Is CoD Warzone worth it again with Season 3?

Call of Duty: Warzone received the best update since its release with the launch of Season 3 – still, the battle royale suffers from some problems. Under the banner of “Find Your Next Game”, MeinMMO takes a closer look at the current state of the shooter and shows whether it’s worth diving in for beginners and veterans alike

What’s going on with Call of Duty? Since the release of CoD Mobile and Modern Warfare in 2019, the franchise has evolved more towards games-as-a-service.

CoD MW and the current Black Ops Cold War are still full-price games, but new gameplay content comes to the game for free and there is now also a free-to-play title that brings the refined CoD gunplay for free on PC and console: Call of Duty: Warzone.

The battle royale shines with fast-paced gameplay, innovative BR mechanics, and a large variety of different weapons. However, it also struggles with problems:

• Bugs, glitches, and errors in the game are common
• Cheaters regularly ruin cool gaming nights around the world
• Communication regarding changes to the game leaves much to be desired
• The integration of Cold War into Warzone is viewed critically by many players

Recently, the joint Season 3 kicked off with the premium title Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and Warzone received a major update. There was a comprehensive map update of the main map “Verdansk”, many weapon changes, and fresh challenges with which you can unlock cosmetics.

Some voices in the community consider the Season 3 update to be the best patch of Warzone ever. Longtime CoD expert and YouTuber “TheXclusiveAce” says in his English video (via YouTube) – “I think this was the best weapon balancing update in a CoD for a very long time.”

But is that enough to be exciting for returnees? And what about beginners?

MeinMMO shows you why Warzone is a better game with Season 3 and whether it might be worth checking out.

Season 3 brought the best update yet …

Why was the update so good? After a boring Season 2 with little new content and a monotonous weapon meta, Season 3 really took off and brought:

• A comprehensive map update of the main map
• A live event lasting over 25 hours for the map change
• Many desired and good changes to the weapons
• Better communication during the update

There have long been rumors of a nuke event, which would clear the map Verdansk with a nuclear weapon to make way for a new map.

It wasn’t quite like that. Verdansk did not completely disappear, but was replaced by a “younger” version – Verdansk ’84. The map is different in many places, has new hot spots, and in some locations feels like an entirely new map.

For the nuke event, the leaks and rumors were correct: the “modern” Verdansk was nuked. Through a live event with two special modes, players could experience the downfall of Verdansk live. Indeed, some Warzone players can now call themselves “The Destroyers of Verdansk”. The winners of the second event mode launched rockets at the city with their victory.

Equally important and good were the changes to the weapons.

Since the introduction of Cold War in Warzone in December 2020, the tactical rifles of the new CoD title have been a power in the battle royale. First, the DMR 14 and later the AUG dominated Warzone and even caused small protests in “the real world”. There was also the assault rifle FFAR 1, which dominated close combat with its low time-to-kill. This made the weapon meta very one-sided. At a certain level, only these weapons were played.

With the Season 3 update, everything is different now. The nerfs demanded by the community were consistently implemented, and more weapons are now considered “top-tier”. There are even a few new candidates for the top. Additionally, the developers commented on the most important changes in the English patch notes (via ravensoftware.com). On the topic of weapon balancing, this was a significant step in the right direction.

Overall, this was a really strong update – possibly even the best so far: There’s a lot of new content to see, a fresh weapon meta to discover, and a positive signal in communication. All things that many players have long wished for from Warzone.

… but the update was far from perfect

What wasn’t so good? The positive aspects of Season 3 come with a certain aftertaste, especially for players wanting to experience the nuke event:

• The live event ran poorly
• There was only one map update
• Old bugs reappeared
• Cheaters remain a problem

The introduction of the new map was a disappointment for many players. There were massive server problems when the event modes were online, and the event times were also not optimal in Germany. The first mode “The Destruction of Verdansk – Part 1” lasted over 2 hours, while part 2 only lasted an hour – both starting at 9 PM. There were players who stood in the queue for the entire time and missed the event.

The event is over, and the current Season 3 will not be further affected by it. However, the start of the season is burdened by it.

Another point is the map changes themselves. Warzone ran for a year with only one large map, which only received small changes over time. A stadium opening here, a moving train there. And even though Verdansk ’84 comes with innovations at many locations, it remains just a map update. It remains to be seen how long this can keep players engaged.

As for bugs and glitches, Warzone isn’t on the right track either. Although unfair bugs like broken sniper scopes have been more or less fixed, old bugs are coming back, like players under the map who eliminate their enemies unseen.

Additionally, the cheater problem remains acute. The developers regularly post on Twitter about how many cheat accounts they have banned and give hope for a better, cheat-free future.

But there can still be no talk of a real improvement in the cheater plague in Warzone. Players still frequently encounter others using cheat programs and enjoying almost perfect precision with aim-bots and/or can see their enemies through walls.

Season 3 does a lot right, but Warzone is burdened and continues to struggle with problems that players have been complaining about for months.

Warzone offers beginners an innovative battle royale

Is it worth it to jump into Warzone? The free battle royale is a full-fledged CoD title. If you are into battle royale and wish for top-notch gunplay in a rather realistic setting, then you should check out Warzone. It offers:

• Huge map with 150 players
• Solo, duo, trio, and quad battle royale
• Tons of weapons
• Loadouts to bring your own weapons into the match
• The Gulag – A respawn duel
• Cash system to buy equipment
• Reviving teammates
• Contracts that keep the match moving

The frequent respawns and mobile CoD gameplay make Warzone a fast-paced battle royale with a lot of action if you go for it.

Warzone’s biggest concerns are currently more technical in nature. There are some issues with game bugs and unfortunately, cheaters are something that should be mentioned in a Warzone recommendation.

However, Warzone itself is a really strong battle royale that can provide a lot of fun. Especially for newcomers, Warzone offers a lot to do, overwhelming you with a huge selection of weapons and provides three extensive leveling systems:

• Battle Pass with 100 levels (free and premium paths)
• Account level to unlock equipment and prestige rewards
• Weapon level, through which you unlock attachments for your firearms

The matchmaking system initially ensures that you mostly play with players who are on your level. The better you get, the stronger your opponents become, and the weapon meta becomes more important. However, especially for newcomers, Call of Duty: Warzone offers a new and varied experience for fans of “battle royale” mechanics.

Warzone is a battle royale for casual play, not for grinding

Should veterans check it out again? A look at the changes is absolutely worth it for the new map. There are quite a few new locations, but also familiar areas that give a feeling of security.

Additionally, there are changes to the weapons. Currently, players are once again looking for the next hit, which has brought a certain dynamism to the weapon selection. You see players with the Grau, M4A1, M16, but also newcomers like the FARA 83, Krig 6, or the Sykov pistol, which has found an akimbo niche in close combat.

However, if you want to grind Warzone like at release, problems arise. The longer you play, the more the small annoyances become apparent. Whether it’s players lurking under the map or just cheaters ruining your mood with impossible headshots – the more ambitious and the more you play, the more Warzone can disappoint you.

Currently, it’s more of a shooter for casual play, not for deep dives. A night here, an hour there – for more Warzone, you currently need strong nerves. However, in the time when it runs without incidents, Warzone at the start of Season 3 is genuinely fun.

What does the future hold for Warzone?

The battle royale is a cornerstone of the CoD franchise and is expected to be developed further over the coming years. Each new premium “Call of Duty” has an impact on the gameplay and story of Warzone.

The current Black Ops Cold War brought more than 30 new weapons into the game and a new, smaller map – Rebirth Island. The current map update is also inspired by the “Cold War” setting, and Warzone now takes place during this time period.

According to the developers, this is expected to continue. Each current CoD title influences Warzone, bringing new story, new content, and fresh winds. In between, map updates and content from live seasons are meant to keep the game fresh.

In terms of communication, cheaters, and bugs in the game, the developers are optimistic and regularly announce new records for player counts (via Twitter). Creative Director Amos Hodge from developer Raven Software said in an interview with the US site “VGC”: “I can tell you that we at Raven are ramping up like crazy” (via videogameschronicle) and makes major announcements for the coming weeks and for the mid-season update of Season 3.

However, the future of Warzone will also depend on whether players remain similarly optimistic. Because despite the best update of all time with Season 3, Warzone falls short in important aspects:

• Little content in the first year
• Cheater elimination insufficient
• Annoying bugs reemerge
• Communication could be much more open

Conclusion: Season 3 shows what Warzone can achieve