Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 officially launches on November 6, 2026, bringing a major transformation to the free-to-play battle royale experience. With full integration of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, the new season introduces two brand-new maps, more than 30 new weapons, new gameplay mechanics, updated Perks, and a refreshed progression system.
Players can explore the large-scale Battle Royale map Hajin, fight across the industrial Resurgence map Zodiac, and look forward to the return of classic locations Verdansk and Rebirth Island later in the season.
From the Zipline Launcher and Grabber Drone to new limited-time modes and Weapon Mastery Camos, here’s everything you need to know about the Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 update.
What Is Call of Duty: Warzone?
Call of Duty: Warzone is a free-to-play battle royale game developed as part of the Call of Duty franchise. Players deploy onto large combat maps, collect weapons and equipment, complete contracts, and fight against rival squads while the playable area gradually shrinks.
Players can choose different ways to approach each match, whether they prefer the large-scale survival gameplay of Battle Royale or the faster-paced action of Resurgence.
With Season 1, Warzone receives a major integration with Modern Warfare 4, introducing new weapons, maps, equipment, progression features, and gameplay systems that reshape the overall experience.
Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 – Key Highlights
Here are the biggest additions arriving with Season 1:
- Full Modern Warfare 4 Integration: Access 33 Modern Warfare 4 launch weapons, updated progression, new Operators, and additional gameplay features.
- Two New Maps: Explore Hajin in Battle Royale and Zodiac in Resurgence.
- Classic Maps Return: Verdansk and Rebirth Island return later in Season 1.
- New Gameplay Equipment: Use the Zipline Launcher and Grabber Drone to create new tactical opportunities.
- New Game Modes: Experience Rally Point, Massive Resurgence, and Loaded Resurgence.
- Updated Perks: Choose from 15 Base Perks and three new Elite Perks.
- New Weapon Mastery Camos: Unlock Parallax, Damascus Reforged, and Empyros through Warzone challenges.
- New Platform: Warzone arrives on Nintendo Switch 2.
1. New Maps: Explore Hajin and Zodiac
Season 1 introduces two new maps set in South Korea, offering different combat experiences for Battle Royale and Resurgence players.
Hajin – New Battle Royale Map
Hajin is a large-scale Battle Royale map that brings the fight to the Korean Peninsula for the first time in Warzone.
Connected to the Modern Warfare 4 campaign storyline, the map features 13 major Points of Interest (POIs) across North and South Korea. Players can move through dense urban districts, industrial facilities, open farmland, winding rivers, and mountainous terrain.
Key areas include:
- Hajin City: A dense urban environment featuring high-rise buildings, barricaded roads, and fortified locations.
- Imjin Farmland: Open terrain that favors long-range engagements and careful positioning.
- 14th Political Prison: A North Korean location offering a different combat environment.
- Chang-san Air Base: A military location within the northern section of the map.
- Deadtown: Another key location across the border.
Hajin also introduces dynamic weather scenarios. Each match randomly selects one of six weather conditions, including clear skies, wind, heavy wind, sun showers, passing rain, and growing storms.
The new Gulag features two arena variations, environmental weather effects, and additional opportunities for players to move around obstacles using mantling mechanics.
Zodiac – New Resurgence Map
Zodiac is a compact Resurgence map located within the DRC Advanced Systems drone manufacturing headquarters in South Korea.
Featuring 10 distinct POIs, Zodiac combines industrial facilities, research laboratories, elevated rooftops, underground passages, and coastal environments.
Some notable locations include:
- Admin: A central administrative tower.
- Trackline: A double railway system featuring moving trains.
- Furnace: An industrial area built around heavy manufacturing equipment.
- R&D: Research facilities offering different combat opportunities.
- Old Mines: An underground area with alternative routes.
Zodiac also features interactive environmental hazards, moving trains, and interconnected underground routes. These elements encourage players to change their positioning, use alternative paths, and adapt their strategies throughout each match.
Returning Classic Maps: Verdansk and Rebirth Island
Season 1 also brings back two familiar Warzone locations.
Verdansk returns as a Battle Royale map later in Season 1, featuring its recognizable urban environment alongside new landmarks such as Signal Station, Grazna-7 Launch Complex, Overlook skyscraper, and Drone Labs.
Rebirth Island also returns later in the season, bringing back its close-quarters combat experience across the prison, control center, and surrounding industrial areas.
These returning maps are part of the Season 1 roadmap and should not be confused with the initial November 6 map launch.
2. New Game Modes in Season 1
Season 1 introduces new limited-time modes alongside the familiar Battle Royale and Resurgence experiences.
Rally Point
Rally Point is a 20-player mode set on Zodiac, designed to help new and returning players explore Warzone’s gameplay systems.
Unlike traditional Battle Royale, Rally Point has no Gas Circle and features unlimited Resurgence, allowing players to enter and leave matches more freely.
Players can:
- Explore Zodiac and complete Contracts.
- Eliminate Hostile Soldiers and improve their personal elimination records.
- Collect Cash and discover valuable Supply Caches.
- Encounter special events such as Hostile Choppers and Elite Hostile Reinforcements.
- Join other players and form squads of up to four Operators in Neutral Grounds.
Rally Point also offers exclusive rewards, including one Weapon Blueprint and two Weapon Camos.
Massive Resurgence
Massive Resurgence takes place on Hajin and supports up to 120 players.
Players must collect loot, eliminate rival squads, and survive as the Gas Circle closes. The Resurgence system allows eliminated teammates to return to the battlefield when the required conditions are met.
Loaded Resurgence
Loaded Resurgence is available on Zodiac and Rebirth Island, with a maximum of 44 players.
Players deploy with their selected Loadouts and retain their equipped weapons after death. Eliminations also help players earn Perks and progress toward Specialist.
More Mid-Season Modes
Additional limited-time modes are planned for the middle of Season 1:
- Extreme Resurgence: A more intense Resurgence experience.
- Rockets and Snipers: A mode focused on long-range combat and explosive weapons.
3. New Equipment and Gameplay Features
Season 1 introduces new equipment and interactive objects that give players more ways to move, fight, and support their squads.
Zipline Launcher
The Zipline Launcher is a new Field Upgrade that creates a zipline between two anchor points.
Players can use it to:
- Travel between rooftops.
- Cross difficult terrain.
- Reach elevated positions.
- Create alternative routes for squad rotations.
The deployed zipline can be used by both friendly and enemy Operators, so players should remain alert when using one.
Grabber Drone
The Grabber Drone is a remotely controlled drone equipped with a retractable grabbing mechanism.
It can pick up loot, environmental objects, and even other Operators.
Players can use it to retrieve hard-to-reach items, collect Buy Station loot, or bring a downed teammate closer for a revive.
Its battery is limited, so using it at the right moment is important.
Interactive Environmental Objects
Season 1 introduces movable objects that can be used for tactical positioning and environmental control.
Examples include:
- Fuel Barrels: Move explosive barrels to create traps.
- Dumpsters: Use movable cover to block doorways or protect positions.
- Concrete Cylinders: Create additional mobile cover.
- Wooden Boxes: Block routes or reach elevated areas.
- Wooden Wedges: Build ramps to help vehicles cross obstacles.
- Wire Spools: Establish defensive positions.
These objects add more opportunities for players to interact with their surroundings rather than relying only on traditional cover.
Weapon Augments
Weapon Augments provide temporary weapon improvements during matches.
Season 1 introduces three types:
- CQC Augment: Improves aiming speed, sprint-to-fire speed, and close-range handling.
- Marksman Augment: Improves bullet velocity and damage range while reducing certain recoil effects.
- Handling Augment: Improves reload speed, rechamber speed, and weapon handling.
Players can find Weapon Augments through special Fly Buy Stations deployed during matches.
Ground Ops
Ground Ops introduces additional map activities and opportunities to collect valuable loot.
Players can discover high-value safes, surveillance towers, legendary loot chests, supply drones, and radioactive barrels.
Completing these activities can provide useful resources and tactical advantages during a match.
4. Weapons, Perks, and Progression Updates
The Modern Warfare 4 integration brings a substantial update to Warzone’s weapon and progression systems.
More Than 30 New Weapons
Players gain access to all 33 Modern Warfare 4 launch weapons, alongside additional armaments introduced throughout Season 1.
The update also introduces Apex Attachments, offering additional ways to modify weapon performance.
Previously available weapons from earlier Call of Duty titles will remain accessible through the Legacy Weapons section of the Loadout menu.
However, Legacy Weapons use preset configurations and cannot be customized through the Gunsmith or use certain Modern Warfare 4 weapon features.
Updated Perk System
Season 1 introduces 18 Perks:
- 15 Base Perks distributed across three Loadout slots.
- Three Elite Perks that can be obtained during matches.
The three new Elite Perks are:
- Athleticism: Improves agility while strafing, crouching, and aiming down sights.
- Phantom: Helps Operators avoid detection by enemy reconnaissance equipment and Perks.
- Fieldcraft: Rapidly regenerates Armor and Equipment.
Four new Base Perks also expand the available Loadout options:
- Incognito: Reduces enemy radar detection and delays enemy traps.
- Stocked: Allows players to carry additional Tactical and Lethal Equipment.
- Deft Hands: Improves Armor Plate insertion, Equipment usage, and crate capture speed.
- Wingman: Reduces the cost of redeploying teammates and helps conceal redeployment positions.
These additions provide more flexibility for different playstyles, from aggressive combat to stealth and squad support.
New Weapon Mastery Camos
Players can now work toward Warzone-specific Mastery Camos.
The three Mastery Camos are:
- Parallax
- Damascus Reforged
- Empyros
Players must complete the required weapon camouflage challenges and subsequent Mastery objectives to unlock these rewards.
Season 1 also introduces the Grind for Royalty system, which creates personalized challenges based on individual player statistics.
Players can earn two additional Weapon Camos through this system: Gold Excellence and Gold Mosaic.
5. Movement, Combat, and Gameplay Improvements
Beyond new content, Season 1 introduces several adjustments to improve the overall Warzone experience.
Tactical Sprint Returns
Tactical Sprint returns as part of the default movement system, meaning players no longer need a specific Perk to access it.
The update also improves several movement mechanics, including jumping, sliding, diving, and parachute landing transitions.
Improved Squad Revives
Players can now drag downed teammates while reviving them, allowing squads to move allies away from dangerous positions.
The update also improves turning and aiming responsiveness while dragging teammates.
Updated Loot and Economy
Season 1 revises the loot and economy systems to create more meaningful decisions during matches.
Updates include:
- New Ground Ops activities and rewards.
- Updated Contract rewards.
- Improved Buy Station inventories.
- High Value Loot Zones reduced to one active location per Battle Royale match.
- New High Value Supply Boxes with valuable rewards.
Better Audio and Visual Clarity
The update includes improvements to footstep audio, map visibility, lighting, UI readability, and combat feedback.
These changes are intended to help players identify enemies, understand their surroundings, and react more effectively during engagements.
6. Platform Availability and Important Changes
Season 1 also brings important platform changes.
Warzone Arrives on Nintendo Switch 2
Call of Duty: Warzone launches on Nintendo Switch 2 alongside Season 1.
Players can access the free-to-play experience and explore the new Season 1 content on the handheld platform.
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One Support Ends
Starting with Season 1, Warzone is no longer supported on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Players moving to a supported platform can retain their progression by signing in with the same linked Activision account.
Private Match Returns in Season 2
Warzone Private Match is disabled during Season 1.
According to the official update, Private Match is planned to return in Season 2 with expanded customization options and additional settings.
7. Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 – Quick Summary
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Season Launch | November 6, 2026 |
| New Battle Royale Map | Hajin |
| New Resurgence Map | Zodiac |
| Returning Maps | Verdansk and Rebirth Island |
| New Weapons | 33 Modern Warfare 4 launch weapons |
| New Elite Perks | Athleticism, Phantom, Fieldcraft |
| New Field Upgrades | Zipline Launcher, Grabber Drone, and more |
| New Limited-Time Modes | Rally Point, Massive Resurgence, Loaded Resurgence |
| Mid-Season Modes | Extreme Resurgence, Rockets and Snipers |
| New Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Private Match | Planned to return in Season 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When does Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 launch?
Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 launched on November 6, 2026, at 00:00 ET (November 5 at 21:00 PT).
What are the new maps in Warzone Season 1?
The two new maps are Hajin, a large-scale Battle Royale map, and Zodiac, a Resurgence map. Verdansk and Rebirth Island are also scheduled to return later in Season 1.
What new game modes are included in Season 1?
Season 1 introduces Rally Point, Massive Resurgence, and Loaded Resurgence. Extreme Resurgence and Rockets and Snipers are planned for the Mid-Season update.
Is Call of Duty: Warzone free to play?
Yes. Call of Duty: Warzone is a free-to-play game. Players can access the Warzone experience without purchasing Modern Warfare 4.
Can I play Warzone on Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes. Warzone launches on Nintendo Switch 2 with the Season 1 update.
Can I still play Warzone on PS4 and Xbox One?
No. Starting with Season 1, Warzone is no longer supported on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Players can continue their progression on supported platforms using the same linked Activision account.
When will Warzone Private Match return?
Private Match is disabled during Season 1 and is planned to return in Season 2 with expanded customization options.
Final Thoughts
Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 is a major update that changes more than just the available maps. With full Modern Warfare 4 integration, new weapons, additional movement options, interactive environmental objects, and expanded progression systems, players have more ways to approach every match.
Whether you’re exploring Hajin, fighting through Zodiac, or preparing for the return of Verdansk and Rebirth Island, Season 1 brings plenty of new content to discover.
Get ready to deploy, build your Loadout, and fight for survival in the new Warzone experience.
Official Sources:
- Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 – Everything You Need to Know
- Raven Software: Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 Patch Notes
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Warzone Season 1 Announcement
