You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide For many, the best iteration of Call of Duty: Warzone was when the bustling metropolis of Verdansk was the main focus of the battle royale. Like other battle royale battlegrounds, the map featured a wide variety of different points of interest (POI) that encouraged players to adopt different styles of play to avoid a trip to the gulag.Since Verdansk departed Warzone in 2021, Raven Software has struggled to capture the same magic despite releasing some of the biggest and most unique maps ever seen in any Call of Duty game. In the Spring of 2025, Verdansk makes its long-awaited return to Warzone much to the delight of fans hoping to take a trip down memory lane.Activision often utilises nostalgia to spark interest in Call of Duty such as the return of Nuketown or Shipment every other year but in the case of Verdansks return, the familiar setting will only go so far. Once the initial hype has subsided, the return of the popular battlefield will not rescue Warzone from its most recent low point.Omnimovement allows players to sprint, slide, and dive in any direction. Original Verdansk only had the ability to slide, creating a one-dimensional system that was easy to predict. Combined with slide-cancelling and the double bunny hop, engagements were somewhat even and gave both players a chance to evade the dreaded gulag.With several methods to duck and dive out of harms way in rebirthed Verdansk, theres a high chance players will experience some questionable deaths due to the fluidity of the movement mechanics. The battle royale already has plenty of RNG-based elements and the last thing it needs is players moving in unnatural ways to gain the upper hand.Same map, different engineAlthough the layout of Verdansk will be exactly the same as the iteration that launched in 2020, the current version of Warzone operates on the IW 9 engine, an upgrade on the IW 8 engine that made its debut with the battle royale and 2019s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Widely regarded as one of the best Call of Duty engines, IW 8 enabled fast-paced and fluid movement which birthed the slide cancelling and double bunny-hop mechanics that remain popular methods of outplaying the opposition.To unify future releases starting with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games will continue to use IW 9 to ease the development process. While Call of Dutys development may be easier than ever before for those working on Activisions shooter series, the addition of Omnimovement and slower slide-cancelling speed means Verdansk will not feel anything like Warzone from five years ago.A paradise for hackersDespite the Black Ops 6 cycle launching with improvements to Ricochet anti-cheat, the measures havent been enough. Hackers have infested Warzone and are using all kinds of underhanded techniques to ruin the fun for everyone. While many still possess unnatural aim and the ability to see through walls, some cheaters have found the ability to crash game servers resulting in huge disruption for players. The issue has grown to uncontrollable levels with the biggest content creators ditching the battle royale for other games that are capable of dealing with cheaters.Although Activision has promised the Season 2 update will deliver further measures to curb the infestation of hackers, theres every chance some slip through the net and disrupt the return of the beloved battlefield. Infinity Ward managed to take a strict stance on hackers resulting in Verdansks debut being one that was much smoother than other integrations. Since then, the battle royale has been in the middle of its lowest point making the maps return hugely important in the success of Warzone in 2025.Memories only last so longVerdansk holds a special place in the hearts of Warzone players due to the timing of its launch. March 2020 was just as the world was locking down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving billions indoors and looking for ways to stay in touch with their friends. Verdansk played host to millions dropping into the actions to join forces with friends, creating memories that would last a lifetime. Everyone remembers that time landing on the Hospital roof, grabbing the helicopter, and eliminating any unarmed enemy in the blink of an eye.The map returning on a new engine and without any of the weaponry and exploits that made the map home for numerous memorable moments puts many at risk of tainting the fun times with gameplay that is unable to reach the high bar set by its predecessor. If youre able to acknowledge Verdansk in 2025 wont feel anything like it did five years ago, youll have a great time. If youre wanting the complete Warzone 1 experience, the return of the map wont be able to rescue Warzone from its self-inflicted trip to the gulag.Related TopicsCall of Durty Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share