Modern Warfare’s latest update seemingly prepares for battle royale

The latest update for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare seemingly paves the way for its long-anticipated battle royale mode.

The game’s Season Two update, which went live on all platforms today, updates its list of game types with a new ‘classified’ menu item.

The game’s new intro video (embedded below) also shows scenes which are clearly reminiscent of the battle royale game type.

Modern Warfare’s battle royale mode has been anticipated for many months. In December a glitch even allowed players to explore a larger map expected to be used for the game type.

VGC independently verified the glitch, which lets users visit locations such as a sports stadium and a gulag prison previously revealed in a Modern Warfare battle royale datamine.

According to Call of Duty dataminer Sensecallo, the mode – which will reportedly be added as a free post-release addition – will feature support for up to 200 players and introduce a new twist on player respawns.

Modern Warfare already supports 100 players via its Ground War multiplayer mode, but the map planned for Battle Royale appears to be significantly larger.

According to previously leaked data, Modern Warfare’s battle royale mode will introduce a fresh twist on player respawns.

Players will reportedly be able to obtain respawn tokens which place downed teammates in the gulag with other defeated players. Imprisoned players then queue for a chance to respawn into battle by winning a 1v1 duel.

At some point during the match, the gulag will close and no longer be usable, thus preventing respawns, it’s claimed.

Modern Warfare’s battle royale mode will also reportedly include perks, player missions and support for solo, duo and quad team modes.

In a nod to Apex Legends, players will be able mark vehicles, locations, items, enemies and dangerous locations for teammates to see, according to the leak.

Modern Warfare’s Season 2 update introduces four new maps including an updated version of Modern Warfare 2’s Rust, Atlas Superstore, Gunfght map Bazaar and Ground War battleground Zhokov Boneyard.

Access to all 100 tiers of content will be available for 1,000 COD Points (about $10/£8.50), which will instantly unlock Modern Warfare 2’s Ghost as a new Operator. The Battle Pass and 20 tier skips will cost 2,400 COD Points.

During an earnings call on February 6, Activision Blizzard said 2020’s unannounced, premium Call of Duty game – rumoured to be Treyarch’s Black Ops 5 – is already generating a positive reaction among playtesters.

“The franchise has never been better positioned for growth and there’s more to come, including entirely new experiences within the Modern Warfare universe and then of course, in Q4 this year, a new premium Call of Duty release which is already generating excitement in our playtests,” claimed president and chief operating officer Coddy Johnson.