Call of Duty: Warzone is reviving the Battle Royale map that started it all: Verdansk. It’s only three years since the player last fell into the iconic POI of his beloved location. So I took the time to highlight that biggest change.
Verdansk does not have individual buildings that players have spent hundreds of hours dodging (and taking) bullets. So, veterans who played OG Warzone maps when it was released in 2020 will find that the rivers and structures have almost completely changed, as inspired by Ukraine. It’s a map you know, love, and built from scratch to match the updated PlayStyle introduced in Black Ops 6, squashing some of the more notable issues players have met over the years.
“This version of Verdansk has been painstakingly reconstructed to provide the best battle royale experience possible,” Actiction explained in a blog post. “The experience balances the immersion you remember from the original Call of Duty: Warzone, the tuned movement mechanics, and the gameplay of the signatures you remember.
Kit out
The publisher behind Call of Duty says that Warzone’s return to roots includes a “95%” accurate version of Verdansk in its original launch build. It has been more than three years since the map was discontinued in the second half of 2021. Naturally, the team felt that at least some adjustments needed to be made that should not interfere with its nostalgic design.
Of course, one rule of thumb is to benefit from improved lighting that follows the visuals seen in last year’s Black Ops 6. Upgraded visuals at a level of detail can also be found at Grazna Bridge and in the general fire stations. Another example of cosmetic changes to the iconic location of Verdansk adds weed issues on the roof of Storage Town, more reflective puddles, and electrical plumbing.
Your average Call of Duty fan will not notice the additional blades of grass added to the random field next to the northwest side of the stadium, but what they will notice is the adjustment of the surface level design to several individual POIs. Storage Town Building 3 explains that The Actionision is being given a ladder to nerf the previous location as an “unfair power position.” Some similar structures also invest in the addition of ladders, so players discover that other locations, such as hangars, have rearranged vehicles and additional covers.
Verdansk has been reheated
Even if you spent 100 people in the first incarnation of Bardansk, none of these aforementioned changes are a true game changer. However, to accommodate things like Omnimovement and Swimming Mechanics in Black Ops 6, Verdansk had to undergo some changes a little more than the skin.
Traditionally a highly snowy map, Verdansk, had a slight rise in temperature, resulting in the melting of a previously frozen river. This means you can swim in some of the deeper waters, such as the Castobian Sea. And sprinting through some of the deep rivers up to your ankle will make more noise when it’s polluting the map. Also, affordable vehicles are given facelifts to ensure there is no confusion as to whether they can be used for a quick vacation.
Plus, the steep, rocky trails and cliff sides where you and your friends almost certainly died before you and your friends are tweaked to be more tolerant of the running players. You will also notice that tall structures like electric poles have been slightly shortened, with fewer annoying descents to Worsonne. If you find yourself questioning the tree placement on April 3rd, know that the Activision team has adjusted the tree placement a bit and shaken things up.
On the other hand, a bullet or explosion can cause the door to respond much more dynamically to surrounding actions, as it can sway in either direction depending on where the impact occurs. The Ascenders, which were previously featured in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2019, but added post-Verdansk removal, have also been modified to make it easier to reach some of those difficult roofs.
heads up
While these changes may seem like a lot when everything is spreading, Actionision repeats that the “majority” of Verdansk 2025 has been revived as “one-to-one duplication.” Examples of areas that remain largely untouched are Kalstriver Quarry and Superstore, which look the same inside and outside.
Meanwhile, the video game-like aspect of Call of Duty: Warzone’s nostalgia play attempts to return to the emotions players felt when they stopped in Battle Royale mode in 2020. That means everything comes back from the OG helicopter to the nearby chest ham to its classic loading screen.
Just as other experiences like Fortnite provide the latest in classic products, Call of Duty appears to be here to offer its own version of one of the most popular moments. So, while things like lighting adjustments may seem insignificant at first, Activision wants players to know, for example, that infamous Roze skin, for example, these changes have been made. If everything happens as expected, the reintroduction of Bardansk may provide a definitive way to experience its map.
Call of Duty: Warzone will bring back Verdansk on April 3, 2025. This will be released one day after the introduction of Black Ops 6 Season 3 and will continue for a period of one day after the player. When users launch Warzone on the release date of Verdansk, they can enjoy a special limited time event called Return To Verdansk to Verdansk, which comes with unique cosmetics, sprays, operators, weapons and more.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor to Passthecontroller. He is best known for his work on sites such as Pitch, Fugitive, and Only sp. Be sure to provide him with followers on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@mikecripe).
