There's no doubt that Verdansk has revitalized *Call of Duty: Warzone*, bringing a fresh burst of energy to the game at a critical moment. Previously, the internet had declared Activision's battle royale, now in its fifth year, as "cooked." However, the nostalgic return of Verdansk has flipped the script, with the online community now proclaiming Warzone is "back." Yes, Activision did nuke Verdansk in the past, but that hasn't deterred players. Both lapsed players, who remember Warzone as their go-to game during lockdown, and the loyal fans who've stayed with it through every update over the past five years, agree that Warzone is more enjoyable now than it has been since its explosive launch in 2020.
This return to the game's roots was a calculated move by developers Raven and Beenox. In a comprehensive interview with IGN, Pete Actipis, game director at Raven, and Etienne Pouliot, creative director at Beenox, delved into the collaborative efforts behind bringing Warzone back to its former glory. They discussed the strategy behind the revival, the popularity of Verdansk's Casual mode, and whether they contemplated restricting operator skins to mil-sim to recreate the authentic 2020 experience. They also addressed the pressing question on everyone's mind: is Verdansk here for the long haul?
Continue reading to uncover the answers.
