Summary

  • Call of Duty: Warzone players report that their games are freezing or crashing during loading screens.
  • In some cases, this is leading to unwarranted in-game penalties.
  • The developers are currently working on a fix.

Relief is on the way for Call of Duty: Warzone players experiencing lobby crashing issues. The update comes after users reported their games were freezing or crashing during loading screens, leading to unwarranted in-game penalties in some cases. While the underlying glitch remains unpatched for now, Warzone issued a quick fix so the game won't penalize people experiencing lobby issues anymore.

2024 was a big year for the Call of Duty franchise, but it hasn't been an easy ride for developer Raven Software in recent months. In late December, Warzone matchmaking temporarily went offline after an accidental update, and players have repeatedly reported problems with cheating and bugs. Now, the new year is off to a rough start for the game, too, thanks to a frustrating new issue.

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8 Changes Call of Duty: Warzone Needs To Avoid Losing Players

Call of Duty: Warzone often sees a drop in player count following each integration. Here are eight changes the game needs to counter this trend.

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Warzone players have reported that their games are freezing or crashing during loading screens, prompting Raven Software to begin investigating the crashes on January 6. While the company's public bug-tracking board on Trello still shows the glitch is unresolved, the devs have eased the situation a bit. In a January 9 Twitter post, the developers announced they would temporarily suspend Skill Rating penalties and timeouts for players who disconnect before joining a Ranked match. Players had previously expressed outrage over Warzone suspensions from the glitch, so this update should at least make the issue less infuriating for impacted users.

Call of Duty: Warzone Developers Have Responded to the Lobby Crash Issue

Before the update, anyone whose game crashed could lose hard-earned SR points and be unable to join a new match for several minutes. Humorously, Warzone players demanded the early leaving penalty a few years ago, but now that it's part of the game, it's triggering some issues when bugs like this one cause people to unintentionally drop out. Raven Software's temporary suspension aims to address both sides of the problem. Getting booted before the match starts won't result in a penalty, but players who leave halfway through will still be penalized.

While players are still waiting for a permanent fix, the penalty update does make the problem less urgent. Many fans may still be less than enthusiastic about the situation, however. Bugs continue to persist even after Warzone issued a massive update in early January 2025, and any disruption to Ranked play is sure to ruffle some feathers, regardless of the surrounding circumstances. The Call of Duty: Warzone team certainly has their hands full with bug fixes and patches at the moment, but hopefully they can resolve them before too long.

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call of duty warzone
9 /10

Call of Duty: Warzone
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First-Person Shooter
Battle Royale
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 78%
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Released
March 10, 2020
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Violence
Publisher(s)
Activision
Engine
IW 8.0 & IW 9.0 (Warzone 2.0)
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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Welcome to Call of Duty®: Warzone™, the massive free-to-play combat arena which now features Urzikstan, Rebirth Island and Fortune’s Keep.
Turn the Heat Up
Prepare to take the battle to a new metropolis in the all-new Urzikstan map, the new big Battle Royale map. Jump in to celebrate the epic return of Rebirth Island and Fortune’s Keep, two Resurgence maps that are sure to excite veterans and newcomers alike.
Loot For Rewards
Discover supply boxes and complete contracts to build your arsenal and gain a tactical advantage.

A Game Pass Core subscription is not required to play Call of Duty®: Warzone™. All other online modes still require Game Pass Core.

A mobile phone number may be required to be linked to your Activision account to play Call of Duty®: Warzone™.

Cross Save
YES
Franchise
Call of Duty
Steam Deck Compatibility
no
Genre(s)
First-Person Shooter, Battle Royale
How Long To Beat
30-36 hours
X|S Optimized
YES
PS Plus Availability
N/A
OpenCritic Rating
Strong