Summary
Call of Duty: Warzonehas reportedly experienced a significant boost in both player count and sales following the highly anticipated return of its original Verdansk map. This report could mark the first and only indication of how Season 3 ofCall of Duty:WarzoneandBlack Ops 6has performed in the wake of Activision’s extensive marketing campaign promoting the update.
Following the launch ofBlack Ops 6, both Treyarch’s premium title andWarzoneexperienced a sharp decline in player numbers, hitting the lowestCall of Dutyplayer count on Steam. This drop, combined with ongoing issues like cheaters, created what many saw as a breaking point forCall of Duty: Warzone– and it significantly affectedBlack Ops 6as well. In anticipation of Verdansk’s highly awaited return, the development teams and Activision launched a nostalgia-driven campaign aimed at recapturing the feel of the original battle royale experience.
In a recent tweet, reputableCall of Dutyleaker TheGhostOfHope shared a performance report onSeason 3 ofCall of Duty: Black Ops 6andWarzone. The report revealed that Activision and Raven Software, the team behind the free-to-play title, were “excited” by the surge of returning players following the launch of Verdansk. According to the leaker, the update had “exceeded expectations.” In a follow-up, he mentioned that player activity on both Xbox Game Pass and the PlayStation Store has reportedly been “off the charts” compared to recent months. This spike also contributed to a noticeable increase inBlack Ops 6sales and downloads, driven by the shared update withWarzoneand the highly anticipated return of Verdansk.
Verdansk’s Return in Call of Duty: Warzone Has Been Huge
The report also claims that Activision is considering taking a more measured approach to cosmetic microtransactions inWarzone, including skins and bundles. While crossovers are reportedly still “printing money,” the company is said to be aware of growing criticism from players who feel thatWarzoneis “starting to look stupid.” This would mark the first time Activision has acknowledged not only the success ofBlack Ops 6andWarzoneSeason 3, but also the impact of overly colorful cosmetics on the game’s perception. If accurate, the report also suggests this is the first time in months thatWarzonehas seen a significant boost in player numbers. Despite stiff competition from other popular titles on streaming platforms, the free-to-play has regained some viewership, likely fueled by thereturn of Verdansk andWarzone’s gameplay adjustmentsdesigned to recapture the feel of the original experience.
DespiteBlack Ops 6andWarzone’s Season 3 being delayed, Activision and theCall of Dutydev teams have put significant effort into making Verdansk’s comeback inWarzonea success – aiming to deliver an experience that appeals to new players, veterans, and those who previously enjoyed the battle royale. If the report proves accurate, it suggests that Activision may want to continue supportingWarzoneand Verdansk with regular content updates to maintain momentum and keep the player base engaged.
