Call of Duty: Warzone is a free-to-play battle royale from Activision, built by Infinity Ward and Raven Software and now in Black Ops 7 Season 06. Squads loot weapons, armor and cash on a large map while gas closes in. You win by being the last team standing in Battle Royale or Resurgence.
What is Call of Duty: Warzone?
Call of Duty: Warzone is Activision's free-to-play battle royale. Squads drop onto a large map, gather weapons, armor plates and cash, and fight while a gas cloud closes in. It shares progression with the premium Call of Duty games, so weapons and levels carry across, but you do not need to buy any of them to play Warzone.
The current version was developed by Infinity Ward and Raven Software and launched on November 16, 2022. Since then it has been updated each season alongside the yearly Call of Duty release. As of October 2026 Warzone is in Season 06 of the Black Ops 7 cycle, which started on September 17, 2026. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 releases on October 23, 2026, and Warzone usually changes when a new game arrives, so expect shifts after that date.
| Fact | Call of Duty: Warzone (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Developers | Infinity Ward and Raven Software |
| Publisher | Activision |
| Release | November 16, 2022 |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Battle.net, Steam, Xbox app); PS4 and Xbox One until MW4's first seasonal update |
| Price | Free-to-play |
| Genre | Battle royale shooter |
| Current season | Black Ops 7 Season 06 (from September 17, 2026) |
| Maps | Battle Royale: Verdansk and Avalon; Resurgence: Rebirth Island, Haven's Hollow, Fortune's Keep |
Activision has said PS4 and Xbox One support ends with Modern Warfare 4's first seasonal update, when a Nintendo Switch 2 version is also due.
What is the objective of Warzone?
In the main Battle Royale mode, the objective is to be the last squad standing. Everyone parachutes in, loots weapons, armor plates and cash, and must stay ahead of the gas that shrinks the playable area. You start a life with 150 health and two armor plates on top. Cash lets you buy items and your own custom loadout at Buy Stations around the map.
Warzone gives you more than one life in many modes. In Battle Royale, players who die early can fight in the Gulag, a small arena duel, for a chance to drop back in. In Resurgence, teammates redeploy automatically as long as someone in the squad stays alive. Over a season, the bigger goals are levelling weapons, finishing the battle pass and climbing ranked.
How do you win a match in Warzone?
Warzone rotates its playlists often, so the mode list in game is the final word. These are the main ones on the official Warzone page in Season 06.
| Mode | Team size | How you win |
|---|---|---|
| Battle Royale (Verdansk, Avalon) | Squads; size depends on the playlist | Be the last team standing as the gas closes in |
| Resurgence (Rebirth Island, Haven's Hollow, Fortune's Keep) | Squads; size depends on the playlist | Be the last team standing; teammates redeploy while anyone in the squad is alive |
| Black Ops Royale (Avalon) | Squads | Outlast every other squad with no loadouts, no Gulag and no Buy Stations; weapons are upgraded by rarity |
| Ranked Play: Resurgence | Squads | Same last-team-standing rule; your Skill Rating rises with placement and eliminations |
Activision does not list exact lobby sizes on its Warzone page, and they vary by map and playlist. Solos, Duos, Trios and Quads appear on the playlist screen when they are live, so pick the team size there.
How does ranked or progression work?
Warzone's ranked mode is called Ranked Play: Resurgence in Season 06. It uses Black Ops 7 weapons with some perk and attachment limits. You earn Skill Rating (SR) from placement and eliminations, with a cap of 150 SR from eliminations per match, and from Silver up each match costs a deployment fee. Ranks climb from Bronze through Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Crimson to Iridescent, with a Top 250 leaderboard above that. On PC, ranked also requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot for the RICOCHET anti-cheat.
Outside ranked, progression is your player level, weapon levels and the battle pass, all shared with the main Call of Duty game.
Our Warzone ranked play guide explains SR thresholds, deployment fees and rewards in detail. All of our Warzone posts are in the Warzone guides hub.
Beginner tips to win more
- Start in Resurgence. Faster matches and automatic redeploys mean more practice in fights and less waiting in the lobby.
- Plate up before you push. Armor plates give you 100 extra health on top of your 150; fighting without them is a big handicap.
- Collect cash and use Buy Stations. Buying your custom loadout early is often worth more than another fight.
- Practise the Gulag. Winning the one-on-one duel gets you back into a Battle Royale match, so treat it seriously.
- Move ahead of the gas. Rotating early to a building or high ground beats running across open ground with the gas behind you.
- Stick with your squad. Spread-out players get picked off one at a time, while a close squad can trade and revive.
- Avoid needless third parties. When two squads fight near you, decide quickly whether to join, wait or leave.
- Learn one loadout. A reliable long-range weapon and a close-range one you know well will win more fights than chasing every new gun.
How can Boosting Games help with Warzone?
Boosting Games sells fixed-price Warzone services, all listed in the Warzone services collection. Prices below are starting prices as of October 2026, and the exact price for your option shows before checkout.
| Service | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty: Warzone Match Wins | A set number of Warzone match wins | From $12 |
| Warzone 20+ Kill Win | A match win with 20 or more kills | From $25 |
| Warzone Ranked Play Unlock | Your account brought up to the ranked unlock | From $25 |
Ranked climbs by division are priced on the Warzone boosting page.
Honest risk note: Activision holds the account owner responsible for anything done on the account, no matter who was playing, and its enforcement policy lists boosting as an infraction. Piloted orders, where a booster signs in to your account, carry the most risk. Duo or self-play orders, where you keep your login, carry less, and coaching carries none. Read our account safety notice before you order. We never sell accounts, COD Points, items, cheats or mods.
Get help with Warzone
Pick a service, see the exact price before you pay, and follow progress on your private order page.
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Related reading: Warzone Ranked Play Guide: Ranks, SR, Fees and How to Climb, What is Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and how do you win? and What is PUBG and how do you win?
Warzone FAQ
Is Warzone free to play?
Yes. Warzone is free to play and does not require you to buy any premium Call of Duty game. Activision sells optional cosmetics, bundles and the battle pass through COD Points. Owning the current premium game can add extra content and shared progression, but the core Battle Royale and Resurgence modes are open to everyone at no cost.
What is the difference between Battle Royale and Resurgence?
Battle Royale is played on big maps such as Verdansk and Avalon, and when you die early you get a chance to return by winning a duel in the Gulag. Resurgence uses smaller maps such as Rebirth Island and lets fallen teammates redeploy automatically while anyone in the squad is still alive. Both are won by the last team standing.
What is the Gulag in Warzone?
The Gulag is a small arena where players who are eliminated early in Battle Royale fight a one-on-one duel. The winner gets to parachute back into the match with a fresh chance to help the squad. Black Ops Royale is an exception: that mode has no Gulag and no Buy Stations.
What platforms is Warzone on?
As of October 2026, Warzone runs on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Battle.net, Steam and the Xbox app. PS4 and Xbox One are still supported for now, but new downloads stopped in June 2026 and support ends with Modern Warfare 4's first seasonal update, when a Nintendo Switch 2 version is due to arrive.
Does Warzone have ranked?
Yes. In Season 06 it is Ranked Play: Resurgence, using Black Ops 7 weapons with some perk and attachment limits. You earn Skill Rating from placement and eliminations and pay a deployment fee from Silver up. Ranks go from Bronze to Iridescent, with a Top 250 leaderboard at the very top. PC players need TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot.
Will Warzone change when Modern Warfare 4 launches?
Very likely. Modern Warfare 4 releases on October 23, 2026, and Warzone normally brings in new weapons and changes when a new Call of Duty joins it. Activision has confirmed that the Switch 2 version and the end of PS4 and Xbox One support are tied to the first seasonal update, so check the in-game news after launch.
Sources: Call of Duty: Warzone official page, Wikipedia: Call of Duty: Warzone (2022), Activision Support: Ranked Play in Warzone, Esports Tales: Season 6 dates, Inquirer: Modern Warfare 4 release date, Activision: Security and enforcement policy.