At this point in time, it would be an understatement to say thatCall of Duty: Warzoneis a massive success, despite the constant cheating, laggy lobbies, and assorted other problems within the title. The evidence ofWarzone’ssuccess can easily be viewed in the account numbers, download count, and the dedicated community who spend hours in the ever-building world of Verdansk.
As a game alone,Warzonehas far exceeded the potential and quality ofBlack Ops 4’s Blackoutgame mode. And as the developer pushs into Season 5, there are subtle hints behind scattered about of theupcomingCall of Duty 2020release, and this is the only place to find those kinds of hints. Rather then some grand showing of the trailer and mass production of ads, Activision has redefined its marketing strategy and centered it around an interactive war experience.
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It might not be clear at first with so many other features added on top ofSeason 5’s launch. The explosion in the Stadium, the moving Train, Shadow Company, and so many other major features hold small details to the future of theCall of Dutyfranchise. All it takes to see between the lines is an understanding of the history ofWarzone,and a careful eye for the minute details hidden across the massive map.
Subtle CoD Secrets In An Easter Egg Community
The first in a long trail of breadcrumbs is the Easter eggs hidden across the map. While some are special nods to the characters, others hold the potential to spoil the entirestory ofCall of Duty 2020.There are so many unanswered questions scattered across Verdansk that form a blurry yet fascinating picture of story potential.
The fact that Activision and Infinity Ward are usingWarzoneas a promotional tool is clever. The free-to-play experience draws in thousands of players a day, and with every in-game discovery, the population number rises sharply as curious players investigate the tease, Easter egg, or secret.Promotion forCall of Duty 2020automatically bumps upCall of Duty: Warzonewhich in part promotes the Battle Pass, bundles, and other microtransaction opportunities built into the soul of the game.
Once the official announcement ofCall of Duty 2020launches, which will most likely be throughWarzone,the population of the battle royale experience will likely skyrocket. Pure excitement for this year’sCall of Dutyrelease will bring about success for the next chapter along with the free-to-play battle royale. As long as Activision keeps the two games connected, then every Easter egg and secret found in the game will drive promotional options forbothWarzoneandCall of Duty 2020.
4th Wall Breaks With High Profile Streamers
The second part of this interesting puzzle is the innovative use of theWarzone streaming and YouTuber community, as fourth wall breaks can be infamously successful when it comes to promoting games. From theFortniteBurger appearing in California to the Tentacles flowing from Larian Studios prior to theBaldurs Gate 3announcement, these kinds of promotional tactics work on a viral level.
Streamers and YouTubers have a pre-built audience of thousands of players who enjoy theCall of Dutyfranchise. By sending them mysterious boxes and having themunveil Shadow Companyin front of their audiences, Activision automatically taps into those communities at a minimal investment. Each Streamer’s prediction stacks on top of other predictions as the entire community become fascinated by solving the strange puzzle.
This Fourth Wall strategy is already in effect forCall of Duty: 2020with themysterious box that many have recently received. The date on the box, August 10th, falls on the same day when Activision adds in updates toModern WarfareandWarzone.There is a high chance that the update, box, andCall of Duty: 2020will all come together in an event centered on Verdansk and theWarzonepopulation.
Evolution of Verdansk To Match Call of Duty 2020’s Themes
Activision has already confirmed thatCall of Duty: 2020will be linked toWarzoneupon the game’s release. This means thatWarzone,which was originally tied toModern Warfare, will evolve into aBlack OpsBattle Royale experience without losing its inherent value built by its own foundational characteristics. Where it loses the support ofModern Warfare,it instead gains the next step in the series and evolves into a malleable Battle Royale.
This allowsWarzoneto act as a bridgeconnecting the many sub-franchisees found inCall of Dutyinto one concise presentation. Activision, Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Raven Studios will never have to create another Battle Royale as long asWarzonecan effectively evolve with the changing games. This evolution is revolutionary alone, but when mixed with the promotional tactics and fourth wall breaks, the entireWarzoneproject borders on some type of connectedCoDuniverse.
Warzoneis simultaneously a Battle Royale that is freeto play while acting as a community hub and center of information for everything promotional inCall of Duty.Activision’s strategy to move away from traditional release styles might have been driven by COVID-19, but to use a game that is populated by players for the same reason is genius and revolutionary on its own standard.
Whether or not the promotional campaigning works,Call of Duty: 2020succeeds, orWarzonesurvives in the next 4 or 5 years, the entire attempt is worth appreciating. When advertising and promotion move from passive showing into active telling using interactive environments, game companies can give players a wider taste of their creation and amply sale based on experience rather than promise. Activision has opened a beautiful door of promotional possibilities, and it was all done under the guise ofWarzoneand through subtle patching throughout the year.
WhenWarzonelaunched, everyone assumed it was another standard Battle Royale built to feed a recent trend. Now, several months later, the game has evolved into something more, and it’ll be interesting to see where that leads.
Call of Duty: Warzoneis available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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