Season 5 has officially launched in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone, bringing a wealth of new content to both the free-to-play battle royale game and the paid multiplayer title. Not much has been left to the imagination, with Activision and Infinity Ward marketing the heck out of season 5 with more trailers than some entire games get, but it definitely represents an infusion of fresh content that Warzone really needed. The biggest and flashiest addition is the interior of the Acropolis National Arena, commonly known only as the stadium. Part of the building’s roof was blown off, and other entrances have become unlocked allowing multiple points of entry. The stadium features a fully accessible and detailed interior. You can get into action-packed gunfights in the relatively open playing field - only a few crates and tents offer cover - or a sneaky game of cat and mouse in the audience area, lobby and underground parking lot.
The other big feature we knew about - since it was hinted at in the very first teaser - is the freight train. The Verdansk Train Station has also opened up with multiple indoor locations, but the actual vehicle is the star of this show. An armored behemoth speeding around the map in a large loop, the train holds major tactical advantages both in terms of loot, and in terms of being a defensible location. We’re waiting for the train kill highlight reels. Players can traverse Verdansk in a new way, too - exterior ascension brings all new vertical ziplines placed in key locations on the exterior of tall buildings throughout the map, though you’ll find the most of them in the high-rises around downtown. Clip on and zoom up to the top of these buildings in seconds, allowing you to assume sniping locations fast and easy - or reach enemy snipers before they know they’re in danger.
Warzone also gets an all new game mode, designed with the impatient players in mind. Mini Royale cuts the fat and trims down matches to 10 minutes. Fewer operators are allowed into the field, but you’ll be spread out across a smaller area with significantly less minutes on the timer, turning drawn out hunts into break-neck battles and short but explosive matches. The King Slayer mode will be added later in the season. The game is further tweaked with a complete rebalancing of weapons found in supply crates, and a new Wartracks customization allowing you to add one of three songs to your vehicles. This season’s Battle Pass brings additional content, both free and premium alike. The ISO SMG and the AN-94 AR are two new weapons available to everyone, which will be joined by the Dual Kodachis later during the season as well as other, as of yet classified weapons. New operators are also joining the fight - Shadow Company leader Lerch is available now, with Velikan joining in later in the season.
As always, the download size merciless: PlayStation 4: 33.9 GB Xbox One: 49.8 GB PC: 54.2 GB (Modern Warfare owners) and 47.4 GB (Warzone only owners) The data pack system is still only available on consoles - despite PC sporting the biggest downloads - allowing players to remove unused features, maps and such to decrease overall file sizes. See you in the Warzone!
