With the Warzone and Call of Duty: Vanguard integration still alive and kicking, a lot of the seasonal additions are shared between the two games, but some features and content are exclusive to the free to play battle royale. We’ve covered what’s new in Vanguard, so we’ll focus on Warzone for now.
Operation Monarch
The big crossover event with Godzilla and King Kong is looming on the horizon. Named after the organization in the recent theatrical movies, planting the crossover firmly in the continuity of the cinematic universe, Operation Monarch will bear witness to the clash of these famous titans in Caldera.
Just what shape that battle will take in terms of gameplay is anyone’s guess, but in the leadup we’ll see the event affecting the game map regardless. Operation Monarch also brings new kaiju themed cosmetics to the game, allowing you to cosplay as your favorite movie monster. At launch - that would be today - players will only see a new dig site with huge unearthed bones and some Monarch buildings added to Caldera as the preliminary indication of something being afoot, but as we progress through the season more and more elements of this crossover will go live.
Map Changes
As mentioned before, Operation Monarch will mostly manifest as changes to the Caldera map before the big beasties duke it out. A new point of interest that specifically foreshadows the arrival of Godzilla and King Kong - a dig site, initially serving as an extension of a mining operation, has dug up oversized bones and other fossil matter that could only belong to immense animals of monstrous proportions.
Beyond being an impressive set piece, the dig site point of interest also offers some unique combat terrain sporting a lot of verticality. This is also a prime location for new contracts to spawn, so stick around if you need some extra funds. Monarch has already begun to settle in ahead of the showdown, setting up shop in the newly rebuilt fortress on the Caldera peak. Having been under construction since launch, the buildings on the mountain are now open for business, offering what is guaranteed to become a combat hot spot.
The fortress isn’t the only construction project to be finished - the runway has also been rebuilt and surrounded by hangars and barracks which can offer both loot and cover. We suppose this will arise as a popular drop point during the season. Shifting tides have revealed a new sandbar connecting the Lighthouse with the main landmass, meaning you no longer only have one route to the lagoon. This will definitely spice up the area tactically, giving both attackers and defenders multiple routes of deployment.
Gulag and Mid-Season changes
Warzone’s gulag mechanic has been an iconic element of the game since release, so it is no wonder that it keeps getting polished and freshened up. Season 3 will see a brand new Gulag brought to Caldera featuring a three-lane layout. Set on a ship moored off the island’s coast, the Hold features an open space in the middle, while corridors make the fights more up close and personal.
Meanwhile, the whole monster crossover business isn’t the only thing Activision has cooking for Season 3. Mid-season content is being teased, and Rebirth Island will be involved to some degree. We’ll have to wait to find out more.
Operators and Weapons
Season 3’s operators and weapons are shared between Warzone and Vanguard, so check out our previous post for the overview on these additions. Season 3 in Call of Duty: Warzone is now live.
