Although Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 reached 25 million players within five days of its release, the shooter launched in a troubled state. It’s full of bugs and controversial design choices that have alienated its community. Since the game’s release on November 16, players have expressed their disappointment with Warzone 2.0, with some members of the community feeling pessimistic about its future.
Fast forward to early December 2022, and Warzone 2.0’s problems seem amplified when placed next to Fortnite’s extraordinary Chapter 4.
This new chapter of Fortnite is one of, if not the best in the history of the game, offering many exciting gameplay features, a visual overhaul, attractive cosmetics and new mechanics that work. It’s baffling that a Call of Duty entry could launch in such poor shape, considering it’s one of the best-selling franchises of all time. Meanwhile, Fortnite, a game often criticized for being “for kids,” is crushing it, update after update. But what exactly does Warzone 2.0 need to change to keep up with its competition? Maybe I could look to Fortnite for inspiration.
Lack of meaningful content
Right out of the gate, Fortnite Chapter 4 arrived full of content. It included a major change to the island (which really feels like a brand new map in many ways), new features such as dirt bikes, a new set of weapons, and the new augmented reality system. In fact, Fortnite has a rich history of implementing a ton of new features with each major update, while smaller patches often keep the game stable in between.
Warzone 2.0, on the other hand, hasn’t received much since its release, and based on what we know about the upcoming Season 1 Reloaded, there isn’t much. Even what was available on day one was disappointing as it lacked features we’ve come to expect, such as leaderboards, battle records, and a rebirth map like Rebirth Island. Quantity doesn’t equal quality, of course, but it’s hard to deny how impressive Fortnite’s recent efforts have been in terms of the amount of content implemented.
Wide appeal
Another strong point of Fortnite Chapter 4 is the degree of attraction of new cosmetics and mechanics. As part of the Battle Pass, players can earn incredibly detailed versions of Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher series, along with the Doom Slayer from Doom. These two characters come with cosmetics that complete each outfit, including backs, weapon charms, and emotes. The Incredible Hulk will join the roster later this season, further bolstering the roster of beloved characters.
This season also features motorcycles for the first time, along with Reality Augments, which serve as perks that enhance the gameplay experience. When combined with the major map change and other minor additions like obstacles, Fortnite has never looked, or played, better.
All of these things make the game appealing to a wide variety of players, especially after the Zero Build update which features a dedicated playlist without the controversial building mechanic.
It just works
Preferences aside, Warzone 2.0 is incredibly clunky these days; you wouldn’t know it’s funded by one of the biggest video game publishers out there. It’s full of bugs, slow menus, one of the worst inventory systems in recent memory, and an abysmal user interface. Compared to Fortnite, there is a gulf in quality between these live service titles. Sure, it’s not perfect, but almost everything in Fortnite is streamlined, easy to understand, and has a high degree of polish that makes it look finished.
Epic Games is incredibly quick to address issues within Fortnite; errors are usually cleared within a few days. Warzone 2.0, on the other hand, still crashes frequently and feels like it’s held together with duct tape, just like its predecessor.
Here’s the thing: The original Warzone also felt unpolished. It’s incredibly frustrating that Activision has repeated many of the same mistakes with the sequel, while other successful streaming service games have a much firmer handle on their ongoing operations.
Of the time
Fortnite Chapter 4 is made possible by Unreal Engine 5.1, giving the game an improved look. Everything, including its lighting, shadows, and performance, has been updated with this update, making the already gorgeous game look even better. Interestingly, many of these new visual features give Fortnite a sense of realism, even though its art direction is unrealistic. Still, its overall presentation looks expensive and attractive.
Warzone 2.0 looks inoffensive, but it certainly doesn’t hold a candle to Fortnite, especially after the Chapter 4 update. Call of Duty’s battle royale looks like a PS4 game, with washed-out visuals that sometimes make enemies hard to see. It’s a night and day comparison that really makes me wonder what Activision was thinking with Warzone 2.0.
With all these criticisms, I’m not just comparing Fortnite to some no-budget indie game. Activision and Epic Games are two of the giants in the video game space, with seemingly endless resources compared to other publishers. It does not mean that one is currently in chaos while another is constantly innovating in the right direction. Warzone as it stands needs a change and I hope its developers can take some inspiration from Fortnite to make it happen as it continues to set the bar for multiplayer games like this.
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