Infinity Ward and Raven Software revealed today the future of the Call of Duty series with a focus on the Modern Warfare, Warzone and Blacks Ops Cold War titles combined.
“Starting November 13th with the launch of Black Ops Cold War, and continuing with the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Season One and beyond, Warzone players will begin seeing new Black Ops Cold War content coming to all modes of the Call of Duty Battle Royale experience, including a variety of exciting content indicated in the Roadmap image (above),” developers said in a blog post. “This is only the beginning: Like every off-the-books clandestine operation, expect to uncover more secrets, and experience memorable moments as the Cold War heats up across Verdansk (and beyond) in the months and seasons ahead.”
Developers announced that Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will include integration with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone, including many ways that players will be able to share content, level up, utilize weaponry and equipment, and interact across all three titles.
“In addition, there is a huge amount of free content coming to Black Ops Cold War,” developers said, “including maps, weapons, modes, and more, making Season One the start of the biggest series of ongoing post-launch free content drops in Black Ops history!”
For the first time ever, players will have synchronized and universal player progression between the three games when Black Ops Cold War launches on November 13.
“Players will begin by completing Military Ranks, a traditional leveling journey to unlock functional gameplay items. Once completed, Black Ops Cold War players will enter an updated and improved Season Leveling that begins at game launch with the Pre-Season, and which becomes synchronized with all three games at the beginning of Season One on December 10th,” developers said. “At the launch of Season One in December, the path to gaining XP and leveling up will be shared across all three Call of Duty titles: Black Ops Cold War, Modern Warfare and Warzone. This Progression system is both familiar and innovative, allowing you to level up in all three titles no matter which game you play.”
You can learn more about player progression from Treyarch.
“Welcome to the largest weapons arsenal ever seen in Call of Duty!” developers wrote. “Every weapon you’ve unlocked in Modern Warfare, as well as every weapon you’re going to unlock in Black Ops Cold War, is planned to continue to be available in Warzone. This includes Modern Warfare Primary and Secondary weapons (including Blueprint variants). The current plan is for Warzone to also include all Primary and Secondary weapons available throughout the lifespan of Black Ops Cold War, including launch and Season weapons, as well as every single Weapon Blueprint. Naturally, this includes the assortment of free weapons you received during every season of Modern Warfare, just for playing the game.”
Warzone will share weapon progression with Black Ops Cold War and Modern Warfare and all weapons will be playable in the battle royale mode, all XP will count for Warzone and the game from which the weapon originated, unlock weapons and attachments for any weapon in either game or Warzone, and all unlocks are retained.
“What about base weapons that exist in Black Ops Cold War and Modern Warfare? Expect to be able to access available base weapons separately, with each game’s specific logo indicating the series it is available in, as well as the weapon’s level progression,” developers said. “At the start of Season One, Modern Warfare’s Perks, Lethal Equipment, Tactical Equipment, Field Upgrades, and specific Killstreaks will remain in Warzone.”
Players will also be able to bring any Operator that they have unlocked in Verdansk on Nov. 13, including all purchased and earned Skins, Quips, and Finishing Moves.
“There is only one exception, the indomitable Marine Corps Master Sergeant Frank Woods is accessible in all three games, though the only skin available in Modern Warfare is the one available if you purchase a digital pre-order of Black Ops Cold War, and that skin is only available in Modern Warfare and Warzone,” developers said. “Purchase Black Ops Cold War and gain access to a number of new Cold War-era operatives, as well as new earnable and unlockable skins for them, which you can use in Warzone too.”
In Warzone, the Battle Pass system continues with new content for all three titles.
“Progress through the Battle Pass system by playing any of the three games. Battle Pass content you unlock is shown in-game, no matter which game you’re playing,” developers said. “Black Ops Cold War and Warzone will share post-launch seasonal content through the Battle Pass system (including free tiers of content) and the Store. … There are currently no plans to remove Warzone content.”
Developers also confirmed that the games will be cross-platform, cross-generational, cross-title and will include cross-progression.
“Experience the next generation of global combat as one community, regardless of the platform or console generation you play Black Ops Cold War, Warzone, or Modern Warfare on, as detailed in this blog post,” developers said. “No matter what game you are playing – or the platform you’re playing it on – access and invite your friends to join you. Cross-Title Invites allow you to invite your friends who are playing Modern Warfare or Warzone to join you in Black Ops Cold War, and vice versa, with the party leader navigating to the title everyone wishes to play. The result is more flexibility and ease in gathering your friends for a Multiplayer match, Zombies experience (in Black Ops Cold War), or drop into Verdansk.”
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War launches on all platforms on Nov. 13 and Season One begins on Dec. 10.
