Anti-cheat, new map and more: the new Call of Duty brings four important changes to Battle Royale.
Call of Duty: Vanguard has dropped the covers – and the reveal of the new CoD should also elicit loud cheers from many Warzone fans. Because solutions for the biggest problems of Battle Royale are finally in sight!
Warzone currently suffers primarily from cheaters. But there have been many more fronts on which the game has struggled, especially since the release of Cold War. Technical problems, balancing difficulties and more. Now the tide may finally be turning: We explain the most important changes and give you our take on how they’ll play out.
4 reasons why Vanguard is good news
The Anti-Cheat
What was announced? Along with the new map (more on that in the next paragraph), an anti-cheat system is finally coming to Warzone! There is no exact release date yet, but it should be ready by 2021 – probably during Season 1 of Vanguard. The developers are already stepping up the pressure in the fight against cheaters:
Our take: If a Warzone player found a magic lamp that granted them a single wish – they would have pretty much chosen an effective anti-cheat. Unbelievable the masses of cheaters and hackers that have been out and about over the past few months. For many players a reason to turn their backs on Warzone completely, because for a long time it looked like the developers were ignoring the game’s biggest problem.
This innovation alone could be the salvation of Warzone – because the cheater problem is by far the biggest danger of all for the Battle Royale. The competition was clearly ahead of the game, Fortnite even relies on two different anti-cheats.
If the developers can finally get to grips with this, they will win back a huge pile of lost trust from the players in one fell swoop. The occasionally really bad mood in the community could finally turn into enthusiasm again – I’m looking forward to it! Now it just has to work, the anti-cheat.
The new map
What has been announced? The new Warzone map will be released before the end of 2021 and will naturally fit the WW2 setting thematically and visually. The developers promise new features, according to credible rumours the map will be even bigger than Verdansk. Most likely, it will again be composed of multiplayer maps from the main game, of which Vanguard already has 20 at launch. Further information will be published in the course of the next few weeks.
Our take: A new map was – after anti-cheat – by far the most requested feature from Warzone players. Many were disappointed by the superficial changes that Cold War brought – “just an Instagram filter” was read everywhere. And unfortunately the criticism was not too far-fetched, apart from a few nice new places like the grid array, nothing really changed. After two or three matches, you got tired of the richer colours and the disadvantages became apparent – blindingly bright sunlight, for example.
I am probably the only one who will really mourn Verdansk, but even I have to admit: The time for something new is overripe. Other Battle Royales have long left Warzone far behind in terms of map variety and diversity. Let’s hope the race to catch up starts now!
The Developers
What has been announced? This time there is no change in Warzone management, Raven Software remains the developer studio in charge. That was different last time – at the launch of Cold War, Infinity Ward passed the torch to Raven Software. Which unfortunately went over rather bumpily.
Our take: Raven Software has been getting mixed feedback since they took over Warzone. On the one hand, many of their decisions on balancing or new content have not been popular. On the other hand, they have massively improved the communication with the players, if you compare it to the silent times of Modern Warfare. In the meantime, they deal with problems more openly and even take big leaks surprisingly calmly.
The takeover of Warzone was certainly not easy for Raven Software, especially since they also had to manage the complicated link with Cold War. Only in the last few months do I have the feeling that they have found their vision for Warzone and are now determinedly pursuing it. That’s why I think it’s fantastic that there is no change of developer this time, but that Raven remains at the helm with all the experience she has gained.
Of course we want to know your opinion: What do you think of the whole thing? Which change gives you the most hope for Warzone? Or are you fundamentally critical of the Vanguard release? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
