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Activision announced on 22nd June that it is shutting down Call of Duty: Warzone also known as Warzone Caldera. The publisher noted that the developers of Call of Duty will focus on Call of Duty content including the current Warzone free-to-play game. Notably, when Warzone 2 was launched in November 2022, Activision allowed players to play Caldera and now it is forever closing the doors on the iconic Call of Duty: Warzone title. This has angered and disappointed a lot of the players.
Here’s what Activision had to say about this move.
What is Call of Duty Warzone Caldera?
Call of Duty Warzone 2.0 launched in November 2022 as a separate experience from the original Warzone. Warzone Caldera, the original game, was released in March 2020 for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One as a part of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) and was subsequently connected to 2020's Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and 2021's Call of Duty: Vanguard.
However, despite the introduction of Warzone 2.0, many players were reluctant to move to the latest Warzone title, which offered a brand-new map, new modes, new gameplay, and major user interface (UI) changes among others. In an attempt to lure them, Activision offered the players Caldera, where the original Warzone experience and all its cosmetics would remain. But this is all changing very soon.
When Is Call of Duty Warzone Caldera Shutting Down?
On 22nd June, Activision announced that Warzone Caldera would be shutting down on 21st September. In a blog post titled “An Update on Call of Duty Warzone Caldera,” Activision stated, “As Warzone moves ahead with exciting new experiences to come, Warzone Caldera will shut down on September 21, 2023. All Caldera gameplay, player progression, inventories, and online services will expire on that date.”
Warzone Caldera will completely shut down on 21st September. Notably, the shutdown does not affect the multiplayer in Modern Warfare 2019, Black Ops Cold War, or Vanguard, nor does it affect Warzone 2.0.
The publisher appealed to those players who have not jumped over to the current Warzone 2.0 activities. It said, “Expect a vast amount of gameplay choices across three Battle Royale maps (including Season 04’s new map Vondel), as well as Ranked Play, the DMZ Beta featuring five different Extraction Zones, BlackCell offerings, and more.”
Additionally, Activision revealed that there is a new era of Battle Royale on the go with the launch of Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, which includes a shared Battle Pass and cross-progression.
