Summary
Call of Duty: Warzonehas revealed details about the 2025 version of Verdansk, showcasing updates and improvements to the iconic battle royale map. This announcement comes ahead of Verdansk’s official return toCall of Duty: Warzone, nearly four years after its original launch in March 2020.
Thehighly anticipated return of Verdansk toWarzonewas officially confirmed during theCODNext event in August 2024, during which Activision outlined the future of the free-to-play title. While no specific details were revealed at the event, Activision confirmed that the returning map would be based on the original 2020 version that was developed by Infinity Ward, the studio behindModern Warfare(2019), the game that was first integrated intoWarzoneby sharing its content. However, nearly four years later, theCall of Dutyteam has announced that Verdansk’s 2025 version will feature several modifications to update and refine the experience.
In a video posted onCall of Duty’s social media, the developers shared the changes and improvements coming to Verdansk when it returns with theWarzoneSeason 3 update, which is currently scheduled for April 3. While the map will retain its original layout, the Beenox dev team explains in the video that the 2025 version will have “more detail and higher definition” compared to the original, thanks to “new technology allowing better quality and rendering” for the map’s textures and visual content. The recreation of Verdansk was a collaborative effort between Beenox, Raven Software, and High Moon Studios, with each team “sparing no detail to ensure the experience is faithful to Infinity Ward’s original design.”
Call of Duty: Warzone Verdansk Receives Massive Visual Enhancements
In a separate section, the behind-the-scenes video reveals that the map will feature rebuilt global lighting to “achieve a more realistic effect” while preserving the nostalgic feel many players remember. This includes a new high-resolution sky, as well as improved bounces, reflections, and light map quality and accuracy, ensuring better transitions between interior and exterior environments. Additionally, depth backlighting and shadows have been enhanced, all made possible by reworked materials that allow lighting to impact the environment and look “more natural.” In another since-deleted video, the team also shared that the map will have more cover areas in certain locations to prevent players from being too exposed when rotatingWarzoneVerdansk’s points of interest.
While many players may have preferred Verdansk to return in its original, unaltered form, it’s encouraging to see that despite reintroducing a map the community has had access to for nearly two years, the developers have taken the time to enhance it with modern technology. These improvementsmakeWarzoneVerdansk more visually realisticwhile preserving the beloved layout that players know so well. Though players will need to jump in when it launches in Season 3 to fully appreciate the updates, understanding the key changes beforehand will help them make the most of the improvements and strategic modifications.
