I‘m sure you‘ve been hearing rumors about changes to Call of Duty‘s free-to-play smash hit Warzone. With the launch of the new Warzone 2.0, you may be wondering:
Is Warzone still free to play in 2024?
The answer is yes, absolutely. Read on and I‘ll explain everything you need to know about Warzone‘s pricing and availability now that Warzone 2.0 is here.
Warzone 2.0 Continues the Free-to-Play Legacy
First and foremost, Warzone 2.0 is 100% free-to-play just like the original Warzone. Anyone can download and play Warzone 2.0 right now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC at no upfront cost.
I know what you might be thinking:
"That‘s great, but what about all the new stuff in Warzone 2.0? Do I need to pay to get access to all the new weapons, Operators, and maps?"
Nope! All of the core Warzone 2.0 gameplay content is completely free including:
- The brand new Al Mazrah map
- New core weapons like the M13B assault rifle and Lachmann submachine gun
- New gameplay mechanics like swimming and vehicle hacking
- The Gulag 2.0 1v1 redeployment arena
- Ground loot, contracts, events, and more
So you can jump into Warzone 2.0 today and experience everything it has to offer without spending a dime. No need to pay up or miss out on content.
This confirms that free-to-play remains a pillar of Warzone‘s identity even as the game continues evolving into 2.0 and beyond.
Warzone Caldera: Play the Original Maps for Free
Now, what about the original Warzone you may have sunk hundreds of hours into? With Warzone 2.0 now out, is that version gone?
The good news is no, you can still play the original Warzone maps for free!
Here‘s how it works:
The original Warzone has been rebranded as Warzone Caldera
It‘s still free-to-play and includes the Verdansk and Caldera maps
All of your existing Operators, blueprints and purchased cosmetics are still usable
You just launch Warzone Caldera separately from the new Warzone 2.0
So if you don‘t feel like moving on from OG Verdansk and Caldera just yet, you can stick with Warzone Caldera for free. It will just remain "frozen in time" content-wise.
Having both Warzone 2.0 and Warzone Caldera available for free keeps all players happy whether they want to stay classic or move into the future.
Optional Cosmetic Purchases Remain For Warzone 2.0
Alright, so Warzone 2.0‘s core maps and weapons are completely free just like before. But what about cosmetic items and the Battle Pass system?
This aspect of Warzone is unchanged. All cosmetic purchases remain 100% optional in Warzone 2.0.
Here‘s a quick refresher on what‘s available:
Battle Pass – Provides 100 tiers of cosmetic rewards when leveled up by playing. The free version has limited rewards, while the premium version costs ~$10 and has more items including COD Points to "pay for itself".
Bundles – Special bundle packs containing Operator skins, weapon blueprints, charms, etc. These rotate frequently and cost ~$5-$20.
COD Points – This premium currency can be purchased to obtain cosmetics from the in-game store. Points start at ~$5 for 500.
However, it‘s crucial to remember none of these optional purchases provide any in-match advantages. They are purely cosmetic. You can be just as competitive with the default items.
So the core free Warzone experience remains intact. Purchases are not at all required to play at the highest level.
Free-to-Play Analysis: The Key to Warzone‘s Success
Warzone‘s unwavering commitment to free-to-play access has been a key ingredient in its meteoric success. Let‘s analyze the factors driving this approach:
Massive player base – By removing barrier to entry, Warzone cultivates a larger community of players. This is key for quick matchmaking and sustaining long-term popularity.
Recurring revenue – The optional cosmetic purchases have already generated over $3 billion in revenue. Free access coupled with non-pay-to-win purchases is profitable.
Positive perception – Warzone has earned gamer goodwill by avoiding many free-to-play pitfalls like gameplay-impacting monetization. This builds brand loyalty.
Competitive integrity – League play remains fair and accessible. Warzone Esports can thrive without "pay-to-win" fears tainting competition.
Based on the above, free-to-play was clearly the right move for Warzone and fans stand to benefit moving forward.
Quick Guide to Getting Started with Warzone 2.0
Now that you know Warzone 2.0 and Warzone Caldera carry forth Call of Duty‘s free-to-play legacy, here‘s a quick guide to getting in the game:
1. Choose your platform
Warzone 2.0 is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Battle.net and Steam. Crossplay is supported so you can team up with friends on any platform.
2. Install Warzone 2.0
Download the free Warzone 2.0 application from your platform‘s store. Make sure you don‘t install Modern Warfare II unless you want that too.
3. Complete the intro
You‘ll play a brief tutorial match against AI enemies to learn the basics before heading to battle royale.
4. Set up your operators & loadouts
Choose your favorite Operators, weapon blueprints, perk packages and more via the menus. Cosmetic purchases are optional.
5. Squad up!
Party up with friends or use matchmaking to join Trios and Quads matches. Time to battle it out on Al Mazrah!
And that‘s it! In just a few quick steps you can be dropping into Warzone 2.0 matches free of charge.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, Call of Duty Warzone remains free-to-play both in its new Warzone 2.0 incarnation and classic Warzone Caldera version.
All core maps, weapons, and gameplay elements can still be accessed without spending any money. Optional cosmetic purchases exist for those wanting to customize their experience, but do not provide gameplay advantages.
This free-to-play model has clearly resonated with over 100 million players so far and should only continue growing the massive Warzone community. Call of Duty continues leading industry evolution with Warzone 2.0‘s ambitious innovations, all while staying true to its free-for-all roots.
So rest assured you can squad up with friends for exciting, tactical Warzone matches without breaking the bank. See you in Al Mazrah or Verdansk!
