Players of Infinity Ward and Raven Software’s Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera received some sad news earlier this week when it was revealed that the free-to-play shooter would soon be shutting down its servers. With the 2022 sequel Call of Duty: Warzone 2 currently in the spotlight and a new entry in the franchise rumored to be released later this year, some players had already begun preparing themselves for the game’s inevitable end. And while the announcement that Call of Duty: Warzone is shutting down on September 21 is sure to be disappointing for fans of Activision’s battle royale title, in hindsight it seems clear that the legacy shooter’s days were numbered from the very beginning.
From a lack of updates and support to Activision’s clear desire for paying players to make the switch to the sequel, it’s been apparent for quite some time that Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera was never meant for a long life. And although fans of the first Warzone and its sometimes controversial Caldera map will undoubtedly mourn the game’s passing, from the moment that the announcement trailer for Call of Duty: Warzone 2 was first released it seemed inevitable that its predecessor wasn’t long for this world.
Warzone’s Caldera Map Got Off to a Rocky Start
Despite eventually winning over many players of Activision’s Battle Royale franchise, Call of Duty: Warzone’s Caldera map was initially met with a frosty reception by some gamers. When Call of Duty: Warzone replaced the popular Verdansk map with the island-bound battlefield of Caldera many players immediately expressed their frustration with the decision, pleading for Raven Software and Infinity Ward to reconsider.
Besides their initial trepidation, though, many Call of Duty: Warzone players eventually warmed up to Caldera and the new tactical opportunities it allowed. Beyond just changing up the scenery, the Caldera map also introduced some notable gameplay changes to Call of Duty: Warzone.
While changes such as the ability for players to quiet their footsteps by walking through shallow water were welcomed but not necessarily revolutionary, others like the ability to retain your weapons after winning a Gulag fight helped to dramatically and positively alter the pace of gameplay. But as players prepare to say goodbye to Caldera’s Pacific island setting for the last time later this year, it seems clear that even the reprieve it was granted with the release of Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera was destined to be temporary.
Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera Gave the Map a Second Life, But Little Support
Fans of Caldera were overjoyed when it was announced in late 2022 that the map would be taking center stage in the newly rebranded Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera. Coming weeks after the servers for the original game had been temporarily shut down in preparation for the launch of Call of Duty: Warzone 2, the announcement of Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera came with some notable caveats that had many players worried from the outset.
In addition to only featuring the Caldera map, with both the Rebirth Island and Fortune’s Keep map from the original Call of Duty: Warzone nowhere to be found, Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera also removed the in-game store and restricted players from transferring progress and gear to the sequel. Removing features wasn’t the only way that Activision attempted to send the not-so-subtle hint to players that it wanted them to move on from Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera to its high-profile sequel, though.
Unlike its successor, which saw a steady stream of updates and patches in the months following its release, support for the now-neglected Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera eventually slowed to a trickle before stopping outright. Even in the face of a slimmed-down scale and a lack of technical support, it was likely Activision’s financial motivations that were ultimately responsible for the demise of the short-lived shooter.
Warzone Caldera’s Closure Proves That Profits Are the Point
While it appeared that many players were more than willing to roll with the punches when it came to pared-down features and the lack of new content for Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera, the game’s continuing popularity and the sizable fracture it created in Call of Duty’s playerbase didn’t bode well for its future. Combined with the removal of the in-game store and the inability to transfer items and experience to Call of Duty: Warzone 2, the gulf between the two titles widened and the game's financial and strategic importance decreased.
The resulting inability of players of Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera to drive profits eventually meant that the free-to-play shooter’s days were numbered. With limited-time cosmetics, pricey bundles, and Call of Duty’s Battle Passes having become a ubiquitous and inescapable part of the franchise, once these profit sources were no longer available for Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera the free-to-play shooter’s end was inevitable.
And although Call of Duty: Warzone 2 has already absorbed many former players of the original game and will undoubtedly continue to do so when Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera shuts down for good, for fans of the island-bound shooter its departure from the Battle Royale landscape will be a disappointing one.
Luckily for fans of Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera, they still have a few months left to enjoy the free-to-play shooter before it goes away for good. But as the time between release and retirement gets shorter with each successive entry in the Call of Duty franchise, many players are likely growing tired of the games’ increasingly short lifespans. And with a new Call of Duty title rumored to be releasing later this year, gamers are now left to wonder how long Call of Duty: Warzone 2 has left before it ends up on the chopping block like its predecessor.
Call of Duty: Warzone will be available for PC, PS4, and Xbox One until September 21.
