VentureBeat Magazine: Unveiling the Design Process Behind Activision’s Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile
The highly anticipated release of Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is just around the corner, and fans of the franchise are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to take their gaming experience on the go. In a recent interview with Chris Plummer, co-studio head at Warzone Mobile, the magazine had the chance to delve into the details behind the game’s development and the decisions that went into creating this groundbreaking mobile version.
According to Plummer, the main goal for Activision was to ensure they didn’t “screw it up.” With over 50 million pre-registrations for the game and a dedicated development ecosystem involving four game studios, Activision is determined to deliver a seamless and authentic Call of Duty experience on mobile devices. Plummer emphasized that they wanted to “complete the circle” by connecting and uniting the Call of Duty community across all platforms.
One of the key decisions behind developing Warzone Mobile in-house, rather than outsourcing it to TiMi, was to utilize Activision’s proprietary technology and backend systems. Plummer mentioned that they wanted to keep the “secret sauce” of their technology within the company and leverage the expertise of the studios that have been creating Call of Duty games for the past 20 years.
It’s important to note that Warzone Mobile is not simply a port of the console experience. Plummer emphasized that they wanted to create a best-in-class mobile shooter that feels authentic on a touch screen. They focused on ensuring that touch screen controls and responsiveness matched the Call of Duty feel, while also providing support for Bluetooth controllers for those who prefer alternate methods of play.
The design of Warzone Mobile was influenced by its battle royale nature and its focus on large player counts and social interactions. Plummer mentioned that while there are familiar paradigms from other mobile games in the genre, the game also has unique mechanics and flavor that are driven by the first-person experience of Call of Duty. The goal was to honor the content across all platforms and provide cross-progression, allowing players to seamlessly switch between mobile, PC, and console versions of the game while maintaining their progress and unlocks.
In terms of handling the load and accommodating the massive mobile audience, Plummer expressed confidence in their experience from launching Call of Duty Mobile and their well-optimized infrastructure. They have prepared for overwhelming support and have various options in place to handle any unexpected surges in traffic.
Warzone Mobile will debut with the popular Verdansk map, which has been battle-tested and well-loved by the Call of Duty community. Plummer mentioned that while there are plans for map evolution and changes over time, Verdansk will be the initial focus. Additionally, Plummer clarified that the current release of Warzone Mobile does not include a Zombies mode, but it may be introduced in the future as the game continues to evolve.
One interesting decision made by the development team was to not implement cross-play between mobile, PC, and console players. Plummer explained that their main goal was to provide the best possible mobile experience and tuning the game for a specific platform would not have allowed them to achieve that. However, cross-progression is a key feature, ensuring that players’ inventory, progress, and unlocks are carried across all platforms.
The interview also touched on the frequency of updates and new drops in Warzone Mobile. Plummer revealed that they have a regular cadence of releases, with major updates every month and season updates every other month. The goal is to keep the game fresh and evolving, responding to player feedback and introducing new experiences regularly.
In conclusion, Activision’s Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile promises to deliver an authentic and immersive Call of Duty experience on mobile devices. With its focus on cross-progression, large player counts, and seamless connectivity across platforms, Warzone Mobile aims to unite the Call of Duty community and provide a best-in-class mobile shooter. The game is set to launch worldwide on March 21, and fans can expect regular updates and new content to keep the game exciting and ever-evolving.