Summary
- Caldera, the South Pacific-themed map in Call of Duty: Warzone, will be shutting down on September 21, 2022, as Activision focuses on future content for Warzone 2.0.
- The shutdown of Caldera means that players will no longer be able to use their Warzone skins and cosmetics in the battle royale mode after the map is gone.
- Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as though Caldera will be getting a proper sendoff like Verdansk, did, leaving fans disappointed as the last of the original Warzone maps disappears.
Fans of Call of Duty: Warzone’s Caldera map had better enjoy it while they can, as Activision is shutting down its servers on September 21. This won’t impact Modern Warfare, Cold War, or Vanguard’s normal multiplayer modes, but today’s the last day for Caldera.
The original version of Call of Duty: Warzone launched in 2020. Initially part of the Modern Warfare reboot, it combined that game with the subsequent Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Call of Duty: Vanguard. Caldera was added to the game in December 2021, replacing Verdansk ’84, which had itself replaced the original Verdansk map. Trading Eastern Europe for the South Pacific, the World War 2-themed map features dense forests, caves, and a lot of water.
Caldera is also the last playable map in the original Call of Duty: Warzone, with Fortune’s Keep and Rebirth Island disappearing after the launch of Warzone 2.0. However, this won’t be the case for much longer, as developers are shutting it down on September 21st. It’s unclear precisely when Caldera’s servers will go dark, but some expect it to happen around 10 AM Pacific/1 PM Eastern when Warzone usually schedules updates. That’s far from certain though, so fans who want to say goodbye should get the most out of Caldera now while they have a chance.
Activision originally announced Caldera’s shutdown in a blog post in June, citing the need to focus on future content for Warzone 2.0. Unfortunately, Caldera was the only way for fans to keep using their Warzone skins and other cosmetics after 2.0 launched. While players can still use purchased items in Modern Warfare, Cold War, and Vanguard, fans won’t be able to use their skins in battle royale after Warzone’s Caldera map shuts down. Activision’s blog post also clarified that Caldera’s shutdown won’t affect progression in Warzone 2.0.
Unfortunately, there is no indication that Caldera is getting a proper sendoff like Warzone’s Verdansk map did. 2021’s Last Hours of Verdansk saw the city destroyed in a final climactic battle, with a fleet of bombers reducing Verdansk to ruins. This event incentivized players to return one last time, provided a narrative reason for why they couldn’t come back, and capped off Verdansk in a big way. Some were hopeful that Caldera might get a similar sendoff, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
Caldera fans still have Ashika Island if they want something that at least somewhat resembles the older map. Still, it obviously isn’t the same, and it’s unfortunate to see the last of the original Warzone’s maps go.
Call of Duty: Warzone is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Source: Activision