Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0

Similar to its predecessor, in Warzone 2.0's primary game mode, Battle Royale, players compete in a continuously shrinking map to be the last player(s) remaining. Players parachute onto a large game map, where they encounter and eliminate other players. As the game progresses and players are eliminated, the playable area shrinks, forcing the remaining players into tighter spaces. A new feature in Warzone 2.0, Circle Collapse, allows multiple circles to spawn within the map, which close independently of one another, before converging into one single safe zone. Like the first Warzone, upon death, players are sent to the "Gulag", a small-sized arena where killed players battle one another for a chance at respawning into the map. In Warzone 2.0, Gulag matches were initially introduced in 2v2 format, and included an AI combatant called "the Jailer", whom players can hunt down to acquire a key and escape, in addition to the traditional method of winning Gulag matches. This change was reverted for Season 2 to the original 1v1 format, while the Jailer is also removed in favor of the overtime point capture system. In-game cash currencies also return, allowing players to buy various items at several buy stations scattered across the map, including custom loadouts with personalized weapons and perk setups.

Artificial intelligence (AI) combatants are featured more prominently in Warzone 2.0, as they defend various strongholds throughout the main map. Players can choose to engage in combat with the AI-controlled enemies in order to seize the strongholds and gain access to the loot items within.

A new extraction game mode, named DMZ, is also featured at the release of Warzone 2.0. In DMZ, players battle against both AI-controlled and player-controlled opponents while attempting to exfil with loot they found within the playable area (also known as the Exclusion Zone). Players start out with a limited inventory, which allows storage of extracted loot from matches; said inventory can be expanded by completing Faction missions, allowing for more guaranteed loadout weapon slots or the opportunity to unlock base weapons and cosmetic rewards, usable in both Warzone 2.0 and Modern Warfare II.[6]

In Season 2, Warzone 2.0 features the return of Resurgence, a game mode in which player combatants can respawn and rejoin matches after being killed, provided that at least one member in their squad remains alive following a short cooldown period. Squad members can help reduce the cooldown period by completing contracts or killing other players.[7]

Season 3 reintroduces the game mode Plunder, in which teams have to search for stacks of Cash scattered around the map to accumulate $1 million. Once found or if time is almost up, the game goes into overtime, multiplying all Cash sums by 1.5. The team who has gathered the most money when the clock runs out is declared the winner. Players respawn automatically in this game mode. In addition, for the first time, a Ranked competitive mode is introduced in Warzone, developed in partnership with Treyarch using the official Call of Duty League ruleset.[8]

In addition to shared progression with Modern Warfare II, Warzone 2.0 also features shared cross-platform progression and social aspects with Warzone Mobile, a new Warzone title made exclusively for mobile devices.[9]

Al Mazrah is a large desert-themed map with nearly 20 points of interest, and is used as the primary Battle Royale map. The map is larger compared to previous Battle Royale maps in Warzone, a la Verdansk and Caldera, and features more water-based areas, allowing players to take advantage of new swimming and underwater combat mechanics introduced in Modern Warfare II.[10]

Ashika Island is a small-sized Asian Pacific-themed map, which serves as the primary locale for the Resurgence mode. The map notably features several surrounding water-based points of interest, complemented by Japanese towns, markets, and a castle area at the center.[11]

Building 21 is a DMZ-exclusive location, accessible only by acquiring a specific keycard item looted from the Al Mazrah map in DMZ. Unlike Al Mazrah and Ashika Island, Building 21 is only open for access during the weekends. In this small map, noted for having increased difficulty compared to other DMZ locales, players battle against heavily armored Shadow Company mercenaries as well as each other.[12]