The patch notes for the transition to the new map “Caldera” of Call of Duty: Warzone are online, and MeinMMO summarizes the key points for you. It seems that there will not be a switch to the Vanguard graphics engine, and the anti-cheat is still delayed.
The first gameplay of the new map “Caldera” from Call of Duty: Warzone can already be viewed online, and the developers at Raven Software have also released the patch notes for the major Pacific update. The key points are:
- Details about the Pacific update
- Introduction of the new map
- Explanations of the old and new game modes
- New Gulag
- New weapons/vehicles/operations
- Fresh gameplay mechanics
- Buffs & Nerfs
- Changes in the settings
The preload for the Pacific update is already online and requires between 40 and 45 GB for download. More details about the transition to the new map can be found here:
Important details about the update – Download, graphics, FoV slider, anti-cheat
What is important to know about the download? Warzone has been offline since 08.12. at 6 AM, and the servers will remain closed for 12 hours – at 6 PM, Season 1 starts, and the new map goes live.
Warzone remains in the old launcher of Modern Warfare, and you need to update CoD MW. The developers indicate the following download sizes:
- PlayStation 5: 44.7 GB
- PlayStation 4: 44.7 GB
- Xbox Series: 41.2 GB
- Xbox One: 41.2 GB
- PC: 37.8 or 69.1 GB (with CoD MW)
With the launch of the new Season 1 at 6 PM, only buyers of CoD Vanguard will have access to the new map. If you do not own Vanguard, you can play only “Rebirth Island” temporarily, and only at 6 PM on December 9 will you access the new map Caldera.
What is happening with the graphics switch? A complete switch to the new Vanguard graphics will not happen after all. Warzone essentially remains as you know it – movement and gameplay feel remain the same, as well as the gameplay perks and your equipment.
However, for example, the new prone mechanic is in the game, which allows you to move back and forth when you are prone at the edge. There may also be more graphic and gameplay mechanical changes that have not been noticed yet.
The first players with early access report that the graphics are better than before, and visibility has also improved significantly. Whether this is due to the new map or if there was a comprehensive graphic update remains to be seen.
What about the FoV slider? Currently, there is no indication that the FoV slider will be available on consoles today at the map’s launch. Its introduction remains uncertain for now – yet it is still possible.
What about the Anti-Cheat? The anti-cheat system RICOCHET is still not fully online with the new map. The kernel driver for the PC will initially come to the Asia-Pacific region and will follow later in Europe.
What happens with Vanguard? Simultaneously with the launch of the new map at 6 PM, the contents of Season 1 from Vanguard will also go online. You can already start the download for that. Information about the contents can be found here:
The new map Caldera
What does the new map look like? Caldera is a picturesque volcanic island in the Pacific and at first glance looks more like a holiday paradise with a flight school rather than a map for a battle royale. Take a look at the launch trailer here:
According to initial reports, the new map offers significantly more cover, fewer dangerous open spaces, and hardly any strong sniper spots. If you want to check out a tour of the map and first impressions, take a look here:
New and old game modes – The playlist at launch
What happens to the old game modes? For the already known game modes of Plunder, Battle Royale, and the modes on Rebirth Island, only minor changes take place. The rules and mechanics are known and only a little different.
There will be an emphasized adjustment to the gas circle in regular Battle Royale – the circle closes at a slower speed, but the times between circle closures are shorter. Overall, however, the length of the match remains the same.
The loadout drops and gulag also function slightly differently: When you return from the gulag, you retain your gulag weapons. Loadout boxes can only be purchased after the first free box has fallen from the sky.
Additionally, for now, you must do without the new vehicles from the Pacific update. Airplanes are available only in the Vanguard modes at launch.
What new game modes are available? Right from the start, and apparently also later, there are special Vanguard game modes. They currently feel a bit like mode labs, where the developers want to test some things that players celebrated during the event mode “Operation: Flashback”.
Additionally, the weapon selection is limited to Vanguard weapons, and the new vehicles of the Caldera map are available only here for now. Here are the rules:
Mode Rules Vanguard Royale
- Airplanes and anti-air trucks are in the game
- Only Vanguard weapons are allowed
- Modern equipment is not allowed
- Primary equipment
- Tactical equipment
- Some killstreaks
- Some field upgrades
- Regular bomb strikes on teams
- Larger circle at the start
- With each new gas circle, an in-match event starts
At launch, there is also the mode “Vanguard Revival”. The rules here are similar to those on Rebirth Island – if a player goes down, but a team member is still alive, then the player comes back into match. At least until a certain point in the game.
Additionally, the gas circle at the start of the match is much smaller and there are only 48 players on the map.
Playlist for the release of Caldera
- Vanguard Royale – Solo, Duo, Trio, 4-player
- Vanguard Revival – 4-player
- Battle Royale – 4-player
- Plunder – Trio
- Rebirth Island (for 24 hours)
Compact Gulag on the new map
What does the new Gulag look like? The first Gulag on Caldera is tiny compared to its predecessors. A small, makeshift house in the middle, a few mine carts and tracks – that’s it. Prepare for fast respawn duels.
Similar to the popular “Iron Trials”, you can also keep your weapons from the Gulag after winning.
New weapons, vehicles, events, and operations
What new weapons are available? With the launch of the Pacific update, Warzone has become heavier by nearly 40 weapons. From day 1, all firearms from the new CoD are available in Warzone:
- 7 Assault Rifles
- 6 Submachine Guns
- 4 Light Machine Guns
- 3 Sniper Rifles
- 3 Marksman Rifles
- 4 Shotguns
- 5 Pistols
- 4 Rocket Launchers
Initial analyses show that the weapons mostly retain their values from the Vanguard multiplayer. The ammunition conversions are less strong, but the base versions are very similar to those in the multiplayer.
Throughout Season 1, 5 new weapons will be added – including another SMG and an assault rifle. You can find the complete list of the release weapons from Vanguard here:
What new vehicles are there? The new vehicles are currently only available in the “Vanguard Royale” mode, and there are a total of 3 unused drivable vehicles:
- Utility Truck – with a large loading area or anti-air weapon
- Combat Plane – an airplane with 2 seats and MGs
- Squad Transport – Open, fast military vehicle
What new operations are available? On Caldera, there are 3 new operations that will allow you to gather time and cash:
- TOP SECRET
- A random operation that rewards you with more cash
- Big Game Bounty
- Bounty hunt that marks the player with the most kills. Only visible in the first circle on the map. Cannot mark the same target twice in a row.
- Loadout Drop
- A loadout box lands somewhere on the map – the box is only marked for you, but all teams can make use of it.
What new events are there? Random in-match events will also remain on Caldera. There will be 4 new types of these in the normal game modes:
- Restock
- Refills emptied supply crates
- Revival
- A phase where team members respawn immediately after a death
- Cash Drop
- Boxes with a cash load fall from the sky
- Heavy Weapons Crate
- Powerful weapons with meta setups can be found in these crates
New gameplay mechanics
What new gameplay mechanics are there? The big gameplay updates such as airplanes, gulag changes, and the adjustments when purchasing a loadout drop have already been explained. But there are also three more adjustments that provide new options on Caldera:
- Walkable water
- Gas canisters and buffed gas masks
- Special ammunition disappears completely
Water: False water is no longer deadly, and you can walk approximately up to your waist in the water. If you want to leave the map from a beach towards the sea, you will not go down directly when the water gets too deep – you will receive a message to return to the map.
If you are knee-deep in water, you will benefit from the effects of the perk “Cold-Blooded”. Additionally, players with the perk “Tracker” cannot read your tracks. If you throw thermite or a Molotov into the water, it causes a smoke effect.
Gas: You will now find canisters on the map that emit gas when you shoot at them. The canisters can be moved, thrown, and even attach to drones. The effects on enemies are similar to the gas outside the gameplay area.
Additionally, the gas masks are getting buffed. Animations like reloading, throwing grenades, or inserting plates now prevent the immediate start of the gas mask animation.
The developers clarify that they are keeping an eye on the mask. Players who are not in the gas should still have an advantage over gas mask holders.
Special ammunition: After the spawn rate of the very strong field upgrade has already drastically decreased, the mechanic will disappear completely with the release of Caldera.
Buffs and nerfs of equipment
What buffs will be implemented? At the start of Caldera, there are no changes to the weapon balance. However, many pieces of equipment have been altered. The following equipment is now stronger:
- Claymore: Damage increased from 150 to 200
- Fragmentation Grenade: Damage increased from 70 / 140 to 112 / 225
- Molotov: Damage per tick increased to 24 / 36 / 43 and duration extended to about 12.5 seconds
- Proximity Mine: Damage increased from 200 to 225
- Semtex: Damage increased from 70 / 140 to 74 / 150
- Throwing Knife: Chest and headshot hits are now one-shot kills (250 damage)
- Decoy Grenade: Now fires several rubber projectiles, each with 1 damage
- Snapshot Grenade: Radius increased from 14 to 28 meters
- Stim: Now provides a movement boost of 3 seconds
The different damage values depend on how far you are from the impact area.
What nerfs will be implemented? Currently, almost all the nerfs affect equipment. However, there are also changes to melee weapons:
- At least 3 hits are now required for melee finisher damage
- Recon drones: Now cost 6,000 instead of 4,000 cash
- Dead Silence: Time for field upgrades is only renewed on the first kill
- Heart Beat Sensor: A sensor ping now lasts 6 seconds instead of 3 seconds
- Stun Grenade: Duration decreased from 4.7 / 5.5 to 2.5 / 4.5 seconds
Additionally, there are many nerfs for melee weapons from Black Ops Cold War. If you want to take a look at the adjustments yourself, you can find the English patch notes here (via ravensoftware.com).
Adjustments to the settings
What changes are there to the settings? Finally, there are a few adjustments to the settings, inspired by the new CoD Vanguard.
For example, the settings have been partially rearranged, and on PC, you will now find the tabs “Quality” and “Display” under the graphics settings. Additionally, more settings for the dead zones of your input devices and sensitivity have been added.
Warzone is changing a lot with the Pacific update and the start of the first shared season with Vanguard. However, not as much as had been partially expected before.
Especially the new information about the anti-cheat may not be received so well. However, the new map makes a good impression right from the start, and the first reactions are extremely positive.
What do you think about the adjustments? Feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts on the Pacific update.
