Hey there! If you‘re wondering whether you can play Call of Duty: Warzone without paying anything, I‘ve got you covered. The short answer is yes – Warzone is completely free! There‘s no purchase required to download and play this hugely popular Call of Duty battle royale game.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll tell you everything you need to know about getting set up on Warzone for free across platforms, what you can expect from the gameplay, and tips to excel. Let‘s dive in!
Downloading Warzone: Quick and Easy
First things first – how can you get Warzone installed for free? I‘ve got handy direct links here to download on your platform of choice:
PC: Battle.net
PlayStation: PlayStation Store
Xbox: Microsoft Store
The process only takes a few minutes. On console, just search for "Call of Duty: Warzone" on the PlayStation or Xbox store. On PC, install Blizzard‘s Battle.net app, create an account if you don‘t have one already, and search for Warzone to install it.
Keep in mind the download size is pretty huge coming in around 80-100GB. Make sure you‘ve got plenty of free space on your hard drive before installing. But don‘t worry, even though it‘s a beefy download, the entire game is completely free including all the maps, weapons, and multiplayer modes!
Game Modes – Battle Royale, Plunder, and More
Once you‘ve got Warzone installed, you get full access to all of its game modes without paying a cent. Here‘s a quick overview of what‘s available:
Battle Royale – The heart and soul of Warzone – a massive 150 player battle royale match where you duke it out to be the last team standing. This main Warzone mode is 100% free.
Plunder – All about collecting in-match Cash to deposit into your bank. Plunder supports up to 120 players on the same huge map as Battle Royale.
Rebirth Island – Faster paced battle royale limited to 40 players on a smaller map. Matches are quicker on Rebirth compared to the standard mode.
You can switch between these three modes freely when you matchmake, all without spending a dime. Pretty sweet!
Warzone‘s Standout Features
As one of the most popular battle royale games out there today with over 100 million players, Warzone does a lot of things right. Here are some of the standout features that set it apart:
Incredibly polished gunplay – Firing and handling weapons feels fantastic thanks to Call of Duty‘s excellent mechanics and animations.
The Gulag – Die once in a match and you‘ll have a chance to win a 1v1 duel in the Gulag to redeploy! Super unique mechanic.
Loadouts – Call in a Loadout Drop to get your own custom primary and secondary weapons fitted with your favorite attachments. Total game changer compared to relying on floor loot.
Smooth movement – Getting around the map by mantling objects, sliding, and sprinting feels very fluid.
Ping system – Quickly pinging locations and enemies promotes teamwork without needing voice communication.
These are just a few reasons why Warzone has earned its spot among the top battle royale heavy hitters like Fortnite and Apex Legends. The gameplay experience is super polished.
Integration with Modern Warfare
Now, you‘re probably wondering how Warzone ties in with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. The key thing to know is that Modern Warfare is a separate, paid title that is not required to play Warzone.
Warzone is free-to-play and completely standalone. However, it does integrate with Modern Warfare in some cool ways:
Share operator characters across both games
Weapon progression syncs – level up a gun in MW and it levels up in Warzone too
Unlock cosmetic items that work in both titles
Modern Warfare Battle Pass progresses from matches played in either game
So in summary – owning Modern Warfare allows you to sync progression and cosmetics with Warzone, but is not necessary to enjoy hundreds of hours of free Warzone gameplay. Think of them as two complementary experiences.
Comparing Warzone vs. Modern Warfare
Even though Warzone and Modern Warfare intersect, they are very different games, so I want to eliminate any confusion between the two.
Modern Warfare is a traditional premium Call of Duty release focused on multiplayer matchmaking and a blockbuster single player campaign. You have to pay to play it.
Warzone is a completely free-to-play battle royale experience allowing up to 150 players on a massive map fighting to be the last team standing. Very different pace compared to traditional multiplayer.
The table below summarizes some key differences between the games:
Call of Duty: Warzone | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | |
---|---|---|
Cost | Free-to-play | $60+ (Premium title) |
Players per match | 150 in battle royale, up to 120 in Plunder | 10-20 in traditional multiplayer |
Game modes | Battle royale, Plunder | Team Deathmatch, Domination, Gunfight, etc. |
Progression | Syncs with Modern Warfare if owned | Syncs with Warzone if owned |
Maps | Huge open world maps | Smaller classic multiplayer maps |
Hopefully this breakdown clearly outlines how Warzone differs from the premium Modern Warfare title. They complement each other nicely, but Warzone very much stands on its own as a polished free-to-play experience.
Key Warzone Strategy Tips
Alright, let‘s get into the good stuff – tips and strategies to dominate Warzone matches! Here are some key things any player should know:
Use your mic – Having a mic to communicate with squadmates gives you a giant advantage. Callouts win games.
Open your parachute – When dropping into a match, open and close your parachute repeatedly to cover more distance quickly.
Grab a reconnaissance contract – Completing these reveals the next safe zone location so your team can get a headstart.
Use heartbeat sensors – Picking one up will reveal nearby enemy locations when scoped in. Super useful intel.
Plate up – Armor plates are critical for survival. Don‘t engage enemies or move to new areas without 3 plates equipped.
Ping everything – Use the ping system generously on enemies, locations, loot, buy stations, etc. to help your team.
Flank and reposition – Don‘t just stand still exchanging gunfire. Try getting around the enemy or catching them from an unexpected angle.
Spend cash wisely – Having cash to spend on teammate redeploys, killstreaks and loadouts is pivotal. Don‘t just hoard money.
Save the best weapons – Don‘t use your top tier guns right away. Save them for grabbing from a loadout drop.
These are just a few tips that can massively boost your performance in Warzone matches. But most importantly, stay frosty and have fun out there!
Recommended Loadout For New Players
One of the great things about Warzone is putting together the perfect primary + secondary weapon combo and loadout tailored to your playstyle. I recommend this basic loadout for new players:
Primary: Kilo 141 Assault Rifle
- Monolithic Suppressor
- Singuard Arms 19.8” Prowler Barrel
- VLK 3.0x Optic
- Commando Foregrip
- 60 Round Mags
Secondary: RPG-7 Rocket Launcher
Lethal: Frag Grenade
Tactical: Stun Grenade
Perks: E.O.D., Overkill, Amped
This loadout provides an extremely versatile Kilo 141 primary weapon effective at medium and longer ranges thanks to the barrel and monolithic suppressor. The VLK optic helps accuracy at distance and 60 round mags provide plenty of ammo.
The RPG is great for taking out vehicles or enemy killstreaks when needed. E.O.D. reduces explosive damage, Overkill lets you carry two primaries, and Amped makes swapping weapons faster.
Give this loadout a shot and adjust the attachments to fit your playstyle. Getting the perfect loadout can be a game changer!
Becoming a Warzone Expert
Alright, you‘re starting to get the hang of Warzone and want to step up your game even more. Here are some tips from expert streamers and players for taking your skills to the next level:
Watch streamers – You can learn so much just from observing how top players rotate, position themselves, and win gunfights.
Control recoil – Using the right attachments and learning recoil patterns means you‘ll hit way more shots during intense fights.
Master movement – The top players move around the map smoothly and efficiently while centering their aim at head level.
Play the edge of circles – Don‘t get stuck rotating into the gas. Always try maneuvering into the safe zone early.
Change positions – Don‘t become too predictable by peaking the same spot against an enemy. Relocate and catch them off guard.
Think ahead – Consider where you should move next, the upcoming safe zone location, nearby buy stations, etc. Stay two steps ahead.
Don‘t rage – Staying calm and playing smart is how pros overcome bad situations and win games. Don‘t panic!
Learning from the best will rapidly accelerate your skills. But most importantly, keep playing, learn from your mistakes, analyze what works, and have fun on the journey to becoming an elite Warzone operator!
Tracking Your Progress
As you continue playing Warzone and improving, it‘s really motivating and helpful to track your key stats and progress over time. Here are some important metrics to follow:
K/D ratio – Shows your kill to death ratio, ideally you want this going up over time.
Average life duration – How long you typically survive each game before dying. Try extend this.
Top 5 / Top 10 ratio – Percentage of matches you place in the top 5 or top 10 gives a win rate indicator.
Win percentage – As the name implies, your total percentage of matches won. Higher the better!
Longest kill – How far away you‘ve managed to eliminate an enemy. Fun stat for snipers.
Weapon stats – Breakdown of your performance with each gun like accuracy, headshots, etc.
There are sites like cod.tracker.gg that can give you extensive analytical stats and progression tracking. It‘s extremely satisfying to see your numbers improve over time!
The Road to Your First Warzone Victory
Now for the glorious moment every player dreams of – earning your first Warzone victory royale! Getting that epic win under your belt is an amazing feeling, so here are some top tips to hopefully make it happen:
Don‘t take early fights – Play stealthy, avoid combat when possible to get solid loadout guns first.
Buy UAVs – Having constant UAV vision late game is incredibly useful for gathering intel on remaining enemies.
Hold power positions – Having the high ground or good cover works to your advantage in endgame circles.
Save precision airstrikes – These can destroy enemy cover or vehicles in final circles.
Listen closely – Sound whoring enemy footsteps and chest openings can help pinpoint targets.
Keep your head – Don‘t panic in 1 vs 1 situations! Take a breath and play it smart.
Keep armor topped up – Having 3 fresh plates before the final fight is extremely important.
Follow these tips and with some luck, you‘ll be clutching that exhilarating first Warzone victory sooner than you think! Never give up.
Continued Improvements
The future looks bright for Warzone. Developer Infinity Ward continues releasing new content and improvements for the game through seasonal updates.
Some of the recent changes include:
Ongoing weapon balancing – Keeping the meta fresh by buffing and nerfing different weapons.
New operators – Additional characters from Modern Warfare and new storylines.
Battle pass – More tiers of rewards and cosmetics to unlock by playing.
Map updates – Changes to existing areas along with new points of interest.
Events – Limited time modes and gameplay types keeping things exciting.
Bug fixes / optimizations – Improving technical issues and performance.
And this is just the beginning. An all new map and Warzone 2 sequel is planned for late 2022! Plus a mobile version coming in 2024. The future is bright for Warzone indeed.
The Verdict? Download Warzone!
After reading this extensive guide, I hope you now have a much better understanding of how Warzone works, what makes it so popular, and how you can get started playing for free on your platform of choice.
So what‘s the verdict? I highly recommend giving Warzone a try especially since you can play without spending a dime. The polished and thrilling battle royale gameplay experience alongside the ability to resurrect in the Gulag sets Warzone apart from competitors.
Follow the tips provided in this guide to maximize your performance, survival, and ultimately taste victory. Playing with some friends also makes success much more achievable and fun.
Thanks for reading this guide all the way to the end! Let me know if you have any other questions as you get started with Warzone. Now get out there, jump from the plane, and battle your way to being last operator standing. See you in Verdansk!