The patch notes for Season 1 of Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific have been released by developer Raven Software, detailing one of the biggest updates in the game's history.
In case you have not been keeping up-to-speed with the online shooter lately, it is being rebranded as Warzone Pacific with this latest patch. The name change is to reflect the fact that the battle royale is now in a totally new phase, much like how Fortnite has wiped the slate clean with its recent Chapter 3 update.
The entire game is being transported from its current 1980s setting to World War II, complete with new weapons, rulesets and vehicles. Not to mention, there is also an original map (known as Caldera) for players to learn.
The official patch notes blog is extensive and goes into minute detail on all of the changes, totalling nearly 4,000 words in bullet-point lists.
Newsweek has condensed the epic post into a summary of highlights and key information below.
'Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific' Caldera Map
The most significant update to Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific is the introduction of the tropical Caldera Island.
Characterized by its lush jungles, ancient temples and paradisial resorts, it couldn't be more different from the oppressive and dreary Verdansk map (which has now been phased out).
Caldera itself is divided up into 15 regions and points of interest, which you can see listed below.
- Arsenal
- Docks
- Runway
- Ruins
- Mines
- Peak
- Beachhead
- Village
- Lagoon
- Airfield
- Fields
- Sub Pen
- Power Plant
- Capital
- Resort
More than just a change of scenery, some of these landmarks will also provide fresh gameplay opportunities. For instance, the shallows of the Lagoon area introduce new mechanics, like the ability to use water to mask your footprint trail or to produce smokescreens by using fire equipment.
With the Caldera battle royale map also comes a new Gulag. If you emerge victorious from this duelling arena (which you are sent to upon death) then you will be sent back into the match with a second chance at life.
In addition to this, players will also be able to duke it out on the Rebirth Island map for a brief period. This is just a temporary location that is being used to tide fans over while they wait for Caldera to officially launch on December 9.
According to the patch notes, Rebirth Island will then be removed from rotation for a week, until it makes a comeback on December 16 with the Week 2 Playlist update.
Vanguard Royale and WWII Ruleset
It's not just the setting that is getting a WWII overhaul here, as Warzone Pacific's battle royale ruleset is undergoing quite a few changes as well.
Tying in with the world of Call of Duty: Vanguard, you will lose access to all the Cold War-era gadgets that you previously had in Warzone. With everything now firmly situated in the 1940s, you will instead be restricted to using older weapons (more on those later) and vehicles.
While this ruleset might seem like it's just stripping out content, there are a few cool additions to the experience as well. For instance, you can now take to the skies in WWII fighter planes and participate in aerial dogfights, or take control of an anti-aircraft gun and shoot down those pesky pilots.
As aforementioned, the introduction of shallow waters in the Lagoon area affords extra opportunities for tactical stealth, and you can also set traps with the new gasoline can items.
Finally, the Vanguard Royale mode (as it has been dubbed by Raven Software) will feature a new environmental hazard, with bombing runs occurring throughout each match at random intervals. To prepare for these, you just need to listen out for the announcement and monitor the red circle on your tactical map.
A breakdown of the WWII-era ruleset for Vanguard Royale can be found below, indicating what has and has not been removed from the game.
New Weapons List
According to the patch notes, there will be over 40 new weapons in Warzone Pacific at launch (including Katana swords and the jawbone of a shark).
Here is the full list. Please note, some of these will need to be unlocked through the battle pass or completing specific challenges.
Assault Rifles
- AS44
- Assault Rifle Hotel
- Assault Rifle Charlie
- Cooper Carbine
- Assault Rifle Bravo
- NZ-41
- Assault Rifle Alpha
- Volkssturmgewehr
- Grav
Handguns
- 1911
- Klauser
- Machine Pistol
- RATT
- Top Break
Launchers
- M1 Bazooka
- MK11 Launcher
- Panzerfaust
- Panzerschreck
Light Machine Guns
- Light Machine Gun Charlie
- DP27
- MG42
- Type 11
Melee
- Combat Shield
- FS Fighting Knife
- Sawtooth (A club crafted from the jaws of the ocean's most fearsome predator)
- Katana
Shotgun
- Combat Shotgun
- Double Barrel
- Einhorn Revolving
- Gracey Auto
- .410 Ironhide
Sniper Rifles
- 3-Line Rifle
- Gorenko Anti-Tank Rifle
- Kar98k
- Type 99
Submachine Gun
- M1912
- Submachine Gun Charlie
- Owen
- PPSh-41
- Sten
- Type 100
Tactical Rifle
- G-43
- M1 Garand
- SVT-40
General Updates
In addition to the new load out, there are a few other quality of life improvements and balancing tweaks in the Warzone Pacific Season 1 update.
These include:
- Over a dozen New Operators
- New Prestige, Calling Cards, Emblems, and More
- A new battle pass with over 100 tiers
- A new tutorial section for newcomers to Call of Duty: Warzone
- Anti-cheat updates
'Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific' Update File Size
With so much content being added in this latest update, you are no doubt wondering how much storage space you will need to set aside for the download.
According to the official patch notes, the update file size is about 40 GB, but this does vary from system to system. Here is how much space you need for each platform:
- PlayStation 5: 44.7 GB
- PlayStation 4: 44.7 GB
- Xbox One Series X/S: 41.2 GB
- Xbox One: 41.2 GB
- PC: 37.8 GB (Warzone Only)
- PC: 69.1 GB (Warzone and Modern Warfare®)
Call of Duty: Warzone is free to play on PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
