Following leaks that have postponed the anticipated return of Verdansk to Warzone, new insights have emerged shedding light on why the decision to reintroduce Verdansk was made in the first place — and it appears Fortnite played a significant role.

Verdansk, Warzone’s inaugural map, remains a beloved favorite among many players nostalgic for the early days of the battle royale. The map debuted in March 2020 and was replaced by Caldera in December 2021. Since its removal, Verdansk has been absent from the main game but is still available in Warzone Mobile.

According to a report from Insider Gaming, which cites an anonymous source, Verdansk was not initially planned to return to Warzone. However, the overwhelming success of Fortnite OG prompted Activision to reconsider, aiming to emulate this achievement by bringing back its own original map.

The report reveals that this strategic shift occurred in late 2023, soon after the launch of Fortnite OG, which achieved record-breaking player numbers. Given the positive reception Fortnite received by revisiting its first map, Activision naturally sought to replicate this success with Warzone.

For a long time, Warzone players have been vocal about their desire for the return of Verdansk and its dynamic gameplay. For many long-time fans, the original map holds sentimental value as the starting point of their Warzone journey, and its return would offer an opportunity to revisit those early experiences.

In November 2023, there were even community suggestions for Call of Duty to follow Fortnite OG's example. While Activision seemed poised to meet this demand, not all Warzone players were in agreement. Some believed it was premature to bring back Verdansk, expressing a preference for a new map instead.

Although Verdansk is anticipated to make a comeback eventually, it is not expected to be the only map introduced in the upcoming Black Ops 6 era.

Another new Warzone map, codenamed Avalon, is reportedly in development and is slated for release in 2025.