Screenshots from Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile have leaked online and point to the return of Verdansk.
Very few games have taken their most famous map, one that becomes known outside of those who played the game and was even used by British rapper Dave as the name of his songs, and shelf it. But that is exactly what happened with Call of Duty: Warzone and its iconic Verdansk map.
Replaced by Caldera with the release of Warzone Pacific, the general consensus is that the new map set on a rather sparsely populated Pacific island doesn't hold a candle to Verdansk with its vertical cityscapes, ominous dam, and patchwork of industry and countryside.
But there is hope for Verdansk lovers everywhere as it looks like the map is not gone forever, with leaked images from Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile - the yet unreleased mobile version of the popular battle royale - showing that, at least in its closed alpha test, it is Verdansk that small-screen players are battling in.
Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile Leaked Screenshots Reveal Gameplay And Verdansk
In images leaked by insider COD_Perasus and subsequently circulated by a number of others in the community, you can clearly see the game's flying over Verdansk with the Stadium, Lumber POI, Downtown, and Port all in clear view.
Warzone Mobile Closed Alpha Leaked Images. Via @CoD_Perseus pic.twitter.com/UUV3Qq6OOL
— Call Of Duty: Mobile Leaks & News (@PlayCODNews) June 5, 2022
Another image shows the original Gulag too, another clear indicator that the return of Verdansk is more than simply a placeholder. Another screenshot shows Rebirth Island, the second, smaller map found in Warzone, and which a version also exists in Call of Duty: Mobile.
Other things that can be gleaned from the screenshots are a possible lobby size with 150 players alive players clearly visible on the HUD, the same figure seen in the mainline game but a step up from COD: Mobile's offering.
So, it looks like Warzone Mobile is trying to recapture everything that made the millions initially fall in love with its big brother. And who wouldn't want to turn back the clock to early 2020 and jump back into Verdansk with a group of kill-hungry eager friends and teammates, it was a high point for the franchise and, frankly, for gaming.
Activision Blizzard, please don't let us down.