Treyarch has announced a brand new game mode that will be heading to Call of Duty: Warzone, titled Black Ops Royale. It’s set to be a fresh spin on the traditional Warzone battle royale gameplay that you know and love, and it might sound familiar to fans of Black Ops 4.
That’s because Black Ops Royale is the spiritual successor to Call of Duty’s first-ever battle royale mode, titled Blackout. Fans of Warzone are bound to feel right at home, but there are still some crucial differences you’ll want to be aware of.
If you’re not looking to be caught off guard when Black Ops Royale releases, then Insider Gaming has got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about Black Ops Royale, and how it differs from the bog-standard Warzone.
What Is Black Ops Royale?
Black Ops Royale is an original battle royale game mode that’s inspired by Black Ops 4’s Blackout. It strips away plenty of Warzone’s fundamental features, whilst adding a few defining ones of its own.
At its core, Black Ops Royale is still incredibly similar to Warzone: matches will feature 25 teams of four battling it out for victory in an ever-shrinking map. However, when you look at the details, that’s where Black Ops Royale differentiates itself.
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Firstly, and most obviously, there are no loadouts in Black Ops Royale. Everyone will spawn into a match with a knife and a pistol, and any further gear you acquire will have to be scavenged across the map, either by opening loot boxes or completing activities. Say goodbye to the cash system and Buy Stations—you’re on your own.
Secondly, there’s no Gulag. Warzone was widely celebrated for its implementation of the Gulag, giving dead players a chance to get back into the action, so it might seem crazy to do away with it. However, dead players can still be respawned, but you’ll rely much more heavily on your team, who need to find a Redeploy Token, or use a Redeployment Tower.
Those might be the two biggest changes, but there’s still one major one to consider: the map.
Black Ops Royale Avalon Map, Explained
Black Ops Royale will take place on a separate map to Warzone, with Avalon being the designated map at launch.
For fans of Black Ops 7’s campaign, the map will be incredibly familiar to you, as it’s the same map used for its Endgame mode. Treyarch has assured fans that, whilst it will feel familiar, there will be numerous changes to better suit the map for a battle royale, with expanded areas of land and additional ziplines being the standouts.
Don’t get too comfy, though, as the map will evolve with each new Season. Transformations have been teased for Avalon, with the first one arriving alongside Season 3, where there will be more tidal flats, as well as the possibility of draining deeper pockets of water.
Movement throughout the map should be better than ever, too. Black Ops 7’s omnimovement will be integrated, as well as a grappling hook for further mobility options. Water will also play a huge part, with players having the ability to swim and drive boats.
Aside from just shooting enemies, there will be plenty to do across Avalon. A range of optional activities is available, and they work similarly to Warzone’s Contract system; complete them, and you’ll earn items like equipment, ammo, and armor.
Black Ops Royale Weapons & Perks, Explained
Circling back to the weaponry, the only way to get new weapons in Black Ops Royale is to find them scattered across the map—the same goes for equipment and perks.
Depending on the weapon’s rarity, it can contain anywhere between one and five attachments. If you’re not happy with its setup, you can find Attachment Kits, which increase the weapon’s rarity while adding another attachment to the gun.
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As for equipment and killstreaks, Black Ops Royale allows you to equip two of each, though they must be different to one another—no double stacking Grenades. Interestingly, UAVs and Counter-UAVs have been removed from the streaks, as Treyarch try to create a more tactical, slower gameplay loop.
Finally, there are the perks. These can be found as ground loot, in supply boxes, or earned as activity rewards. These function incredibly differently from Warzone’s perks, as in Black Ops Royale, the perks and temporary consumables. That means they won’t last until death, so you’ll have to tactically decide when it’s best to use them. You can hold up to five at once, and duration varies from perk to perk.
Overall, it looks like Black Ops Royale will shake up the battle royale space, especially for Warzone fans. Are you excited to give it a go? Share your thoughts in the official Insider Gaming Discord Server.
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