Verdansk is finally making its long-anticipated return to CoD's Warzone, but it appears one of the game’s most divisive mechanics will be absent.
Leaks suggest that the upcoming remake of the beloved battle royale map will not include any water, ensuring a more traditional movement experience for players.
The Swimming Controversy in Warzone
When swimming was introduced in Warzone 2 back in 2022, developers saw it as a major evolution in gameplay. Activision had high hopes for the mechanic, defending its addition by arguing that it was impractical to design a battle royale experience where players died instantly upon entering water.
However, the execution didn’t go as smoothly as planned. While Al Mazrah had some lakes and rivers, frustration reached a breaking point with Ashika Island. The Resurgence map heavily featured waterways, forcing players into underwater fights that many found frustrating. A particular pain point was when the final circles ended in water, limiting combat to pistols alone.
Raven Software attempted to mitigate this in 2023 by giving all players a dedicated pistol slot, but water-based combat remained an annoyance. Even in Urzikstan, the latest Warzone map, water mechanics continue to be an issue for many in the community.
Actually crazy how much time, effort and resources was put into adding water physics and combat into Call of Duty and Warzone but nobody ended up liking it. Verdansk will 100% be better off without water combat. pic.twitter.com/lhf0IY9vig
— ModernWarzone (@ModernWarzone) March 10, 2025
Verdansk Returns Without Water – For Now
After months of rumors and speculation, Activision has finally confirmed that Warzone’s original map, Verdansk, will be making its return in Season 3, launching on April 3. Leaks suggest the remake will be largely faithful to the 2020 version, with only a handful of minor updates.
One of the biggest concerns from fans was whether swimming would be implemented into Verdansk. Since water was never a factor in the original version of the map, many feared that Activision would try to integrate the mechanic in the remake. However, Call of Duty insider TheGhostOfHope has reassured players that the upcoming Verdansk will have no water features.
No water on Verdansk.
— Hope (@TheGhostOfHope) March 10, 2025
That doesn’t mean things won’t change in the future. The leaker also claimed that Activision has plans for periodic updates to Verdansk throughout Black Ops 6’s lifecycle and beyond. This could mean map alterations – including the possible introduction of water – down the line.
Verdansk map updates (new and returning) are planned throughout BO6 seasons and beyond potentially to keep people interested. They're not gonna keep the map as the OG March 2020 version forever.
— Hope (@TheGhostOfHope) March 10, 2025
For now, though, players can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Verdansk will remain true to its classic roots. No water means smoother movement, no underwater gunfights, and a return to the gameplay experience that made the map an instant fan favorite back in 2020.