Call of Duty Leak: The long rumored/datamined "Ural Mountains" map was actually scrapped, originally intended to be for a Blackout 2

[Kalentan]

Report: Leaked image reveals canceled ‘Ural Mountains’ BR map in Blackout engine - Dexerto

Image of Ural Mountains map for CoD Battle Royale leaks on Twitter.

charlieintel.com

So two screenshots were leaked, they were from around June 2020.

Like the rumors said it was the combined map of all of the Fireteam maps. However it was intended for a Blackout 2, because at the time they weren't sure if/how Black Ops Cold War would actually integrate with Warzone. Once that was decided this map was scrapped. This is actually interesting cause back in 2020, Jeff Grubb said this:

So when he said this, it seemed that this was in fact, the plan. But obviously things changed.

I feel so conflicted. The map (and the screenshot) were from early versions of said map and likely would have been far more detailed by the time it was done. So why scrap it and just give us revamped 80's Verdansk? It doesn't make sense to me.

 

[jfkgoblue]

It's better this way, rather keep Verdansk with updated POI's than have to relearn a brand new map

Verdansk is actually a really good map

 

[Zor]

Unless it hasn't been scrapped, but postponed?

 

[Ahti]

What a bummer. I loved Blackout and I´m sure, I´d play the shit out of this. Warzone just doesn`t do it for me.

 

[VeePs]

It's better this way, rather keep Verdansk with updated POI's than have to relearn a brand new map

Verdansk is actually a really good map

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Why not both?

 

[Kalentan]

Unless it hasn't been scrapped, but postponed?

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I mean it's possible? But the insiders who knew about this said it was scrapped.

Likely the left overs is what we will continue to get as Fireteam/Outbreak maps over the next few seasons of BOCW.

 

[--R]

I feel so conflicted. The map (and the screenshot) were from early versions of said map and likely would have been far more detailed by the time it was done. So why scrap it and just give us revamped 80's Verdansk? It doesn't make sense to me.

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Because more people play Warzone than Cold War, and they'd rather keep Warzone fresh and alive than scrap everything Verdansk and go with this, knowing that it will make a huge part of the playerbase angry.

 

[jfkgoblue]

Why not both?

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The file size is already large enough as is

 

[KDC720]

I hated Blackout, but the map was certainly interesting and more "out there" than Verdansk.

That being said, Warzone plays so much better than Blackout and I think the Fireteam maps suck for the most part (Outbreak is fine).

 

[Kalentan]

Because more people play Warzone than Cold War, and they'd rather keep Warzone fresh and alive than scrap everything Verdansk and go with this, knowing that it will make a huge part of the playerbase angry.

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But they wouldn't have needed to get rid of Verdansk.

PUBG and Apex both support multiple maps. Only Fortnite doesn't.

Hell, having a second map would probably make Verdansk feel more fresh over time since it wasn't the single only map. (Yes, there is Rebirth Island now but that separate from the traditional mode.)

 

[Arn]

It's better this way, rather keep Verdansk with updated POI's than have to relearn a brand new map

Verdansk is actually a really good map

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Verdansk has really run its course. The game needs a new map to preserve its playerbase, not an art pass and some 80's assets for Downtown.

 

[--R]

But they wouldn't have needed to get rid of Verdansk.

PUBG and Apex both support multiple maps. Only Fortnite doesn't.

Hell, having a second map would probably make Verdansk feel more fresh over time since it wasn't the single only map. (Yes, there is Rebirth Island now but that separate from the traditional mode.)

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Multiple maps divide the playerbase of the game and it was, in part, one of the reasons PUBG's popularity decreased. I'd rather stick with one map and have the entire playerbase, to be honest.

 

[Forsaken82]

I prefer the mechanics of Blackout to the mechanics of Warzone personally. I liked looting for Gun Accessories and equipping them in game rather than just looting for cash to get my goto loadout.

 

[CRIMSON-XIII]

I am disappointed because we are now 13 months into this and the map has not changed aside from the ship and zombies.

I really want a new big map or the 1980s version of Verdansk. Idk. I just want changes. I play warzone a few times a week and have since March 3rd launch 2020. It feels like the new map is 6-9 months late to be honest.

I hope the change comes soon with the next season in 15 days or whatever. I will keep playing but I am bored of the layout. At this point, i would take the blackout initial map as well as Verdansk.

 

[CRIMSON-XIII]

I prefer the mechanics of Blackout to the mechanics of Warzone personally. I liked looting for Gun Accessories and equipping them in game rather than just looting for cash to get my goto loadout.

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What about the quality of life as far as picking up gear. I feel like picking up armor or putting it on and managing the inventory was made more streamlined with Warzone. More room to focus on the combat and match. I remember blackout being a bit janky as far as UI or picking things up went., My memory could be foggy though as it has been a few years since then now.

 

[MetalKhaos]

What a bummer. I loved Blackout and I´m sure, I´d play the shit out of this. Warzone just doesn`t do it for me.

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This is how I felt. Warzone didn't really grab me, but I had a ton of fun playing Blackout.

 

[rashbeep]

Verdansk has really run its course. The game needs a new map to preserve its playerbase, not an art pass and some 80's assets for Downtown.

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this

 

[CRIMSON-XIII]

Could you imagine if the map changed every 3-6 months like how Fortnite was doing it in the start.

 

[poklane]

What a bummer. I loved Blackout and I´m sure, I´d play the shit out of this. Warzone just doesn`t do it for me.

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Same, outside of the armor system I vastly preferred Blackout over Warzone. Probably have 100+ hours in Blackout but I disliked Warzone so much I deleted it from my PS4 within the week.

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

Activision can fuck off with this,
This shit was hyped all over the place and they remain completely silent,

They draw the full Cold War integration out for months,
Game went completely to shit with slow development of everything (don't blame covid because MW and Warzone support was fine last year)
Now likely 6 months after release we get the same map with some edits to look 80s...
After months and months of buildup and silence.

I so tired of WW2 at this point but Jesus Christ I can't wait for Sledgehammer's competence.

Raven is good as well but them being stuck under the supervision of IW and now Treyarch absolutely sucks

 

[pksu]

Can't wait for the upcoming WW2 COD Warzone integration along with overpowered laser FG-42s with 50 rnd magazines

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

Double post

 

[DOT_mjo]

Jesus it's been a year of Verdansk with minor changes (trains, opening Stadium, new zip lines) but c'mon. It's time for something new.

 

[THE RABID MOOSE]

Wait why would Blackout return at all? Must be a different take then just straight out Battle Royale, right? Two competing BR modes from the same franchise is very confusing. Also how would they integrate a WW2 shooter into Warzone? After that MW2 2022 comes out, and would then just remove MW 2019 from Warzone and reset the progression of everyone to tie in with Modern Ware 2022 leveling, so they can have the same progression across three CODs at the same time?

Warzone needs to be its own thing completely going forward because if this confuses me as some random internet poster, how are the devs trying to balance all this with an annual franchise getting new installments, then integrating into Warzone and then simultaneously building towards the future and making sure it easier to integrate everything together? Are we gonna have multiple era warzone?

 

[LycanXIII]

They need to add swimming to the Warzone engine before they add a map like this.

Jesus it's been a year of Verdansk with minor changes (trains, opening Stadium, new zip lines) but c'mon. It's time for something new.

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With the subway already removed too.

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

Wait why would Blackout return at all? Must be a different take then just straight out Battle Royale, right? Two competing BR modes from the same franchise is very confusing. Also how would they integrate a WW2 shooter into Warzone? After that MW2 2022 comes out, and would then just remove MW 2019 from Warzone and reset the progression of everyone to tie in with Modern Ware 2022 leveling, so they can have the same progression across three CODs at the same time?

Warzone needs to be its own thing completely going forward because if this confuses me as some random internet poster, how are the devs trying to balance all this with an annual franchise getting new installments, then integrating into Warzone and then simultaneously building towards the future and making sure it easier to integrate everything together? Are we gonna have multiple era warzone?

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Probably the typical Treyarch arrogance,
They didn't care what IW and Raven were doing and just wanted to make their Blackout 2
Warzone is then a massive hit and Activision pulls the plug on it

 

[Calvin]

For Blackout to not get another shot, with the vastly superior gunplay, much more interesting looting/gun upgrade mechanics (to me, the core principal of a BR - which Warzone completely eschews and thus leads to a constant cycle of everyone running the same, broken meta) and the colors/character of the map is just an incredible shame, an indication of the rot (at the very top, not at the development studio level) at the top of ATVI when it comes to making decisions about this franchise.

If Warzone continues to be the only, de facto BR for CoD I will continue to not play it. I am interested in next year's game, no matter the setting, because Cold War is a disaster - a technical mess for a rushed game with bad weapons, bad maps, and worse hit detection. When I want to have fun with COD I go all the way back to Black Ops 4 and play a few matches of TDM or see if anyone can fill up a game of Blackout. Maybe we will get lucky and see that brought back for next year.

 

[sam777]

Well Verdansk is going in 16 days or whatever it is as the Nuke is about to go off

 

[Alienous]

It did seem like the only reason Black Ops Cold War didn't have a Battle Royale mode was to avoid stepping on Warzone's toes. They translated a lot of the Blackout mechanics and they only really see use in the Plunder-like mode.

Probably the typical Treyarch arrogance,
They didn't care what IW and Raven were doing and just wanted to make their Blackout 2
Warzone is then a massive hit and Activision pulls the plug on it

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It probably isn't any of this. They have the experience with Battle Royale games and they probably just had something ready in the event that another studio falters, which the Black Ops Cold War project overall is a result of.

 

[CRIMSON-XIII]

it's been a year of Verdansk with minor changes (trains, opening Stadium, new zip lines) but c'mon. It's time for something new.

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In the defense of the zip lines. Those were added as a reactionary measure to reach rooftops in another way aside from stairs.

But yeah it sucks that it has barely changed.

 

[Trisc]

Blackout had actual looting, varied destinations that didn't have an overabundance of super-vertical level design, and a fairly consistently balanced meta that relied more on gunskill rather than "I have [META GUN OF THE SEASON] and so does everyone else."

Seriously, loadouts are so incredibly boring. YouTubers find the most effective weapon in the meta, and suddenly it's all you run into all season long, whether it's the Kilo, the Grau, dual Renettis, dual snakeshot magnums, the FFAR, the AUG, whatever. Uninspired as hell.

I'd much rather find a gun without attachments on the ground and scavenge stuff to put on my weapon. But no, gotta optimize my weapon by throwing on the exact same attachments on every single loadout gun: faster ADS, less recoil, bigger mag, longer barrel, biggest suppressor. Yawn.

 

[CRIMSON-XIII]

Well Verdansk is going in 16 days or whatever it is as the Nuke is about to go off

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Hopefully.

I saw a message yesterday while playing that asked me and my squad to take cover as a bunch of rockets flew by overhead. It was the closest to a legit change i have ever seen on the map. I thought it was going to happen right during the match! Hopefully it is after this season.

 

[CRIMSON-XIII]

Well Verdansk is going in 16 days or whatever it is as the Nuke is about to go off

Click to shrink...

Hopefully.

I saw a message yesterday while playing that asked me and my squad to take cover as a bunch of rockets flew by overhead. It was the closest to a legit change i have ever seen on the map. I thought it was going to happen right during the match! Hopefully it is after this season.

 

[Reddaye]

If they don't want to split the playerbase with multiple maps at a time, at least cycle maps every season or so.

 

[TheGhost]

I'm already in the Ural Mountains with Zombies outbreak mode. They can probably bring it over.

 

[CRIMSON-XIII]

I noticed some of my replies are getting posted as duplicates. i apologize but the website is loading slow and as I refresh I notice my comments posted more than once.

I also wanted to say, Had warzone been a paid DLC addition, would the support for maps be better? A friend would complain saying that this is what we get with free support. Not many changes on maps. However, fortnite and other BR titles change things frequently as free things, Idk.

 

[poklane]

Well Verdansk is going in 16 days or whatever it is as the Nuke is about to go off

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It's reportedly being replaced with a 80s/90s Verdansk during the reconstruction of the city. A leaked trailer shows the stadium being build.

 

[Trisc]

I'm already in the Ural Mountains with Zombies outbreak mode. They can probably bring it over.

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That would be nice, but there's lots of water on maps like Sanatorium, and as you've probably noticed in Modern Warfare, that fork of IW Engine doesn't support swimming. Treyarch's does.

 

[TheGhost]

That would be nice, but there's lots of water on maps like Sanatorium, and as you've probably noticed in Modern Warfare, that fork of IW Engine doesn't support swimming. Treyarch's does.

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Ahhhhhh that makes sense

 

[PeskyToaster]

There were some things I enjoyed about Blackout but the actual shooting and movement was so lame compared to Warzone's. Every gun was very flat and stale, too easy to shoot, sounded kind of bad and had poor animations. I watched a video of myself shooting the AK equivalent and there is like no kick, don't even need a sniper for long range. Blackout just suffered from being developed by Treyarch and they steadily added more and more things that made the game so much worse. Auto-turrets, weird zombie shit, 5 tons of armor plating, those special operator variants, the specialist weapons etc. etc.. I did like having to scavenge for items but then again, I just ended up with the exact build I wanted anyway. There was definitely a meta back then too but even in Warzone, a good player will dominate bad players with bad weapons or good weapons. Aside from the outliers, I think the meta is mostly enforced by perceptions and people just copying streamers rather than any actual data. Especially during the Grau or Kilo metas, there were definitely better guns if you wanted to look outside the streamer bubble.

 

[stersauce]

There were some things I enjoyed about Blackout but the actual shooting and movement was so lame compared to Warzone's. Every gun was very flat and stale, too easy to shoot, sounded kind of bad and had poor animations. I watched a video of myself shooting the AK equivalent and there is like no kick, don't even need a sniper for long range. Blackout just suffered from being developed by Treyarch and they steadily added more and more things that made the game so much worse. Auto-turrets, weird zombie shit, 5 tons of armor plating, those special operator variants, the specialist weapons etc. etc.. I did like having to scavenge for items but then again, I just ended up with the exact build I wanted anyway. There was definitely a meta back then too but even in Warzone, a good player will dominate bad players with bad weapons or good weapons. Aside from the outliers, I think the meta is mostly enforced by perceptions and people just copying streamers rather than any actual data. Especially during the Grau or Kilo metas, there were definitely better guns if you wanted to look outside the streamer bubble.

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i really hate the state wz is in right now. during the grau/kilo meta, it still felt like you could get by with other guns. now, it feels like you have to be running ffar/aug to compete

 

[Trisc]

The reason the meta is a problem in Warzone is because, unlike during the "low DPS, high accuracy" meta where weapons like the AMAX were viable, we're to the point where the best guns are high DPS, high accuracy. Meta shift has gone from "weapons that don't kill quickly but are easy to use" to "weapons that kill quickly and are easy to use".

On top of that, with how loadouts work, everyone laser focuses on the meta. There's so little variance in games and it makes every match feel the same.

 

[Sunnz]

I swear if 80s verdansk is just a very light reskinned current verdansk and still looks the same in many ways, I hope warzone get bad press.

In comparison to apex and fortnite, they really have put so little effort into improving warzone.
Just a shit load of packs to buy.

Just looking at Reddit makes it clear how ignored core issues are. Hackers, glitches, meta weapons, a certain skin ect...

Zombie event in October was decent though.

 

[PeskyToaster]

The reason the meta is a problem in Warzone is because, unlike during the "low DPS, high accuracy" meta where weapons like the AMAX were viable, we're to the point where the best guns are high DPS, high accuracy. Meta shift has gone from "weapons that don't kill quickly but are easy to use" to "weapons that kill quickly and are easy to use".

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I don't think it's a coincidence that all of the problem weapons are Cold War guns. That game was a regression to the worst aspects of older Call of Duty. I'm really glad they brought back getting one shot by a burst rifle in your toe from a mile away. No recoil or bullet physics necessary. I think Blackout only compensated for it because you had stacks healing items, more base health, and a ton of armor. Turns out it's actually really hard to smash two games together like they tried to and they just didn't have the time to do it right imo. I'm hoping that future games are made with the expectation of conforming to Warzone and MW else it's just going to be a compounding mess.

 

[CRIMSON-XIII]

I swear if 80s verdansk is just a very light reskinned current verdansk and still looks the same in many ways, I hope warzone get bad press.

In comparison to apex and fortnite, they really have put so little effort into improving warzone.
Just a shit load of packs to buy.

Just looking at Reddit makes it clear how ignored core issues are. Hackers, glitches, meta weapons, a certain skin ect...

Zombie event in October was decent though.

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Based on the video i saw of the map , the entire Dam and behind the dam section is now a big bridge with a train on top plus a mini town where the fire dept. is on top of the current dam location.

Also, the area with the military base on top of that , near the northern corners beyond the dam.. There is a huge mountain there with caves like from IndianaJones and the TempleofDoom movie, with the train mining carts in the caves.

I am excited about the changes.

 

[Forsaken82]

What about the quality of life as far as picking up gear. I feel like picking up armor or putting it on and managing the inventory was made more streamlined with Warzone. More room to focus on the combat and match. I remember blackout being a bit janky as far as UI or picking things up went., My memory could be foggy though as it has been a few years since then now.

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I think the Armor system and looting in general is fine. Warzone does indeed have some solid QoL mechanics that feel nice, and the shooting is IMO one of the strongest for any battle royale. I just prefer finding guns AND the attachments that go along with it as opposed to random guns + rarities with accessories pre attached. I also am not a fan of the ability to call in your load out as well as buying kill streaks.

I'd prefer the Blackout system where you find perks in the environment that can be equipped for limited use, and get rid of the ability to purchase load outs. I feel like Raven has also been terrible at balancing the game since Cold War released.

 

[CRIMSON-XIII]

I think the Armor system and looting in general is fine. Warzone does indeed have some solid QoL mechanics that feel nice, and the shooting is IMO one of the strongest for any battle royale. I just prefer finding guns AND the attachments that go along with it as opposed to random guns + rarities with accessories pre attached. I also am not a fan of the ability to call in your load out as well as buying kill streaks.

I'd prefer the Blackout system where you find perks in the environment that can be equipped for limited use, and get rid of the ability to purchase load outs. I feel like Raven has also been terrible at balancing the game since Cold War released.

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See, it is interesting that you mention perks,

The whole big deal with perks for me is that i want to have ghost and (the other one), so that i do not appear on Warzone radars. If they adjust that so that no one can be a ghost, then i would totally disregard the idea of perks. .

As far as armor goes, there was definitely something that made it click better in warzone for me personally.

Loadouts though and having your chosen gun, idk if i want that removed :X . i am tired of the dumb basic ffar on the ground. Like I would prefer to pick up an AK47, M4A1 or an M16 assault rifle.

 

[Forsaken82]

See, it is interesting that you mention perks,

The whole big deal with perks for me is that i want to have ghost and (the other one), so that i do not appear on Warzone radars. If they adjust that so that no one can be a ghost, then i would totally disregard the idea of perks. .

As far as armor goes, there was definitely something that made it click better in warzone for me personally.

Loadouts though and having your chosen gun, idk if i want that removed :X . i am tired of the dumb basic ffar on the ground. Like I would prefer to pick up an AK47, M4A1 or an M16 assault rifle.

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I am tired of the basic ffar on the ground too, which is why i'd prefer to pick up a basic ffar on the ground, and work to find the attachments to make it better rather than just getting a quick 10k, call in the loadout and have the gun 60 seconds into the game. I just hate the predetermined rarity weapons already kitted out with accessories.

 

[SecondNature]

It's better this way, rather keep Verdansk with updated POI's than have to relearn a brand new map

Verdansk is actually a really good map

Click to shrink...

A reskinned Verdansk map is lame. I'd rather see map diversity like Apex and PUBG.

But the problem really is that the games play totally different between Black Ops and MW so they had to stick to a base style it seems.

Personally, i'm not a fan of how Warzone does perks. I think Blackout did it better. I also liked Blackouts futuristic abilities that allowed for more varied playstyles: the grappling hook created a ton of interesting moments.

Blackout was also far more vibrant and easier to read. Far less buildings, and simpler, which made the pace faster and more arcadey. That diversity is lost when we just get a reskinned Verdansk. The entire Black Ops game comes off as recycled af.

I swear if 80s verdansk is just a very light reskinned current verdansk and still looks the same in many ways, I hope warzone get bad press.

In comparison to apex and fortnite, they really have put so little effort into improving warzone.
Just a shit load of packs to buy.

Just looking at Reddit makes it clear how ignored core issues are. Hackers, glitches, meta weapons, a certain skin ect...

Zombie event in October was decent though.

Click to shrink...

Im hoping Battlefield blows COD out of the water this year, it really seems like they have a huge game ... provided it isnt like BFV and rushed to launch

 

[Lionheart360]

This is incredibly disappointing. I wonder how long it takes to build, test, and finalize a map from scratch. You would think there has been enough time between them canceling blackout for Cold War and now to allow for the development of a new map.