely to know the love lives of their opponents, this proves two things. First, it’s good to pay attention to enemies you down (checking gamertags, listening to death comms). And second, sometimes you should wait to finish someone — setting a trap and using them as bait could give you two kills for the price of one.

Vikkstar’s team wins Warzone Wednesday again – Week 7 recap, placements GFUEL, FaZe Clan, Dallas Empire, HyperX, Infinity WardYouTube star Daniel ‘KEEMSTAR’ Keem hosted another running of his fan-favorite Warzone Wednesday tournament series on May 6 and we’ve got everything you need to catch up on all of the Call of Duty action, including live streams, results, recaps, and more. Another week, another Warzone Wednesday tournament, as KEEMSTAR’s weekly competition has established itself as one of the premier events when it comes to Call of Duty’s newest battle royale. As usual, this seventh running brought together some of the biggest names in the online gaming community for an intense 2v2 affair with a whopping $20,000 on the line. $20K Warzone Wednesdays Week 7 recap Competition was closer than ever throughout the latest Warzone Wednesday event. Many duos brought their A-game as five teams managed to top 100 eliminations across their matches. Others had a rough go of it in Week 7 as powerhouse names like Ninja and Dr Disrespect, dropped to the losers bracket and were knocked out early. The stage for the Grand Final series was set as TeePee and Aydan squared up against Vikkstar and ItzWarsz. While the closely contested matchup saw the second bracket reset in Warzone Wednesday history, according to commentator Kat ‘Mystik’ Gunn, the final round saw the gap grow between the two teams. Ultimately, Vikkstar and ItzWarz carried momentum through from their Week 6 win and secured the back to back first-place prize. Aydan came through with the most individual kills throughout the event with 161, but it was the teamwork of Vikkstar and ItzWarsz that took home the overall win once again. Warzone Wednesdays Week 7 Placements (Top 10) When was Warzone Wednesday Week 7? This tournament took place on Wednesday, May 6, at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET and continued for roughly five hours. Read More: MW & Warzone May 5 update patch notes – It was livestreamed on KEEMSTAR’s Twitch channel with casters and professional production, so you can catch up on the best moments from all the matches in one place. Additionally, most of the participants were also streaming their POVs on their own channels, so for those who want to watch a specific player, we’ve included several below for your convenience. Warzone Wednesday Week 7 bracket A full bracket for the event can be found on the Warzone Wednesday website and is being updated throughout the day as results from different matches come in. Players & teams Warzone Wednesday is usually a star-studded competition and week seven is no different. There’s a nice mix of top-tier streamers, pro Call of Duty players, Fortnite stars, and other huge names, such as shroud, who hasn’t competed in one of these events for a few weeks now. Vikkstar and ItzWarsZ are back to defend their crown after winning last week’s tournament in dominant fashion, putting up a whopping 325 kill total that was over 100 eliminations more than the next highest duo. Aydan & TeePee – Tommey & bobbypoff – Crimsix & shroud – Noahj456 & MerK – Vikkstar & ItzWarsZ – NICKMERCS & Swagg – Speros & HusKers – Crowder & CouRage – Trainwreck & FeLo – Ninja & DrDisrespect – KYR SP33DY & SideArms – GreekGod & LyndonFPS – Symfuhny & DougisRaw – Nadeshot & Cloakzy – Tourva & Censor – Castro1021 & NepentheZ – Related: Shroud: The World’s Most Naturally Gifted Gamer? Format & rules Warzone Wednesday features a popular format known as a ‘kill race,’ as the teams of two matched up against each other must queue into a Quads lobby together, so while they’re technically teammates in-game, they are opponents for the purposes of the tourney. Teams will have to get as many eliminations as they can, and after two Warzone games, the duo with the more kills wins the match and advances to the next round in the bracket. This tournament is split into two phases – a group stage and final stage. In the group stage, the 16 teams face each other in a single-elimination do-or-die match, with the eight winners moving on to the final stage. This next phase features a double-elimination bracket, which means duos can afford to take one loss and still survive, although trying to make it out of the Losers Bracket is a tall order since the Winners Bracket victors need to only win one match in the Grand Final to be crowned champions. As for the prize pool, the entirety of the $20,000 will go to the winning duo.

Vikkstar’s team wins $20k Warzone Wednesday Week 6 – placements, recap KEEMSTAR / FaZe Clan / GFUEL / NinjaYouTuber Daniel ‘KEEMSTAR’ Keem hosted yet another running of his popular Warzone Wednesday tournament series on April 29, and we’ve got a full recap, final placements, the bracket, and everything else you need to catch up with all of the Call of Duty action. Part of KEEMSTAR’s recently launched KeemPark project, Warzone Wednesday is a weekly competition featuring Call of Duty’s new battle royale. $20,000 and tournament glory were once again on the line as the star-studded list of participants went head-to-head in what was another exciting affair. $20K Warzone Wednesdays Week 6 recap The sixth week of KEEMSTAR’s Warzone competition featured many of the usual suspects teaming up for duos competition. From NoahJ456 and Merk, to King Richard and Clayster, these star-studded pairings battled through multiple rounds of competition until just one team remained. Cruising through the upper bracket, British YouTuber Vikkstar123, and his teammate ‘Itz_WarsZ,’ put on a clinic, toppling the likes of Nadeshot and Cloakzy on their way to the finals. Week 5 winners Tommey and bobbypoff were there to greet them in the final matchup, however. Ultimately, back to back event wins weren’t quite in the cards as Vikkstar and his duo had other plans in mind. After a back and forth series and even a bracket reset, it was Vikkstar and Itz_WarsZ that came out on top in Week 6 of Warzone Wednesdays. Warzone Wednesdays Week 6 Placements (Top 10) When was Warzone Wednesday Week 6? The event was streamed live on KEEMSTAR’s own Twitch channel, which we’ve included below, featuring casters and professional production. It all kicked off at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET / 10 PM BST and went on for several hours until the final winners were crowned. Additionally, most of the players broadcasted their POVs on their own streams, which we’ve also provided below. Watch live video from DrDisrespect on www.twitch.tv Watch live video from NICKMERCS on www.twitch.tv Watch live video from HusKerrs on www.twitch.tv Watch live video from Crimsix on www.twitch.tv Watch live video from summit1g on www.twitch.tv Watch live video from TeePee on www.twitch.tvWarzone Wednesday Week 6 bracket A full bracket for the event can be found on the Warzone Wednesday website and is being updated throughout the day as results from different matches come in. Players & teams Warzone Wednesday is usually a star-studded affair and this running of it is no different. Participating were some of the biggest names in gaming content creation, including the likes of Ninja, Dr Disrespect, NICKMERCS, Vikkstar, Nadeshot, and more. Last week’s winners, Dallas Empire pro Tommey and streamer bobbypoff, attempted to defend their crown after beating NoahJ456 and MerK in the week five Grand Final. Ninja & Dr Disrespect – KYR SP33DY & SideArms – Castro1021 & Crimsix – KingRichard & Clayster – NICKMERCS & Swagg – Nadeshot & Cloakzy – TypicalGamer & TeePee – KeemPark Qualifers – Summit1G & Censor – NoahJ456 & MerK – Trainwreck & Felo – GreekGod & LyndonFPS – bobbypoff & Tommey – Vikkstar123 & ItzWarsZ – Symfuhny & DougisRaw – Diegosaurs & HusKers – Format & rules Warzone Wednesday is a double-elimination tournament that employs a format commonly known as ‘kill-race,’ as the teams matched up against each other in the bracket must queue into a Quads lobby together, so while they’re technically teammates in-game, they are opponents for the purposes of the tourney. The objective is to try and get more eliminations than the other team, and after two standard Warzone games, the pair with the most kills advances to the next round. Read More: Chipotle Challenger Series 2020 – As is standard with double-elimination competitions, the team that makes it out of the Winners Bracket will have to just win one series in the Grand Final to be crowned champions, while the Losers Bracket winner will have to win two. As for the prize pool, the entirety of the $20,000 will go to the winning team, so two players will end the day each $10,000 richer.

Vikkstar’s team wins $20K Warzone Code Red tournament – results, recap Infinity Ward / BoomTVCode Red’s latest Warzone tournament pit some of the biggest gaming personalities against one another in a huge multi-day bracket. The winners walked away with $20,000 for a charity of their choice. Here’s how all of the action played out. Infinity Ward’s battle royale continues to be one of the most popular on the market today. Some of the biggest content creators on the internet get together every now and then to compete in major events and the latest Code Red tournament was no exception. Day one of the competition kicked off on June 15 with a Duos kill-race, while June 16 saw Duos competing in a standard 2v2 bracket. If you missed any of the action, we’ve got you covered with all of the results and a full recap below. Code Red $20K Charity Warzone tournament recap The current Duos world record holders, Aydan, MuTeX finished among the top two teams throughout the kill-race. They qualified for the second day of competition along with relative newcomers, ‘Gangstazsalute and ‘Yungstaz6.’ In the very first round, streaming superstars and Call of Duty icons alike all matched up right out of the gate. DrDisrespect and FormaL immediately went up against Nadeshot and Tommey in a close match. Just seven eliminations split the teams but ultimately, it was the two-time and the former world champion that made it through. Former Warzone event winners HusKerrs and Symfuhny were there to meet them in the second round and proved to be too strong. Ultimately, it was three-peat Warzone Wednesday champs Vikkstar and ItzWarsz that cruised through their tournament run. They made it to the grand finals unscathed, where they fought in a rematch against HusKerrs and Symfuhny. This final series proved to be the closest matchup of the entire event. The very first map came down to the wire with just two kills putting HusKerrs and Symfuhny ahead. They carried that momentum through to the second map and managed to reset the bracket entirely. After a grueling struggle, it was Vikkstar and ItzWarsz who took home first prize, despite going down early in the very last map. Code Red Warzone tournament placements When was the Code Red Warzone tournament? The latest Warzone spectacle began on Monday, June 15, and came to a close on Tuesday, June 16. Both days kicked off at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET and lasted for over five hours. The Code Red event was livestreamed on the official BoomTV Twitch channel, which we’ve included below. A large majority of competing players also streamed their own POVs, some of which we’ve added down below too. Full bracket For a full rundown on how every match played out, here’s a look at the finalized bracket for the event. You can check the official BoomTV site throughout each Warzone event to see the brackets updated in real-time. Players and teams The most recent Warzone event featured all of the popular Call of Duty icons you’d come to expect. Along with a heaping serve of streaming stars as well. Here’s a list of all competing Duos that made it through to the second day of the competition. Vikkstar & ItzWarsZ – DrDisrespect & FormaL – Nadeshot & Tommey – Symfuhny & HusKerrs – Gangstazsalute88 & Yungstaz – TeePee & DougisRaw – NICKMERCS & Swagg – Mutex & Aydan – Format & rules The event featured a simple structure that saw Duos competing for the most kills. Two Duos would load into a match together and drop in separate locations. The race was then on to secure as many eliminations as possible throughout the match. This was a double-elimination bracket, meaning that teams had two-chances to fight their way through to the finals. As for the prize pool, $20,000 was on the line for the top three teams to donate to charity.

Vikkstar’s team wins third Warzone Wednesday – Week 8 placements, recap KeemPark / FaZe Clan / GFUELDaniel ‘KEEMSTAR’ Keem’s Warzone Wednesday tournament series continues to be a fan-favorite, and the YouTuber has brought it back for its eighth running on May 13. Competitive Warzone has captivated the attention of many Call of Duty fans over the past couple of months, and Warzone Wednesday has been a big reason for this surge in popularity. Back for the eighth week in a row, KEEMSTAR’s competition once again, brought together some of the biggest names in the world of online gaming for an intense 2v2 tournament with $20,000 on the line. $20K Warzone Wednesdays Week 8 recap The eighth week of action saw new duos rise through to the final matches while many former winners fell behind. Week 5 victors Tommey and Bobby Poff dropped to fourth place this time around with 143 kills combined. Vikkstar and Itz Warsz, back to back Week 6 and Week 7 winners, were hungry for the three-peat. They pushed all the way through the upper bracket, toppling the likes of Ninja and Dr Disrespect, alongside former champs in Tommey and Bobby Poff. Competitive Call of Duty veteran Crimsix and Fortnite pro Aydan, were there to meet them in the Grand Final matchup, however, and the competition was fierce. After an impressive bracket reset and neck and neck scorelines through until the final map, they ultimately fell short as Vikkstar and Itz Warsz found their third overall win. Warzone Wednesdays Week 8 Placements (Top 10) When did Warzone Wednesday Week 8 start? Warzone Wednesday Week 8 took place on Wednesday, May 13, kicking off at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET. The tournament was livestreamed on KEEMSTAR’s own Twitch channel, which we’ve included below. Read More: All Call of Duty Warzone kill records – Additionally, most of the participants were broadcasting their POVs during the competition, some of which we’ve also added below. Warzone Wednesday Week 8 bracket A full bracket for the event can be found on the Warzone Wednesday website. Here you can view a full rundown of each and every matchup and see how the competition unfolded for all competing duos. Players and Teams As is usually the case every week, the eighth running of this competition was a star-studded affair, featuring top-tier streamers, pro Call of Duty players, battle royale stars, and more. Vikkstar and ItzWarsZ, the back-to-back defending champions after winning Weeks 6 and 7, were back to go for the unprecedented three-peat, although they will had some stiff competition standing in their way. Tommey & bobbypoff – Aydan & Crimsix – Vikkstar & ItzWarsZ – Crowder & CouRage – Trainwrecks & FeLo – Symfuhny & HusKers – Nadeshot & Cloakzy – Tourva & Censor – KingRichard & Clayster – NICKMERCS & Swagg – DougisRaw & TeePee – KYR SP33DY & SideArms – NoahJ456 & MerK – Ninja & DrDisrespect – Skrapz & Speros – Format & rules Warzone Wednesday is a 2v2 competition that features the ‘kill race’ format, which requires the teams of two that are matched up against each other in the bracket to queue into a Quads lobby together – so while they’re technically teammates in-game, they are opponents for the tournament. Duos will have to get as many eliminations as they can, and after two Warzone games, the team with the more kills wins the match and advances to the next round in the bracket. This tournament is split into two phases – a group stage and final stage. In the group stage, the 16 teams face each other in a single-elimination do-or-die match, with the eight winners advancing to the final stage. This next phase features a double-elimination bracket, which means teams can afford to take one loss and still survive. However, trying to make it out of the Losers Bracket can be a tall order, since the Winners Bracket victors need to only win one match in the Grand Final to be crowned champions. As for the prize pool, the entirety of the $20,000 will go to the winning duo.

Vikkstar slams Warzone’s serious hacking plague Instagram, @vikkstagram / Infinity Ward[jwplayer br5AuoVJ]Call of Duty: Warzone has received scrutiny since release for two factors in particular: SBMM and hacking. Now, professional streamers like Vikkstar and Drift0r are decrying how infuriating those intertwined issues have become. Skill-based matchmaking is a part of every competitive game, but the secretive manner in which it’s enforced in Call of Duty — as this year’s iteration lacks a true ranked mode — has annoyed players in both multiplayer and Warzone. Given the nature of hacking in CoD, which can often be hard to recognize, high-level players like Vikkstar have grown frustrated with an unchecked predicament. Warzone just caused me to have a meltdown on stream. I cannot play this game anymore. I don’t mean that it isn’t fun or good or I don’t like it, but rather I cannot participate in the core aspects of the game. Every lobby is filled with hackers & actual gods. I might have to quit — Drift0r (@Drift0r) July 16, 2020 Popular streamer Drift0r decried the state of Warzone, as his experience in higher level lobbies forced a “meltdown on stream” and consideration of quitting the game entirely following deaths at the hands of a litany of both premier, sweaty players and hackers. Hacks in CoD range from the obvious wall hacks and aimbots to more incognito methods, like the Cronus Anti-Recoil Mod, which employs the Cronus Max to subtly improve things like gun recoil in a method similar to “strike packs.” This latter issue is what spurred Vikkstar to reply to Drift0r and lament the state of top lobbies. Perhaps one of the worst parts, is never knowing if you got killed by hacker or not. Questioning whether you misplayed, or never had a chance anyway. Not wanting to use the excuse of calling hacks, despite it being so so prevalent. — Vikkstar123 ★ (@Vikkstar123) July 16, 2020 “Perhaps one of the worst parts is never knowing if you got killed by [a] hacker or not.” As noted by Vikkstar, the prevalence of hackers makes the game a muddy experience. Top players can learn from being outplayed by talented players, but not from being subjected to unfair advantages. In lobbies where both are prevalent, the situation becomes increasingly uncomfortable as streamers don’t want to needlessly cry foul or subject their viewers to constantly spectating their murderers to analyze the possibility of hacking. Infinity Ward has laid out multiple ban waves against presumed hackers, but those have sometimes wrongly banned innocent players while failing to curb widespread hacking. In a stream with “good day” and “positive vibes” in the title, Drift0r’s unrelenting subjugation to good players and possible hackers caused him to reflect upon his 1.77 K/D and express that he is “very actually mad at this, like not just a little bit mad, not just a little bit flustered.” The problem compounds SBMM and hacking prevalence, as players are smacked with the cold hand of inferiority once their statistics have improved enough to reach sweaty lobbies. Countless players have complained about each issue separately, but both work in conjunction to tilt streamers once they hit SBMM’s higher levels. In concurrent games like Overwatch or even Apex Legends, these issues are resolved by developer attention to hacking and the existence of different modes for casual and competitive players: Quick Play and Ranked. In ranked play, your skill tiers are delineated clearly so players know what they’re getting themselves into. Call of Duty’s hacking issues are harder to contain than Overwatch’s console scene, for example, as the latter doesn’t have cross-play or as large a playerbase. Still, Warzone’s most popular players understandably want more resources devoted to the hacking problem and more clarity surrounding SBMM.

Vikkstar reveals why he’s quitting Warzone and when he might return YouTube / Vikkstar123Call of Duty content creator, YouTube personality and London Royal Ravens co-owner Vikram ‘Vikkstar’ Singh Barn announced he is quitting Warzone, and revealed that only a significant update to the game can convince him to return. Call of Duty: Warzone took the battle royale scene by storm with its release on March 10, 2020. In almost a year since its debut, the game has achieved impressive milestones including 80 million downloads alongside millions of hours watched on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Warzone started off strong, but has suffered from a number of issues since its release. Various game-breaking bugs and exploits, along with a rising number of cheaters, have led to more and more criticism from the game’s pro players and content creators. The latest creator sharing their concerns is powerhouse YouTuber Vikkstar. Previously one of the game’s top players and content creators, he announced his departure from the BR and confirmed it will take a lot to bring him back. In a recent video, Vikkstar began by explaining the decline in Warzone-based content on his channel and confirmed hackers are the reason for his move away from Verdansk. “The game is in the worst state it’s ever been,” he noted, calling out the infestation of hackers that have taken over Warzone. “Activision really isn’t addressing how many hackers there are in the game,” he continued. Further, the streamer recounted that, while playing Warzone earlier in the day, he encountered a hacker that was streaming their gameplay – hacks and all – to more than 100 viewers on Facebook Gaming. “They’re a Prestige 2 account with loads of hours on the game, and they’re just sat there hacking and nothing is done about it,” he pointed out. “There’s always more and more hackers,” he went on, echoing the feelings of many other creators when it comes to the large number of cheaters in the game. “It’s in an awful, awful state. This is sad for me,” the creator said as he looked back on his time as a competitor and host of his own Warzone tournament. He also expressed frustration with the failure to address Warzone’s cheating problems, and reiterated that “the player base of the game is now so saturated with hackers.” Read More: Top 20 highest earning Warzone players – “You either laugh or you cry at how sad it is, that this is the state of a game that we used to love and grind every single day,” he went on. Vikkstar then dived into his relationship with Activision, and how he hoped this video might help to bring more attention to the cheating issues. “Even though I’m a CoD Partner, this is a way to reach out to Activision and say ‘This needs to be addressed. Really this needs to be fixed,’” he confirmed. The creator also shared his grim outlook on the cheating situation, and warned that “it truly will be the death of the game.” With no anti-cheat in sight, some of #Warzone’s best may stop competing 😬 Top players @Symfuhny, @TylerTeeP and @jukeyz are, or have considered, taking a break from WZ tourneys — with Sym recently explaining why on stream. pic.twitter.com/oGL7OCQRpp — Dexerto Esports (@DexertoEsports) January 29, 2021 Like Mason ‘Symfuhny’ Lanier’s recent criticisms, Vikkstar then revealed that playing with so many hackers was simply too stressful for him to continue creating content in Warzone: “Perhaps if there’s a new update to the game, we have some new stuff to cover, a new map that will bring me back, but until then it’s so painful to play.” “Hopefully you guys appreciate me speaking up and using my platform for that, and we can kinda band together, amplify this and really put out a message to Activision and Raven,” he went on. After showing his viewers footage of the hacker streaming to Facebook, Vikkstar simply commented “What an absolute joke.” The YouTuber is far from the first creator to voice his concerns about the state of cheating in Warzone, but as a CoD Partner and co-owner of a Call of Duty League team, Activision will likely pay close attention to his criticisms as the cheating problem in Warzone continues to grow.

Vikkstar reveals what Warzone needs to take from Fortnite Activision/Epic Games/Instagram: vikkstagramVikram ‘Vikkstar’ Singh Barn has become somewhat of a phenom since the launch of Call of Duty battle royale title Warzone, and now he’s explained what he thinks the game could take from Fortnite to improve. While Vikk’s days of Call of Duty seemed to be behind him, he’s come back with a bang in Warzone, grabbing multiple world records including highest kill game and fastest win with some of the Atlanta FaZe CDL pros. He’s won multiple tournaments and, at the time of writing, is the highest earning Warzone player in the world. But, he says, the game could do with learning a thing or two from Epic Games’ Fortnite. Fortnite, for many, was their introduction to battle royale, becoming arguably the most popular game of all time and becoming a pop culture phenomenon like no other. It undeniably had a certain level of magic about it, and Vikkstar thinks some of that magic could be taken by the Warzone developers to further enhance their game. In his appearance on the CouRage and Nadeshot show, Vikkstar spoke about the Sidemen, KSI’s latest album Dissimulation and his YouTube career as a whole, before the topic of Warzone came up. While 100 Thieves CEO Matthew ‘Nadeshot’ Haag is also a huge fan of Warzone, he asked what Vikk believes could be done to make the game better. While at first he simply joked that removing Downtown would instantly make the game considerably better, he did come up with a more concise idea. He suggested that Infinity Ward take an Epic Games approach to Warzone, regularly changing the map, introducing new weapons and adding more content to the game. (Timestamp 56:32) Vikk accepts that it would be much harder to implement something like this in Warzone than in Fortnite due to the scale of the game and the developers, with the process likely taking much longer in Warzone, but it’s still clearly something that he believes would help the game infinitely. This would definitely be interesting to see, with an ever-changing Verdansk landscape keeping the game fresh for players, but as Vikk said it could be difficult to implement, especially considering how much more visceral and real the game is supposed to feel in comparison to Fortnite. That said, with Season 4 just around the corner, who knows what we could expect to see?

Vikkstar reveals best Bruen loadout in Warzone Season 4 Vikkstar / Activision[jwplayer br5AuoVJ]If you’re chasing Warzone world records, there are few better players to look to than Vikram ‘VIkkstar’ Singh Barn as he reveals the best Bruen Mk9 LMG loadout for Season 4. The Bruen is seeing a huge boost in popularity during Warzone Season 4, as top streamers, pros and regular players alike are beginning to realize that the weapon is essentially an assault rifle with boosted damage and range – making it a battle royale necessity. If you’re unfamiliar with the weapon, however, you might not know the best attachments to use or what to pair it with to really get the most out of it – but worry not, as we’ve got you covered. If you’re not particularly enamored with our recommended Bruen Mk9 loadouts for Warzone or multiplayer, then Vikkstar might be one of the best players to look to, as a current world record holder for kills in Squads. Vikkstar’s Bruen Mk9 Warzone loadout In a new video, in which the UK YouTuber drops 33 kills, with his team combining for a flat 100, Vikk reveals just how insane the gun can be when used properly. As with most Warzone loadouts, you want to make sure you’ve got a suppressor and extra ammunition on deck, and this Bruen class is no different. Vikkstar uses: Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor – Barrel: XRK Summit 26.8” – Laser: Tac Laser – Optic: VLK 3.0x Optic – Ammunition: 60 Round Mags – He also makes sure to keep an MP5 in his back pocket at all times so he can pull it out during those intense, close-quarters gunfights, as well as giving him a little movement speed boost during the final, moving circles. If you’re looking for a top MP5 class, you can check out NICKMERCS’ “overpowered” loadout that is earning him wins at an unprecedented rate, or check out our complete guide on the best Warzone classes spanning all different weapons and playstyles. It’s also worth keeping tabs on how to unlock the Bruen, as it’s not one you can just pick out of the LMG slot. While it can be purchased from the in-game store, you could also get three kills when an enemy is near smoke with an LMG across 15 different matches. Be sure to have a look at our guide for unlocking the gun to get it done as quickly and easily as possible.

Vikkstar responds to Warzone Wednesday “hacking” accusations VikkstarAfter winning three consecutive weeks of Keemstar’s Warzone Wednesday tournaments, Vikram ‘Vikkstar’ Singh Barn has now responded to the heat received for a clip that fans suspected indicates hacking. Warzone Wednesdays bring together the biggest Call of Duty streamers from around the world to compete for a $20,000 prize. English streamers Vikkstar and Kacey ‘WarsZ’ Channer have now won three consecutive weeks and have drawn a ton of attention for the feat. Part and parcel to that attention is the inclination to seek out competitive impropriety on behalf of the winning duo. Fans were initially content with complaining that Vikkstar and WarsZ were either benefiting from unimpressive lobbies in the U.K. or had reverse-boosted themselves into easier ones. But now a clip is circulating in which a quick Vikkstar flick against a wall is suggested to be an indication of hacking. The clip was initially shared by a Twitter user named “alfie” who asked “What is this?” with a “hacking” hashtag included. https://twitter.com/alfie93023655/status/1261674404905353228 The presumptive concern Alfie may have here is that Vikkstar’s sudden, precise motion denotes an aim hack attempting to lock onto an enemy hidden behind the wall. For controller players, that movement is certainly suspicious. But if you’ve played or even watched any PC FPS gameplay, flicks are entirely standard and don’t engender any second thoughts—even when they are randomly directed toward scouting enemies. Unsurprisingly, when asked if he had ever played an FPS on PC in the replies, Alfie responded “No, I haven’t.” In order to clear his name, Vikkstar provided a simple clarification for why he flicked to the side of a wall: “Everyone keeps tweeting me this…I was scanning for the rest of the enemy squad on the left, while ADS’d so I had magnified vision.” Everyone keeps tweeting me this… I was scanning for the rest of the enemy squad on the left, while ADS’d so I had magnified vision. There wasn’t even an enemy where I aimed to. Believe me, if I was a hacker, it would be a LOT more obvious than that 😂 https://t.co/93bQIi6ICR — Vikkstar123 ★ (@Vikkstar123) May 16, 2020 If you want to put an asterisk on Vikkstar’s victories because he plays in England or because you believe PC players should not be placed in lobbies with console players, that’s your business. But moving a mouse is Vikkstar’s business and, before you accuse him of hacking, maybe check if that’s just him going to work first.

Vikkstar mocks bizarre claims he quit Warzone over fear of being caught cheating Activision/Instagram: vikkstagramPopular streamer Vikram ‘Vikkstar’ Singh Barn has hit out at unfounded claims that he took a break from Warzone out of fear of being caught hacking. On January 30, Vikkstar revealed that he was going to be quitting the game for the foreseeable future. His reason, he explained, was the abundance of hackers in the game, an issue that has been echoed by many of the game’s top content creators. Saying that the game is in an “awful, awful state,” Vikk, a COD Partner and co-owner of Call of Duty League franchise London Royal Ravens, has clearly reached boiling point. While his comments on the game have become widespread, and seemingly inspired the devs to provide an update, some critics have turned the accusations on Vikk instead. Top streamers and players are always going to be subject to cheating accusations. Players such as Nick ‘NICKMERCS’ Kolcheff and Mason ‘Symfuhny’ Lanier are regularly accused of hacking, but it is usually simply a matter of insane raw skill in Verdansk. Vikkstar himself isn’t usually targeted by hacking accusations, but now he’s had to come out and publicly laugh off accusations. He said: “There have been a good few people in my mentions convinced that I have been hacking on Warzone & the reason I stopped posting is because I was afraid I would be caught & banned.” There have been a good few people in my mentions convinced that I have been hacking on Warzone & the reason I stopped posting is because I was afraid I would be caught & banned. It’s both hilarious & terrifying how small-minded people can be. Love a conspiracy theory 😂 — Vikkstar123 ★ (@Vikkstar123) February 3, 2021 Vikk added that the accusations are “both hilarious & terrifying,” calling accusers “small-minded” and laughing at the conspiracy theory. He also responded to a fan who said that there’s “no way he’s hacking” with his aim in true humble Vikkstar fashion. “Facts,” he agreed. “I’m not top tier and I’m very much okay with it.” Facts. I’m not top tier & I’m very much okay with it — Vikkstar123 ★ (@Vikkstar123) February 3, 2021 Obviously, we can’t exactly prove whether or not Vikkstar is hacking, but it seems unlikely given how much he’s fought against cheating. That said, he’s taking the accusations in his stride and obviously sees the funny side in it.

Vikkstar & FaZe pros set blistering Warzone world record for fastest win Activision / Twitter: Vikkstar123Three FaZe Clan Call of Duty pros have been playing a lot of Warzone with the Sidemen’s Vikkstar – and have now broken the world record for fastest win in Verdansk. Vikkstar, real name Vikram Singh Barn, has been running with Atlanta FaZe’s Tyler ‘Abezy’ Pharris, Preston ‘Priestahh’ Griener and Jovel ‘Cellium’ McArthur, and they’ve become a force to be reckoned with in Warzone. On May 24, only a couple of days prior to this incredibly quick game, the team set the world record for most kills in a Squads game with 138, beating the previous record of 121. So a kill got added at the end it was actually 138… pic.twitter.com/8thzD3NeXp — Priestahh (@Priestahh) May 24, 2020 There’s undeniably some magic in the air when these four get together, and they proved it once again when they dropped in and made short work of just about every player they encountered. While this match didn’t end with such an insanely high kill count, the players could barely believe how quick it finished. Before the fourth circle even appeared on the screen, with barely 19 minutes gone, Vikkstar took down the last player left, but they did meet a slight hitch when getting the kill. While the players celebrated and expected the victory screen to appear, nothing actually happened, and the player count remained at 5, meaning there was still one more left. A few moments later, Vikk realized what the issue was: the final player was sat in the Gulag all by himself, and they had to wait for the clock to tick away and him to join the fray before they could celebrate. The timer reached 20 minutes and 4 seconds, which is a frustrating loss of around 45 seconds for the team having to wait for the player to leave the Gulag, but nonetheless it was lightning fast. Though the record for fastest game hasn’t really been tracked up to this point, Vikkstar and his FaZe Clan cohort have set a very high standard for players seeking quick wins. They have challenged fellow players and content creators to beat their time. So, if you’re looking to claim this Warzone world record, you might want to get to work, because under 20 minutes is a seriously impressive accomplishment.

Vikkstar explains why the Grau is still Warzone’s best gun Activision/Twitter: Vikkstar123Sidemen YouTuber Vikram ‘Vikkstar’ Barn has explained why he still considers the Grau 5.56 to be the best gun in Call of Duty: Warzone – despite the modest nerf it received in Modern Warfare Season 4. The Grau in Warzone was, for the battle royale’s first few months, an obvious choice for anyone who wanted to use an AR. It’s minimal recoil and incredible damage made it dominant at nearly all ranges, with many calling for a nerf. These wishes were granted on June 29, when the Grau’s damage and recoil stability were both nerfed. Since then, the Warzone meta has shifted towards the Kilo 141 and Bruen Mk9, but Vikkstar believes the Grau still trumps both of them. In a July 18 YouTube video entitled ‘I was wrong about the Bruen & Kilo in Warzone’, Vikkstar explains that he puts some of his recent struggles in Warzone competitions down to trying to use the Kilo/Bruen combination. “I’m always open to constructive criticism,” he said. “I’m always happy to admit when I’m wrong, and after trying out switching back to the Grau yesterday, I think I might have been wrong… The Grau just suits my play-style a little better.” He went on to explain that the gun’s lack of recoil and excellent iron sights are particular positives. Especially when compared to the Kilo and Bruen, which both require optics for him to use effectively, it means one attachment slot is freed up. Not only does this allow an extra attachment for players using the Grau but, as Vikkstar explains, enables faster and easier aiming too. Read More: How to create a Counter UAV in Warzone – “I have noticed that at long, long ranges it’s not the same gun it used to be,” he continued. “But with the Grau the iron sight is just perfect. It’s at that close range, snapping from target to target, that I’m able to do so easily with the Grau – to the point where for me, I think it is actually the best gun to be using.” While the meta has certainly shifted, Vikk is returning to his old combination of the MP5 and Grau 5.56. Whether others will follow suit remains to be seen, but the discussion surrounding Warzone’s best gun is surely what Infinity Ward were hoping for when they nerfed the Grau.

Vikkstar calls out Warzone devs over hackers after tournament drama Instagram: vikkstagram/ActivisionPopular UK YouTuber Vikram ‘Vikkstar’ Barn has hit out at Warzone developers Raven Software, as hackers run rampant in Verdansk, far worse than he has experienced in any other battle royale title. The hacking problem in Warzone has perhaps been its biggest issue since launching back in March 2020. There are thousands of players running around with wallhacks, aimbot and more, due largely to an inefficient anti-cheat software in the game. Despite numerous ban waves, the problem persists and hackers can simply create new accounts or find alternative ways around their bans, making them pretty much ineffective. After several tournaments were infested with hackers or opponents using map exploits, Vikkstar, among others, called for major change. During his very own Warzone Showdown 2.0, which was running alongside Nadeshot’s $100,000 Invitational, Vikkstar suffered extensively and decided to publicly call for change from Raven. “Ran into several blatant hackers today while competing & was killed by a player that had glitched underneath the map during Grand Finals,” he said in the May 18 tweet. “I have to be honest with you Call of Duty [and] Raven Software this is becoming incredibly tiring. I’m sure other competitors feel the same way.” He continued: “I’ve played H1Z1, PUBG, Fortnite & Apex for hundreds of hours & can count the number of hackers I’ve faced on one hand. I run into the same number on a daily basis on Warzone.” I’ve played H1Z1, PUBG, Fortnite & Apex for hundreds of hours & can count the number of hackers I’ve faced on one hand. I run into the same number on a DAILY basis on Warzone. As for the glitch underneath the map, that’s been in the game for weeks now. It isn’t good enough. — Vikkstar123 ★ (@Vikkstar123) May 18, 2021 This is a sentiment shared by a number of Warzone players, who have noticed a significant increase in cheaters compared to other top battle royale games. Fellow YouTube streamer and 100 Thieves co-owner Jack ‘CouRage’ Dunlop responded to Vikk, saying that “it’s been so bad this week.” Whether or not this changes how Raven and Activision approach the hacking situation remains to be seen. With so many creators, pros, and regular players growing increasingly sick of the cheating situation, it’s fair to say that everyone wants something to be done.

HusKerrs & AverageJoe win Vikkstar $210K Warzone Showdown: finals recap Infinity Ward / Vikkstar / ActivisionPopular YouTuber Vikram ‘Vikkstar’ Singh Barn and the Call of Duty League teamed up to host the biggest Warzone tournament ever, with top streamers squaring off to earn their share of a $210,000 prize pool. After nine weeks of play, HusKerrs and AverageJoe took home the glory. Warzone has attracted many of the top content creators since its launch on March 10, and there has been plenty of online tournaments with the biggest names battling it out. With some of these tournaments organized by the likes of NICKMERCS, Teep, Swagg, and more, it was revealed that yet another content creator would be giving CoD personalities a chance to compete. What is Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown? In conjunction with the CDL, Sidemen member Vikkstar set up his own nine-week tournament, announcing the launch of Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown series on August 22. He also revealed that he would be partnering up to make it the biggest Warzone tournament event yet, with $210,000 in prizing up for grabs — split across all nine weeks of action. With eight weeks of “qualifiers,” featuring 16 teams of duos participating in double-elimination brackets, Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown then ended with a Grand Final Showdown in the ninth week. The first eight weeks all featured $20,000 in prize money and each week’s winners were invited to the final week, where $50,000 was up for grabs. Excited to announce the launch of Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown! I’ve partnered up with @CallOfDutyUK & @CODLeague to create a $210,000 prize pool! The BIGGEST Warzone has ever seen! If you’re a streamer interested in filling a captain slot, please let me know!#CoDPartner pic.twitter.com/W3Hym3hTM7 — Vikkstar123 ★ (@Vikkstar123) August 20, 2020 Who competed in Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown? Some of the biggest names in streaming (and professional Call of Duty) competed in Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown, including Dr Disrespect, HusKerrs, FaZe Swagg, and more. And it all started with some blockbuster matchups set in the first rounds, with Dr Disrespect and Tfue facing off, while Nadeshot and newly confirmed partner Crimsix went head-to-head with another ex-OpTic Gaming member in Merk. You can take a look at the first-round of the winner’s bracket for Week 4 below. Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 1 Recap 16 duos kicked off the first week of Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown. As the biggest Call of Duty battle royale event to date, everyone was pushing the pace and trying to get through to the finals. Some teams were competing together for the first time, like TimTheTatman and Tommey, though others were veteran duos. Many of which have topped the pack at one point or another in earlier Warzone events. One of the most successful competitors in Verdansk, Symfuhny teamed with FaZe Bloo for Vikkstar’s tournament and the duo started with a bang. They cruised through the likes of FaZe Blaze, Tfue, and more in order to gain a spot in the semifinal series. It’s here that they matched up against NICKMERCS and ImNio. They lost this first series but quickly rebounded in the lower bracket to line up a rematch in the grand final. Symfuhny’s duo took an early lead and were able to close the show after a total bracket reset. NICKMERCS and ImNio encountered multiple groups of hackers throughout their run in the grand finals, even through to their very last gunfight in the final map. Ultimately, Symfuhny and FaZe Bloo are the first duo advancing to the Grand Final Showdown in week nine. Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 1 Results (Top 8) Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 2 Recap Second week, same results: FaZe Bloo and Symfuhny went back to back to earn another smooth $12,000 from the Vikkstar Warzone Showdown. The two have already gotten a feel for playing together and that proved an excellent difference-maker, as they popped off and never dropped into the Losers Bracket on their quest to the $12k. When asked who their toughest opponent was, Bloo two high-profile duos they came across: “I’d say Tfue and Wuskin, but at the same time MuTeX and Apex really gave us a run for our money. He then elaborated that the tournament championship would have been a lot harder to come by if they had failed to come back from an eight-kill deficit against MuTeX’s team, because it would have pit them against Vikkstar and Aydan in the Losers Final, a pair which he described succinctly: “That team is nuts.” Ultimately, Bloo and Symfuhny’s road the Vikkstar Warzone Showdown glory continues to be paved, as the team’s consecutive wins make them the most dangerous duo around. Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 2 Results (Top 8) Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 3 Recap A new champion duo is in town. This time, it’s Vikkstar’s longstanding teammate, Warsz, with a new teammate, Dreamzlv, taking home all of the honor and a combined $12,000. 7 fucking years, 7 FUCKING YEARS I’ve waited for this and let me tell you now there is no feeling like it in the world! 2v2 champs in the @Vikkstar123 Tournment with the man @WarsZ! Clutch all day and it’s one for the memory books!!!!!! — Brandon clist (@Dreamzlv) September 11, 2020 And what an honor it was, particularly for Dreamzlv, who took to Twitter after the massive win to celebrate. As he explained, “there is no feeling like it in the world,” and we’re inclined to believe him. The duo had one of the most dominant Warzone tournament runs in recent history, going undefeated, avoiding the Losers Bracket, and taking down a duo of the tournament host, Vikkstar, and the greatest Call of Duty professional ever, Crimsix, to win it all. Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 3 Results (Top 8) Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 4 Recap Another week, another new champion crowned in Vikkstar’s Warzone showdown. Having only cracked into the Top 6 once before, this marked the first time HusKerrs pushed into the final rounds of the tournament. However, it certainly didn’t come without adversity. His duo was knocked into the lower bracket after just one round of action thanks to heroics by Symfuhny and Bloo. It’s here that they rebounded and went on an absolute tear. Five series wins in a row is what they needed, and that’s exactly what they managed to accomplish to book a spot in the grand finals. Taking down the likes of TeePee’s duo along with Vikkstar’s team as well. Week 4 $210k Vikkstar Series CHAMPS w/ the absolute goat @AverageJoeWo 💰💰💰 — HusKerrs (@HusKerrs) September 17, 2020 The final match of the day saw HusKerrs and AverageJoeWo up against Sackzi and Berdydraft who had survived through the upper bracket. Ultimately, the latest member of NRG and his partner were able to get the job done as HusKerrs and AverageJoeWo closed out the victory in week four. Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 4 Results (Top 8) Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 5 Recap Week five may have been the most unpredictable week yet. With the ridiculous duo of Nadeshot and Dashy falling out in the first round of the lower bracket, anything was possible. While many expected teams pushed through the opening matchups, one particular pair made it further than ever before. Call of Duty League casters Merk and Maven are typically involved in Warzone events while on the desk. Analyzing the big events and keeping thousands of viewers entertained all the while. However, in Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown, they’ve been entering each week as active competitors. After a Top Four finish last week, they truly found their form this time around and cruised through the upper bracket undefeated. They knocked out former event winners in Symfuhny and Bloo, along with Jukeyz and UnRational to name a few. They even bested the host Vikkstar and his partner Rated in the semifinals. After rebounding in the lower bracket though, they lined up a rematch and ultimately flipped the results. Vikkstar was able to close out his first winning week in his own event, getting revenge on Merk and Maven. Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 5 Results (Top 8) Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 6 Recap We’re beyond the halfway point in Vikkstar’s massive Warzone competition, with just a few weeks to go before the grand finale. That means every team is taking things up a notch in order to make the top of the bracket and qualify for the big tournament at the very end. Week 6 proved to be one of the most intense weeks yet as a result. Despite winning last week’s tournament, Vikkstar himself along with frequent duo Rated, could not have dropped out quicker. They lost to Crowder and exzachtt in round one before falling to Team Summertime’s Blake and Jorge in the lower bracket. Meanwhile, the likes of Nadeshot, Scump, and Envoy all found their runs come to an abrupt end without winning a map as well. Although they were knocked down early, it was DrDisrespect and ZLaner who went on a phenomenal lower bracket run this week. They won five matchups in a row before ultimately crumbling against TeePee and UnRational in the lower bracket finals. The grand final was therefore set between them and Week 3 winners HusKerrs and AverageJoeWo. Ultimately, the former champions proved too strong this time around, closing the show with two dominant maps. Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 6 Results (Top 8) Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 7 Recap A number of new duos made a name for themselves this week. While controversy around K/D caps was the talk of the town, up and comers took the opportunity to make their mark. From Izak and Leh to BennyCentral and DooM Fifakill, tons of fresh names cracked into the top of the pack this week. Even the likes of Pamaj & Skyz burst into the Top 10 for the first time ever. It was a week full of upsets and surprising results. Among the surprises, Nadeshot also had his best showing this week alongside Rated. Together, the duo found themselves in the upper bracket finals after three consecutive wins against elite competition. It came down to the wire in the final round of the day as they squared off against Aydan and MikeRevolt. Ultimately, the first series led to a bracket reset after a few close rounds. It was during the second Grand Final series that disaster struck. In the middle of a match, with 4 kills already to his name, Nadeshot’s PC crashed. From that point on, they weren’t quite able to regain. Aydan and MikeRevolt ran away with the victory and took home the first-place prize. Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 7 Results (Top 8) Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 8 Recap The penultimate week in Vikkstar’s Warzone competition saw some of the spiciest matchups thus far. The opening round alone had a few original pairings. Nadeshot & Aydan took out Scump & KISMET6. Meanwhile, Lando Norris even jumped into the mix alongside Tommey. While new teams took to Verdansk, a few rivals also squared off in the bracket. Merk & Maven were at it again with another remarkable run. They even knocked Symfuhny & TheDezmond down to the lower bracket. However, they would soon get revenge in the loser’s finals. The final series of the day had Vikkstar himself, alongside Rated, taking on Symfuhny & TheDezmond. Things came to a quick end, however, as the host of the event and his partner blitzed well ahead of their last opponents. Midway through the second map, they were already celebrating as they knew the result was all but locked in. This marks their second overall win in the Warzone Showdown as a duo. Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 8 Results (Top 8) Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown Week 9: Finals Recap The final week of Vikkstar’s Warzone Showdown ended like so many preceding weeks had, with HusKerrs, AverageJoe, Vikkstar, and Rated all in the finals duking it out for the big dough. Ultimately, it was HusKerrs and AverageJoe (aka JoeWo) who took home the gold with a fat win over the host. That means HusKerrs and AverageJoe each pulled in another $15,000 (splitting the $30,000 first-place pool evenly), adding on to their sums from earlier weeks. In total, the duo pulled in $56,000 across all nine weeks, making them the highest earners of the tournament and confident champions. As an added bonus, HusKerrs continues to be the winningest player in Warzone tournaments thus far. $210k Vikkstar Grand Finals CHAMPIONS w/ @AverageJoeWo TURN ME UPPPP 🏆 — HusKerrs (@HusKerrs) October 22, 2020

Vikkstar becomes co-owner of CDL team London Royal Ravens London Royal Ravens / Call of Duty LeagueUK YouTube personality Vikram ‘Vikkstar’ Singh Barn has been officially announced as a co-owner of the London Royal Ravens Call of Duty League franchise. [jwplayer 5XmbOUA5] Vikkstar has been a well-known name in the Call of Duty content space for some time now, having started to build his insane popularity through his Modern Warfare 2 videos all the way back in 2010. More recently, he has become somewhat of a Warzone sensation, including holding the Quads world record for kills with 138, which he picked up while playing alongside then-Atlanta FaZe CDL players Cellium, Priestahh and aBeZy. It’s London where Vikkstar is based, though, and London where he has pledged his commitments, as the Royal Ravens’ parent company ReKTGlobal have officially announced him as a co-owner of the team. In his new role, Vikkstar will launch new content formats, merchandise and promotional activations for the London CDL franchise, and host esports competitions and top Call of Duty: Warzone events. “Evolving from fan to co-owner is not something I thought I would ever accomplish,” Vikkstar said. “When I started streaming, I set out to be competitive, produce fun content and create a community. 10 years later, I’ll now apply that same passion in support of my local team, The Royal Ravens. Can’t wait to see how fans respond to all the exciting plans we have ahead.” As well as helping build the brand outside of the confines of the League itself, Vikkstar will also be co-streaming all London Royal Ravens matches throughout the 2021 season and participating in Call of Duty League Warzone tournaments. Vikkstar’s arrival follows ReKTGlobal’s $35 million funding from Summit Partners in October 2020. The funding has enabled the company to bring on Vikkstar, while catapulting the London Royal Ravens to a whole new level of success as the team enters the 2021 season of the Call of Duty League. “Vikkstar is the rarest of the rare in the streaming world,” commented Dave Bialek, CEO of ReKTGlobal. “With his passion for streaming, entrepreneurial spirit, engaging personality and diverse audience profile, we instantly knew he was the only choice to serve as the face of the London Royal Ravens. As we plan on doubling down on our efforts to grow the London Royal Ravens brand, we’re looking to his guidance to lead us into the 2021 Call of Duty League season and the development of content that resonates with our diverse and rapidly growing fanbase in London, and throughout the world.” ReKTGlobal itself has a number of celebrity investors from within the gaming world and outside of it, including the likes of EDM DJs Steve Aoki and Nicky Romero, Twitch streamer DrLupo, NBA star Rudy Gobert and many more.

Vikkstar and Tommey discover unbreakable Warzone Gas Mask glitch Twitter: @Vikkstar123 / Infinity Ward / Twitter: @Tommey, @DinkaTheMuslimIn a game with professional streamer Vikram ‘Vikkstar’ Singh Barn and the Dallas Empire’s Thomas ‘Tommey’ Trewren, the two Call of Duty professionals discovered a game-breaking Gas Mask glitch. After winning three consecutive Warzone Wednesdays, Vikkstar is no stranger to hacking accusations. So it’s no wonder that he and the boys were quick to have a laugh when one of their teammates, Tommey, encountered a wild glitched Gas Mask while approaching the final circle. In Vikkstar’s video of their gameplay, Tommey’s Gas Mask reaches its breaking point while he’s looting in the gas, but proceeds not to break and, instead, keeps him immune to the gas until the rest of the teams have died—a full five minutes and 37 seconds. Vikkstar is a partnered Call of Duty streamer, YouTube content creator, and the highest earner from Warzone tournaments at the moment. Tommey is a substitute player for the Call of Duty League’s Dallas roster. Both are professionals and have far too many eyes on them to casually cheat on purpose in casual Warzone matches. Still, in the spirit of experimentation, they did test out the full extents of Tommey’s bugged Gas Mask. At about 7:15 into Vikkstar’s VOD, the glitch is encountered and they proceed to see just how far it goes—with Tommey eventually running from Quarry all the way past Lumber, continuously in the gas. Since Vikkstar plays on PC, he has earned his fair share of clips questioned for suspicious content. Understandably, the Call of Duty community is not used to seeing the flick shots regularly found in PC-dominant FPS titles like Overwatch. But neither Vikkstar nor Tommey cheat on purpose (even if they did test this one out once it happened), so this glitch gets lumped into the bag of rare bugs Infinity Ward is tasked with solving. As of yet, it is not included on their Trello Board for community-suggested problems, but that resource is not comprehensive so it’s possible that they are aware of it. As gleaned by other players, it’s possible that the glitch is caused by some interaction with looting while the Gas Mask deteriorates—as Tommey was trying to pick up a UAV right as his mask was meant to crack. Whatever the case, hopefully it’s solved soon, as there could be few more annoying ways to lose than to someone halfway across the map lounging in the gas.

Vikkstar and NICKMERCS send warning to Warzone devs over hacking problem FaZe Clan / Vikkstar / Activision[jwplayer gd7BhumN]Popular Warzone content creators Vikram ‘Vikkstar’ Singh Barn and Nick ‘NICKMERCS’ Kolcheff are reaching the end of their tether with the abundance of hackers in the game. Cheating in Warzone is nothing new; they’ve been evident ever since the game launched and, despite steps taken from Infinity Ward and Activision to find and ban hackers, the problem continues to persist. With many in the community really starting to lose patience, it’s becoming even tougher for the Warzone devs as top YouTubers and streamers are now calling them out and asking for changes to be made — really piling the pressure on. Tweeting during his MFAM Gauntlet Warzone tournament on July 22, NICKMERCS tweeted out that “hackers might actually ruin Warzone,” adding that they “really felt that sh*t” on the day. Hackers actually might ruin Warzone. I know this is nothin’ new, but today we REALLY felt that shit 😂 — FaZe Nickmercs (@NICKMERCS) July 22, 2020 This isn’t a new complaint, and you regularly see the bigger personalities in the CoD scene calling out hackers or addressing the issue, but it is more concerning when the MFAM Gauntlet is actually backed by Activision. Nick wasn’t the only person having a rough day of things, though, as Vikkstar’s July 21 YouTube upload also addressed the issue, saying that he’s sending footage to the Warzone devs in hopes that something gets done. In the video, you can see the footage of Vikk and his teammates facing a team of blatant hackers: tracking them through walls, spin-botting and automatically snapping onto their heads. Timestamp 12:30 As Vikk says at the start of the video, if you watch or play a lot of Warzone, you’ll know how regular an occurrence this is, and even the best players in the world are desperate for the devs to do something about it. There’s hasn’t been a big update on the state of hacking in Warzone for a while, but the situation is clearly getting out of hand and Infinity Ward will want to try and get a grasp on the issue before it’s too late.

Verdansk Warzone return in Black Ops 6 delayed again and fans aren’t happy ActivisionVerdansk’s return to Call of Duty: Warzone is rumored to be set for Season 2 of Black Ops 6. However, that could be subject to a delay and fans aren’t too pleased. When Warzone first launched as a part of Modern Warfare, fans immediately fell in love with Verdansk. The sprawling map has become synonymous with the battle royale, even though it hasn’t been around since December 2021. Over the last few years, there have been rumors that the map would return, possibly in its original form or even rebuilt in a new way. Its set to make a comeback as a part of the Black Ops 6, but has already suffered one delay. Well, now prominent CoD leaker Bob has claimed that the map, which was originally set for the “mid” point of the Black Ops 6 cycle, will actually launch in Season 2. “The return of Verdansk is currently set for Season 2 of BO6/Warzone,” the leaker said. “But could be pushed back further as Raven Software are reportedly behind on their project deadlines.” Even though they’ve gotten an update on their favorite map, some players are annoyed at the news. “It’s crazy how long this map’s return has been dragged out. Not only am I not excited to play on this map anymore, but all this wait has made me not wanna even play COD anymore,” one said. “I love Verdansk, but it doesn’t fix the game,” another added. The possibility of another delay has also made some fearful. “At this point, I’m not expecting it to ever come back and would be surprised if it actually does,” commented another. “They’re probably behind on it because they’re making bulk putrid changes to the map that nobody wants,” another added. Fortnite’s return to OG content sparked a massive resurgence in the game. CoD fans want to see Verdansk do the same. However, the fear that the hype train has been missed is real.

Is Verdansk coming back to Warzone? Black Ops 6 remaster explained ActivisionAfter years of pleas and speculation, Raven Software finally confirmed that Warzone’s original map, Verdansk will return for Black Ops 6. Verdansk was the original map in the Call of Duty battle royale hit and quickly became incredibly popular with the player base. Eventually, in December 2021, 18 months after the game launched, Verdansk was removed and replaced by Caldera, which never quite lived up to its predecessor despite players’ growing calls for a new map. Ever since then, Verdansk has been requested by players across the board, wanting to revisit their old haunts and their favorite drops. Still, it always seemed as though that was an impossibility — unless you want to play Warzone Mobile, in which Verdansk is a playable map. A light at the end of the tunnel is finally in sight. Does Verdansk have a release date? Verdansk in Black Ops 6 does not have an official release date, but Activision confirmed that Verdansk will return to Call of Duty in Spring 2025. Initially, rumors suggested that Black Ops 6 would launch with the Verdansk as its primary battle royale environment. However, on June 27, a leak suggested that the iconic map would launch in the middle of the title’s lifecycle instead. Fears escalated in August when fans got a first look at the new Warzone map Area 99. Players speculated that Verdansk would not return at all since Treyarch focused on developing a new map. The delay leak proved correct, but players no longer have to worry about the iconic map not returning. Looking back at previous choices, Activision redesigned Warzone maps, Rebirth Island, and Fortune’s Keep to modernize them. The devs did not reveal whether they will follow suit with Verdansk or it will be a true remaster with all of the iconic POIs we remember. For more on Black Ops 6, check out our guide on Multiplayer Ranked Play.

Verdansk nuked & blown up in Warzone Season 3 Nuke Event ActivisionIt’s happened. It’s finally happened. The highly anticipated Nuke Event in Call of Duty: Warzone has begun, and the first big moment of the event was Verdansk seemingly getting completely blown up by a nuclear missile. For live updates and streams of this entire event, make sure to stay tuned to our Warzone Nuke Event hub here. The Warzone Nuke Event, officially called Operation Rapid Sunder, kicked off on April 21 at 3PM ET, beginning what will likely be a 24-hour process that leads into Season 3 and the next new map. Players queued into a brand new playlist called ‘Destruction of Verdansk Part 1,’ which saw them load into Verdansk along with a bunch of zombies, forced to battle it out or join the undead in a frenzied battle. At one point, a big countdown appeared on the screen, along with a voice saying, “it is too late for exfil,” after which a cinematic pops up showing a missile emerging from one of the silos and destroying all of Verdansk. 🚨 BREAKING: VERDANSK HAS BEEN NUKED! #WarzoneNukeEvent ☢️ (via @drdisrespect) pic.twitter.com/bQYly8yFXb — Dexerto Esports (@DexertoEsports) April 21, 2021 What’s next in the Warzone Nuke Event? Following the destruction of Verdansk with the missile, Call of Duty released a new blog post that hinted at Rebirth Island (Warzone’s other map) being involved in the next part(s) of the event. “Calling all Operators. This is Rebirth Island Comms Outpost Whiskey broadcasting on all emergency channels. We have just lost contact with Armistice Central Command in Verdansk following a massive spike in radiation. We apologize for breaking decorum… But anyone know what the hell just happened?” New Call of Duty Blog update: Rebirth Island reaching out to Verdansk for comms on what happened…. pic.twitter.com/PLJigmvGP2 — CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) April 21, 2021 Server crashes plague beginning of Warzone Nuke Event Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Destruction of Verdansk Part 1 playlist had its fair share of hitches at the start. Once the lobby timer got down to a certain time, the servers would freeze and crash, sending everyone back to the main menu, where they would have to queue back into the playlist and start it over again. Your Warzone event summary courtesy of @NICKMERCS: pic.twitter.com/Hdfj6nmRPo — FaZe Clan (@FaZeClan) April 21, 2021 Fortunately, Activision were able to patch it up before too long, sending out a quick playlist update that seemingly fixed everyone’s issues and allowed them to enjoy the event without any more crashes.

Verdansk ’84 in Warzone Season 3: all map changes, new POIs & locations, more At long last, Verdansk ‘84 has finally debuted in Call of Duty: Warzone! Everything you need to know about this version of the map can be found below, including all changes, new locations, and more. While it may not be the totally brand-new map that Warzone players were expecting, Activision and Raven Software have completely reskinned the original Verdansk to take it back in time to the 1980s. Officially called Verdansk ‘84, this new version of the map features several new points of interest (POIs) and locations, and whatever’s not brand new has been massively updated to the point where they’re completely different from their pre-nuke iterations. Furthermore, the developers went as far as to touch up and adjust virtually every structure, building, and section of the map. This includes the implementation of better lighting in many areas and an improvement to the overall quality. Every new POI & location in Verdansk ‘84: Summit, Standoff, more Gora Summit replaces Dam The iconic Summit map from the original Black Ops game has made its way into Verdansk ‘84 in place of Dam on the northwest corner of the map. No longer featuring the massive wall of Dam, the area now instead has cable cars that go up and down Summit, allowing players to traverse through the location and all of its buildings a lot faster. Airplane Factory Smack-dab in the middle of the map, Airplane Factory is a brand new POI that helps fill what was previously an empty stretch that was used for nothing more than to pass through. There are several new buildings here now, as well as an airplane that sits in the middle of it – expect this to be a hot zone considering its central location and close proximity to Superstore. Standoff (Farmhouse) Standoff joins Summit as another classic multiplayer map from the Black Ops series being added into the battle royale. While not a whole new POI on its own, Standoff will replace what was previously known as Farmhouse in the Krovnik Farmland area. The rest of Farmland has largely remained the same. In addition to this, a part of Standoff is also the new Gulag – details about this can be found in our Season 3 Gulag walkthrough here. Grid Array This is perhaps the most eye-catching change in Verdansk ‘84; located just to the right of TV Station, Grid Array is a massive, multi-level structure that can be spotted from plenty afar. This gigantic tower has various points that can be accessed by players, giving them a great height advantage and lines of sight that would otherwise not be available at ground level. Old Mine Much like Airplane Factory, Old Mine takes up an area of Verdansk that was previously pretty much empty. Located in the northwest quadrant, just south of Gora Summit, this new location now features buildings and other structures that allow players to get loot while traveling between Summit and the rest of the map. Karst Salt Mines The best way to explain Karst Salt Mines is to call it an extension of Karst River Quarry, located on the very top-right of Verdansk. Quarry has generally been considered among the least popular areas on the map, mainly due to the fact that many of the buildings around it weren’t accessible. The addition of Salt Mines has made a lot of those structures accessible by extending how far players can travel in the location, which should make it a more pleasing drop-zone. All updated POIs & locations in Verdansk ‘84: Downtown, Superstore, more Superstore The map’s hottest drop zone may be getting hotter after the updates that Superstore received in the Warzone Season 3 patch. The redesign of Superstore has cleaned up a lot of the destruction that previously existed there, turning it into a fully-functioning supermarket with neatly organized boxes and no fallen shelves. Raven have also confirmed that Superstore will continue to have a high density of the best loot, so expect it to be hectic when you decide to drop there. Downtown In the previous iteration of Verdansk, Downtown was a polarizing POI due to the high number of camping spots players could take up, such as the countless rooftops as well as dark, internal corners. Now, in the 1984 version, there are far less buildings and some are under construction. The area doesn’t feel as cluttered and players are forced to engage with each other more, rather than sit in places where they could not be effectively challenged. Stadium Stadium has been completely redesigned for Verdansk ‘84; gone is the massive arena that used to adorn the skyline, replaced with a much shorter structure that is still in the process of being constructed. Perhaps the most impactful update to Stadium is the fact that its expansive rooftop area no longer exists. Players cannot camp up there anymore and those traveling in the area no longer have to worry about being sniped from the heavens. Airport What was once a partially-destroyed POI has now been transformed into a fully functioning airport, as all of the damage, destruction, fires and smoke are gone. The second floor of Airport, which used to be inaccessible due to the main building being caved in, can now be accessed and might end up being the most important area of the entire location. There will be good loot there for you to pick up, as well as full cover from the Airport Tower and the annoying players who camp there, who no longer have lines of sight into the main structure. Other changes in Verdansk ‘84: Springtime changes & new lighting When you load into this new version of Verdansk for the first time, perhaps the first thing that’ll catch your eye is how much greener and brighter everything looks. That’s because the entire map is now in full Springtime mode, meaning that there’s a lot more foliage and growth throughout. The time of day is different as well, leading to brighter sunlight and an overall lighter tone to the whole aura of the map. This is part of Raven’s plan to implement more regular environmental updates to Verdansk ‘84 as seasons change, sort-of like what Treyarch would do with the Blackout map. Furthermore, the increased lighting is meant to make it more difficult for players to exploit dark areas and corners, especially when it comes to the Roze skin, which these changes have effectively nerfed. Everything you need to know about Verdansk ‘84 in Warzone Season 3:

Vanguard’s OP “two-shot” BAR loadout is dominating lobbies ActivisionThe BAR is a slower and more methodical Assault Rifle in CoD Vanguard and can be absolutely devastating. That has proved to be the case thanks to a new loadout that seems to bring out its slaying potential. Sledgehammer Games’ Vanguard has a great set of weapons that each offer something a little bit different from gun to gun. Warzone and Vanguard Season 3 has freshened things up a bit more by introducing new guns — the M1916 and the Nikita AVT. Many of the game’s existing guns are still more than viable though, with some being more powerful than others. In this instance, the BAR Assault Rifle is actually a monster of a gun that can become even more devastating thanks to this “two-shot” loadout. “Two-shot” BAR loadout in CoD Vanguard Muzzle: MX Silencer – Barrel: CGC 27″2B – Optic: Slate Reflector – Stock: Removed Stock – Underbarrel: M1941 Hand Stop – Magazine: .50 BMG 30 Round Mag – Ammo Type: Lengthened – Rear Grip: Stippled Grip – Proficiency: Sleight of Hand – Kit: Fully Loaded – Thanks to ItsxPoseidon on the CoD Vanguard official Reddit, a new way of utilizing the BAR to its fullest has been discovered. A few common attachments are found here such as the clean Slate Reflector and M1941 Hand Stop underbarrel, but it’s in other areas where this unstoppable BAR loadout truly comes to the fore. .50 BMG 30 Round Mags are quite frankly obscene for an AR and it’s no wonder the BAR can eliminate opponent’s so quickly. The MX Silencer and CGC 27″ 2B are also instrumental in raising the BAR’s recoil and accuracy to ensure those howitzer-sized bullets are landing, all two of them needed. As ItsxPoseidon commented: “Even if it was a 3 shot [loadout] it would still be S-tier imo.” As with all guns that are left untouched for a long time, the devs will surely cotton on to the gun’s stats and may decide to address its status in future seasons of the game. So you might wanna rock this setup before you miss out!

Vanguard’s failures are a massive warning for Sledgehammer Games’ Call of Duty future ActivisionSledgehammer Games has now led development on three separate Call of Duty titles, but Vanguard’s identity crisis only raises more questions of the studio and its future with the series. The release of Modern Warfare 2 this fall makes it eight years since Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare launched. The 2014 title was Sledgehammer Games’ first as a lead CoD development studio and received a decidedly mixed reaction. They certainly threw themselves into the deep end with CoD’s first foray into advanced movement and came out generally unscathed as fans appreciated the effort, even if the execution was not considered impeccable. However, the two Sledgehammer games that have followed – 2017’s World War II and 2021’s Vanguard – have been received more negatively. In particular, the most recent installment, raises questions about Sledgehammer’s ability to be a lead studio for the Call of Duty franchise. There are rumors that Activision, whose own internal issues have dominated headlines across the last 12 months, have been disappointed by Vanguard and the reception it received from the player base. To some degree this is borne of Warzone’s success but, primarily, it shows an annual installment that has been unable to establish its own identity and, worryingly, a studio with little idea of where they wanted to take their game. Firstly, there is the setting. While WWII was the first CoD since World at War in 2008 to be set in the infamous global conflict (which perhaps helped its sales), there were few calls for a return to the 1940s before Vanguard was announced. Even if the chosen setting is overlooked, the stories told and environments rendered do little to build on the underwhelming aesthetic WWII provided. Both games undoubtedly fall some way short of the powerful and visceral backdrop we were treated to in Treyarch’s WWII effort, World at War. Vanguard also brought back a number of Second World War weapons we’ve seen before in the Call of Duty series. The MP40, STG-44, and Kar98k all returned in some capacity but, alongside other old weapons, these reincarnations lacked conviction and felt like mere imitations of guns we’ve seen before in superior games. There is a stark difference between placating fans with ‘classic’ CoD weapons and rehashing content in such a way that it feels tired from its inception. Perhaps it’s a fine line, but it’s one that Sledgehammer games consistently are on the wrong side of. There has also been a frustrating failure to improve on WWII’s weakest aspects. Maps, both in number and quality, were a major issue in the 2017 title. While Vanguard dropped with an admittedly impressive 16 multiplayer maps, none have stood out as eminently playable or particularly well-designed. Bugs and glitches, across Vanguard’s entire life cycle, have taken far too long to be remedied and seriously impacted the average player’s experience. Ranked Play did not drop until February and new additions – like post-match voting screens – do nothing but unnecessarily slow down the game. The issues are even more difficult to countenance given the fact Sledgehammer had an extra year to develop Vanguard, with Treyarch rushed into developing and releasing Black Ops Cold War in 2020. It’s a game that is torn between historical accuracy and the kind of pop-culture arcade shooter that Fortnite has necessitated Call of Duty become. There was consternation after release, not least from the competitive community, that Vanguard would not feature Trophy Systems. Sledgehammer’s reason for doing so was that Trophy Systems did not exist in the Second World War and so their implementation would be contrary to the immersive environment they were trying to create (they were ultimately added). Simultaneously, skins were released that allowed players to don full swimsuits or become furry animals. I must have missed the history lesson where Second World War troops fought in Scuba Diver cosplay. Season Five, inexplicably, even introduced a version of the EM1 energy weapon that featured in Advanced Warfare. It’s true that as game’s life cycles peter out they often get more creative with content to keep fans engaged, but the contradictions would be frustrating if they weren’t so laughable. To some degree, Activision can take responsibility for the issues too. Uniformity between Warzone and annual installments has caused a host of issues but, where Sledgehammer has been concerned, there appears to have been little in the way of creative oversight. All Vanguard’s issues coalesce and it becomes a game with such a convoluted and contradictory identity it may as well not have one. Black Ops III is the perfect contrast. While its eccentric characters and vivid futuristic environments were not for everyone, it was a game that knew what it wanted to be and executed it. Specialists were diverse and creative, maps were colorful and immersive, and weapons reliably balanced and fluid. It is easier to accept a game that sticks to its principles and fails than a game which adopts an incoherent scattergun approach. Modern Warfare 2 looks set, for the first time in the CoD series, to have a two-year life cycle (although this has not yet been confirmed by Activision). Either way, the earliest Sledgehammer’s next entry can come is 2024, and potentially not until 2025 if MW2 does indeed get a two-year life cycle. In short, there is ample time for the studio to make a comeback with a unique, creative, and excellent Call of Duty game. The problem is that, in the eight years since Advanced Warfare released, we’ve seen little to indicate one is coming.