Call of Duty: Warzone serves as the franchise's answer to the free-to-play battle royale trend, and while this spin-off can be a solid way to enjoy the series in a fresh light, there is still room for improvement. Since launching in 2020, Call of Duty: Warzone has boasted a variety of seasons and special events, but there is one defining issue that continues to frustrate many of its players.

One of the biggest problems that Warzone faces is its maps. In other Call of Duty games, there are a variety of maps to choose from when playing multiplayer, but Warzone keeps things simple, and that's not always a good thing. Recently, this has led some players to demand the return of old Warzone maps, as the current lineup has grown stale for many.

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Call of Duty: Warzone Players are Calling for the Return of Fortune's Keep and Vondel

  • Season 3 of Warzone launched on April 2, 2025.
  • This season marked the return of Verdansk.

As of now, Rebirth Island and Verdansk are the only maps available in Warzone, which makes the player frustration that much more understandable. Fellow battle royale title Apex Legends boasts a variety of small and large maps for players to enjoy, while the king of the genre, Fortnite, regularly changes its map. Rebirth Island serves as the small map, while Verdansk is the big map, and only having two choices to experience for months at a time can quickly grow old.

Granted, the return of Verdansk was incredibly exciting, as it was the first time the map had been featured in Warzone since 2021, but that doesn't mean the game wouldn't benefit from more consistent variety. Rebirth Island was originally vaulted back in 2022 and was reintroduced in 2024, and despite the hype surrounding the return of both maps, only having two options becomes more repetitive than exciting.

Warzone keeps things simple, and that's not always a good thing.

Rebirth Island Should Be the First to Be Vaulted

Since Rebirth Island has been out an entire year longer than Verdansk, the smaller-scale map is more deserving of a break. There are plenty of maps, both large and small, that are currently being kept in the vaults, and it would be the simplest way for Raven to shake up the experience. Granted, Rebirth Island's alternative, Fortune's Keep, can be divisive, but frankly, any map can be divisive, depending on player preference. If not Fortune's Keep, a brand-new map would be an even better way to keep Warzone fresh.

Every Warzone Map Currently in the Vault

  • Al Mazrah
  • Area 99
  • Ashika Island
  • Caldera
  • Fortune's Keep
  • Urzikstan
  • Verdansk '84
  • Vondel

Only time will tell if Warzone replaces Rebirth Island with either Fortune's Keep or a brand-new map. Now that Black Ops 7 is waiting on the horizon, the next entry in that series could potentially inspire a new map, but that remains to be seen. Even with the game's tendency to let maps overstay their welcome, Warzone continues to retain players. The Call of Duty franchise remains a massive entity, even when the series makes controversial decisions.

A release date for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has yet to be revealed, but it's slated for later this year. Rumors and leaks have suggested a November launch, but such claims should be taken with a grain of salt until confirmed by Activision.

Making a change to Warzone's smaller map would be exciting for a lot of players, but there are also plenty who enjoy playing Rebirth Island. With such a large player base, it can be difficult to keep everyone satisfied, but with Rebirth Island being present for over a year now, a change of scenery might do Warzone some good.

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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™.

Genre(s)
First-Person Shooter, Battle Royale