Live service games getting a sequel can be a confusing deal because every situation is so different in terms of how the developers handle the situation. In some cases, the sequel ends up being essentially just a new iteration for what came before, but not all the time. We know that Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 will run independently of the first Warzone, but what does that exactly mean? What is the difference between both battle royale games?
Related: Is Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 cross-platform/crossplay?
What are the differences between Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 and the first Warzone?
The first noticeable difference in Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 is the new map, Al Mazrah. Of course, you can expect new locations, but a pretty big difference between games is that Warzone 2.0 will have AI faction enemies populating the new map. This is similar to how Fortnite has various AI enemies that pop up around the playable area and attack you. Al Mazrah is filled with 18 POIs spread across a large playable area that can have 150 people playing at once (152 in quads).
One of the biggest changes for the battle royale as it moves along is how the circle now acts. Instead of being one big circle that shrinks down to one area, the playable area will now split into three different circles to fracture the lobby into groups against each other. When those circles continue to shrink, they will reconvene into one circle for the final push.
The Gulag has also received some updates. Before, when you died, you were thrust into a 1v1 to fight for your life. Now, you will be momentarily teamed up with an enemy player and have to contend in a 2v2 quick match to return to the battle. If you die during this match and your “teammate” wins you will still come back to the game. If you lose, your normal squad teammates will have to bring you back.
There are also quite a few gameplay changes in the main battle royale section. For example, interrogating downed enemies can reveal the location of their squadmates momentarily. Proximity chat is also present here, so you can hear nearby enemies making callouts and track them down if you are a good enough hunter.
While there are a lot of returning features from the first Warzone like bounties and getting your custom loadout, there are multiple new game modes including DMZ and Unhinged, which have different rule sets and functionality like being able to recruit enemy players to your squad in-game for the latter. If you want a traditional battle royale game, Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 provides that, while also giving you a new experience along the way.
