Call of Duty: Warzone 2 developers added new restrictions to the recently released Ranked game mode, limiting the type of optics players can use in their next matches. Call of Duty: Warzone 2's ranked game mode offers players a place where they can show off their skill level while climbing the ranked division. The game's developer has restricted some items from the mode to ensure a competitive playing field, and now it added more to the list.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2 Season 3 Reloaded launched on May 10, and besides the new weapons, operators, bundles, maps, and challenges, it brought a long-awaited game mode that excited the community. Call of Duty: Warzone 2 Ranked mode launched, and thousands of players are climbing the ladder through all the divisions while getting exclusive rewards and fighting against skilled players looking to get to the top of the scoreboard. As with any competitive mode, Call of Duty: Warzone 2's developer has made some balance changes, but it looks like they were not enough as more items were restricted recently.
On May 24, the official Treyarch Studios Twitter account made a post regarding some of the new restrictions coming to Call of Duty: Warzone 2's ranked game mode. According to the tweet, limitations now include thermal optics that had the unintended ability to spot enemy players through smoke grenades while using the Cold-Blooded perk. The restriction covers the following optics: SZ Holotherm, VX350 Thermal Optic, Teplo-op3 Scope, Thermo-Optic X9, Teplo Clear Shot, and Drexsom Prime-90. Using thermal optics in Call of Duty: Warzone 2 sniper loadouts are nothing out of the ordinary, but players looking to climb the ranked divisions must find another attachment that gives them the advantage they want.
Treyarch Studios elaborated on the sudden restriction explaining why Call of Duty: Warzone 2 players could no longer use these optics. Given the un-intended interaction between thermal optics and the Cold-Blooded perk, the Call of Duty: Warzone 2 Ranked Play team banned these items, as they were giving players a competitive advantage, especially in late rounds.
The developer also stated that these restrictions are subject to change in the following seasons if they go through some balance changes. According to the Twitter thread, these changes are based on data and feedback, so bringing back these optics in a future Call of Duty: Warzone 2 update is not out of the question.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.