Call of Duty: Warzone 2 may not have received an official reveal just yet, but plenty of information has been leaking about the upcoming battle royale game. It will supposedly introduce several features that its predecessor lacked, such as NPC-filled Strongholds and an interrogation mechanic. Unsurprisingly, though, the most interesting leaks have been about its map.
With most fans disappointed in Caldera, the current Call of Duty: Warzone map, it is no wonder that many are eager to learn what the sequel’s play space will be like. While it has the chance to be as big of a hit as Verdansk was, it could also disappoint like Caldera did. Fortunately, a leaker has shared an image that shows all the points of interest that Warzone 2 will supposedly offer, and the drawn-up map manages to boast major differences to Verdansk as well as some exciting parallels.
Warzone 2’s Map Has a Much Different Layout From Verdansk
The biggest thing that fans will likely notice about the new map is that it has some areas that will resemble Verdansk’s points of interest. For example, a modern city will take up a good chunk of the map. A quarry will also be featured, allowing for some verticality within the map’s design. An Airport is present, too. However, all of these locations are placed in spaces that differ from where they could be found on the Verdansk map.
On the southeast side of the supposed Warzone 2 map, the airport can be found, which is far different from its positioning to the west of Verdansk. The quarry is found where the Verdansk airport was, which is a change from the Verdansk quarry’s northeast positioning. Lastly, the city takes up a majority of the eastern side of the map, which differs from Verdansk’s city since that was found in the center of the play space. The positioning for these areas is likely intentional, as Call of Duty: Warzone 2’s developers will not want the map to feel too much like what came before.
Despite a few similar areas, the new map is largely comprised of fresh locations. A harbor, an observatory, and a mountain town will all appear. Marshes are also present despite an oasis supposedly existing to the north, making sense of the recent Blackout comparisons. Like the Blackout map, players could be seeing a mix of deserts, cities, and marshlands in one map. A graveyard is also listed, which could serve as a fun replacement for Verdansk’s Boneyard point of interest.
Warzone 2’s Map May Feature a Massive Body of Water
The most obvious difference between the new map and Verdansk is the large body of water found to the south of the leaked play space. While Verdansk had a bit of water, it was kept to a minimum and left outside the map boundaries. This is because the original Call of Duty: Warzone lacked a swimming mechanic, meaning that players stepping into too much water would be fatal.
While Caldera allows players to wade through some waist-deep water, it does not let them do anything more. Thankfully, Call of Duty: Warzone 2 will finally introduce swimming to the mix. With such a large body of water to the south of the new map, completely surrounding the dock, shipwreck, and port points of interest, it can be assumed that sea combat will be a big part of the new map. Boats and jet skis will likely be usable, and the final circle may even end up in the water from time to time, creating a truly unique final battle.
A Greater Focus on Iconic Areas in Warzone 2’s Map
The biggest difference between Warzone 2’s leaked map and Verdansk is the increased focus on nostalgia. The original Verdansk featured entirely new locations, with the developers opting to deliver a completely fresh experience with the original Warzone map. In the sequel, players can expect to see several familiar areas alongside new locations.
While no points of interest feature names of classic Modern Warfare 2 maps, several leaks have indicated that said maps will indeed feature within the points of interest. For instance, mountain town will supposedly incorporate the beloved multiplayer map Favela. Caves will include Afghan, likely expanding upon that map’s interior areas to feature a larger cave system. Quarry will supposedly be the exact same as the MW2 version, just with some additional areas. Highrise will apparently be accessible at the top of a skyscraper in the city, while Terminal will feature prominently in the airport point of interest.
With so many maps from the origina l Modern Warfare 2 expected to feature in this new play space, perhaps there are some other areas from old games that have not even leaked yet. For instance, Oasis was the name of a visually stunning map from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and a larger version of that area could make for a neat point of interest. Shipment could easily be worked into the Docks area, and post-launch Seasons could introduce more areas based on classic Modern Warfare maps as well.
Obviously, all Call of Duty: Warzone 2 leaks should be taken with a grain of salt, as some information could be false and changes can be made prior to release. Still, with the leaked map coming directly from Tom Henderson, a source that has been proven right on numerous occasions, it might end up being accurate. If the real map is like the drawn-up version, then fans already know plenty about it. Based on what is seen in this leak, the map will likely feel distinct from the ones fans have played on thus far. While some similar points of interest will be featured, their layouts will be different, and many areas will also pull from old school Modern Warfare multiplayer maps. With swimming set to play a big role, too, the new map is shaping up to be quite different from the one that started it all.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2 is currently in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.