The future of Call of Duty’s battle royale mode, Warzone, could be in jeopardy if the return of Verdansk fails to reignite player interest, according to recent leaks.
The beloved map’s comeback is seen as a last-ditch effort to retain the game’s dwindling player base, and if it flops, Warzone might not continue beyond 2026.
Warzone’s Declining Player Base Raises Concerns
December marked one of the steepest declines in Warzone's player count in years. On Steam alone, the battle royale suffered a massive drop, losing over 102,000 players - equating to a staggering 32.6% of its active base. Streamers and community members pointed to rampant cheating and persistent performance issues as key reasons behind this exodus.
In response, developer Raven Software made the difficult decision to delay new content in Season 2, opting instead to focus on quality-of-life improvements to stabilize the game. Fans reluctantly accepted the trade-off, holding out hope for the rumored return of Verdansk, which was expected to debut in Season 3.
@RavenSoftware Congrats! It only took your complete brainless retards 4 years to finally realize that lowering player count is not good for warzone! Wow! A lot of progress so far guys really good job!
— Tuplicate (@SigmaTuplicate) February 28, 2025
However, optimism quickly turned into frustration when Season 3 was unexpectedly delayed. While no official reason was provided, leaks suggest Activision is taking extra time to ensure Verdansk's revival is a resounding success - because the future of Warzone could depend on it.
Leaker Suggests Warzone’s Future Hinges on Verdansk’s Success
According to reliable Call of Duty leaker TheGhostOfHope, Warzone 3 may not launch alongside the next mainline CoD title in 2026 if Verdansk’s return fails to sustain both current and returning players.
EXCLUSIVE Details for Modern Warfare IV (2026):- No Old Gen support- Traditional UI like the older games (More traditional than BO6)- Engine being overhauled to address MWII problems like "visual clutter" etc.- Being developed on Dev Kits for the Next Xbox- No "Warzone 3"... pic.twitter.com/xzmdjiDARd
— Hope (@TheGhostOfHope) March 3, 2025
This would mark a significant shift for the franchise. Since 2020, every annual Call of Duty installment has been accompanied by a new iteration of Warzone, solidifying its status as a core component of the series. If Activision were to abandon the battle royale format in 2026, it would bring an end to that five-year streak, signaling a potential pivot in the franchise’s direction.
The rumored shift may also explain why Activision delayed Season 3 by two weeks. In its official statement, the company underscored the importance of this update, stating:
“Season 03 is a big moment for Call of Duty: Warzone and Black Ops 6, and we’re taking the time to deliver a great experience starting on April 3.”
Despite the heightened anticipation, there is no guarantee that Verdansk alone will be enough to turn things around.
Is Verdansk Enough to Save Warzone?
The return of Verdansk has been one of the most requested features since the map was removed, but nostalgia alone may not be sufficient to restore Warzone's former glory. Players have repeatedly voiced frustrations over deeper issues, including server instability, lackluster anti-cheat measures, and an overcomplicated gameplay experience.
No warzone 3 if verdansk does well? Hmm maybe make a working anti cheat and player count would go up ;) @Activision
— Zachariah (@Zachariahxg59) March 4, 2025
Furthermore, recent player counts paint a concerning picture. In February, Call of Duty’s average Steam player count dropped to 54,575 - the lowest since tracking began in October 2022. Even with Verdansk’s revival, it remains to be seen if returning players will stick around long enough to reverse the game’s downward trajectory.
Warzone shutting down would be the equivalent of Fortnite being shutdown. It's way too big of a game mode now for COD to just end and stop producing content for. I just don't see it happening and would be shocked if it did. I also think Verdansk will bring back a ton of players.
— Brae (@MatchesMqlone) March 4, 2025
If the battle royale fails to recover, Activision may be forced to make the unprecedented decision to exclude Warzone from its 2026 plans and Modern Warfare IV. Whether that means a complete shutdown, a significant overhaul, or a shift toward a different multiplayer experience remains unknown.
For now, all eyes are on Season 3 and the impending return of Verdansk. If the map doesn't deliver, it may spell the end of Warzone as players know it.