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Call of Duty: Warzone 2 brings conflict to Al Mazrah on a massive scale, with matches of up to 150 players spread out across a map that has 18 major points of interest. There are a few choices for players who want to jump in, including solo play, Battle Royale Duos, Unhinged Battle Royale Trios, Battle Royale Quads, and more. DMZ matches are also currently in beta. Also returning in Warzone 2 is the Gulag, though it looks a little different this time around.
Battle royale games are unlike standard multiplayer matches in that they take place on a much bigger map that continues to shrink in size, forcing players into closer proximity. It's still possible to die before the game gets far in, though players often don't find it fun to drop into a huge match and get eliminated early on. Luckily, the developers of Warzone 2 recognize it's good to have a second chance for all players not fortunate enough to take home the title in a battle royale match.
Escaping the Gulag in Warzone 2 Brings Fans Back to the Action
A battle isn't over the moment players get shot and captured in Al Mazrah. Players can earn redemption and another chance at glory in the Gulag, which is a sort of mini-game within the battle royale that allows players to fight for a chance to continue in the main match. The Gulag is a little different than it appeared in the first iteration of Warzone, but the intensity and urgency remains in Warzone 2.
After meeting their demise in Warzone 2, players are transported to a scene where they have a hook pulled off of their head, followed by a villain telling them they will have to fight for their chance to re-enter the game. Once four players have populated the space, a Gulag competition begins with a 2v2 format where the winning team gets to revive in the main battle royale match. Every player in a Gulag match has the same weapon, and matches generally take one minute or less.
The 2v2 aspect of the Gulag in Call of Duty: Warzone 2 is a significant change given Gulag matches in the original Warzone were only 1v1. Some players have expressed concern that the expanded format might bring a level of unfairness, as a good player might be partnered with a teammate who's new or can't really help. Thus far, there don't appear to be any of the game-breaking bugs around the Gulag that sometimes appeared in the first game, and Gulag matches are potentially balanced by including players who were all eliminated at roughly the same time.
The Jailbreak feature in Call of Duty: Warzone 2 also plays into Gulag matches, as the winning team in a Gulag match will have to defeat one Jailbreak player before they are able to return. Jailbreak players are those who have been eliminated but are given a "one last chance" opportunity to get back into the game.
Adding multiple ways for players to get back into the action after being eliminated is a nice feature for Call of Duty: Warzone 2, especially for players who just suffered a frustrating defeat or had a great match before mistakes happen. Since so many parts of Warzone 2 feature squad-based combat, the 2v2 aspect of the Gulag fits nicely, giving plenty of reasons to jump back in - as long as bugs don't ruin the experience.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.