Call of Duty: Warzone has largely enjoyed a smooth launch and a warm reception from fans of the franchise. Although players have already learned how to exploit the game's glitches to survive, the game is currently facing a far more serious technical issue than players have seen before.
Infinity Ward has already addressed four previous bugs and promised that future updates would resolve them. Some bugs are relatively minor, like players sometimes not dropping items after a server disconnect, and some make the game unplayable, like the sudden black screens that occur when walking on the map. However, while the problem that players face is not a problem with the game itself, it still renders the game unplayable.
In a recent tweet, Blizzard Entertainment reported an issue with its authentication servers on Battle.net. The developer warned players that until the servers were repaired, that they might have to either wait a long time to log in or not be able to log in at all. While social media users are currently reporting that several of Blizzard's games are not accessible, the current server outage is particularly troublesome for online multiplayer titles like Call of Duty: Warzone.
Technical issues like these are not uncommon for live services. Recently, Xbox Live players were also unable to log in. Outages like these are definitely inopportune for players who are self-quarantining because of the coronavirus. However, the current pandemic could also mean a longer wait until the Battle.net servers are restored. Other major developers are having workers work remotely until the outbreak subsides, and if the issue requires resources not readily available from programmers' homes, it could take more time.
Ultimately, safety takes priority over any technical issues. Hopefully, Blizzard staff will be able to resolve the authentication issue without any additional problems. But in the event that the developers are unable to do so, players should be understanding of the circumstances, and hopefully be prepared to find another game to play. While Battle.net servers may be down, the rest of the Internet and its vast library of content should kill enough time until Warzone is available again.
Call of Duty: Warzone is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.