Summary
- Leaked footage reveals Sledgehammer Games was once developing a battle royale mode for Call of Duty: WW2.
- Call of Duty's first battle royale mode was introduced in 2018 with Black Ops 4.
- 2020 saw the release of Call of Duty: Warzone, a new battle royale experience that has become one of the most popular in the genre.
A new leak suggests Call of Duty: WW2 developer Sledgehammer Games was once working on a battle royale mode for the 2017 shooter. While Call of Duty: WW2 could have been the first entry in the franchise to implement such a mode, it was Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 that would make the leap into the battle royale genre, followed by the monumentally successfully Call of Duty: Warzone, which launched in March 2020.
While most Call of Duty fans will be familiar with Warzone, which quickly took over the battle royale genre in 2020, going toe-to-toe with the likes of Fortnite and Apex Legends, Black Ops 4's Blackout mode was Call of Duty's first attempt at the mode. Similar to many other battle royale titles, Blackout allowed players to drop into one of two maps, either solo or with teammates, loot weapons scattered around the island, and be the last one standing. Plenty of Call of Duty fans will have fond memories of "the original Warzone," but it looks like a battle royale mode was almost implemented before the release of Black Ops 4.
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Call of Duty: WW2 Battle Royale Footage Leaks
Although it won't go down as one of the greatest entries in the franchise, Call of Duty: WW2 launched with some spectacular modes that were loved by fans. Despite WW2 already breaking the typical Call of Duty formula by implementing a Headquarters Hub, an epic new War mode, and more, Sledgehammer Games was also reportedly working on a battle royale mode. Despite being almost eight years old, new footage has been shared on Twitter by user Liam of a supposed battle royale mode for Call of Duty: WW2. Given that development on the mode was never completed, the footage doesn't show much, but it is interesting to get a glimpse at what could have been the original Blackout or Warzone.
Unlike Blackout, which was tied to Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Warzone is a free-to-play title that can be downloaded by anybody on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. As the title is its own separate entity, it is regularly updated with new content and gameplay changes. Although not directly tied to one specific game, each new mainline Call of Duty game is fully integrated with Warzone, meaning content such as weapons, battle passes, and more are shared between two titles simultaneously. The latest integration was with the hugely successful Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which brought some big gameplay changes to Warzone, such as a new omnidirectional movement system.
Unfortunately, while it remains one of the most popular battle royale games on the market, Call of Duty: Warzone is in a dire state right now. While a new season is on the horizon, with plenty of improvements already confirmed by Activision, the publisher did reveal that there would be less content than originally planned for Call of Duty: Warzone Season 2. The studio says this is to prioritize new gameplay improvements, bug fixes, quality-of-life updates, and more. Season 2 launches on January 28 for both Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 78 /100 Critics Rec: 70%
- Released
- August 25, 2017
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Sledgehammer Games, Raven Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Engine
- iw
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Call of Duty
WHERE TO PLAY
Call of Duty® returns to its roots with Call of Duty®: WWII - a breathtaking experience that redefines World War II for a new gaming generation. Land in Normandy on D-Day and battle across Europe through iconic locations in history’s most monumental war. Experience classic Call of Duty combat, the bonds of camaraderie, and the unforgiving nature of war against a global power throwing the world into tyranny.
Call of Duty®: WWII creates the definitive World War II next generation experience across three different game modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Co-Operative. Featuring stunning visuals, the Campaign transports players to the European theater as they engage in an all-new Call of Duty® story set in iconic World War II battles. Multiplayer marks a return to original, boots-on-the ground Call of Duty gameplay. Authentic weapons and traditional run-and-gun action immerse you in a vast array of World War II-themed locations. The Co-Operative mode unleashes a new and original story in a standalone game experience full of unexpected, adrenaline-pumping moments.
