Warzone Mobile launch delay explained - it doesn't mean what you think it means

10 May 2023 , 17:31

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Warzone Mobile launch delay explained - Call of Duty's mobile release was never set (Image: Activision)

Warzone Mobile's placeholder release date on Apple's App Store has led people to assume the game has faced a delay, despite the game never receiving an official date in the first place.

The Apple App Store initially showed Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile having an expected release date of May 15, 2023, so when this date suddenly changed to November 1, 2023, many have taken this to mean that the mobile title's release has been delayed. But, the original May 15, 2023 date was always a placeholder date, as is the new November 1, 2023 release date. The wording of that date also reads, "by 1 November 2023", so even that isn't a set date in itself. Activision has yet to announce any worldwide release date for Warzone Mobile, so can it delay a release date that doesn't yet exist?

Activision Co-Studio Head Chris Plummer said as much in a development update on YouTube this week, that while "there are signs of a release date online" he assures players that the release date will be announced when it's ready and not to take any placeholder dates to heart. He also goes on to assure players that the team is really happy with where the upcoming Call of Duty mobile game is at in this stage of development, and urges players to just wait a little longer.

You can't miss something you never had

Warzone Mobile was never due to be released in May 2023, just think about it for a second. If it was due to be released this month, you would have expected Activision to have pushed the boat out in terms of marketing, milking the release date confirmation all it can, in order to get people to download the game on mobile.

Activision has confirmed that Warzone Mobile will feature the iconic Verdansk map from the original Call of Duty: Warzone, with players set to have shared progression across Warzone 2, including Battle Pass, weapon XP and friends list. The mobile title will be a full fat Battle Royale experience, with up to 120 players in a single match.

Call of Duty could be removed from Microsoft's Activision deal

Earlier today, Season 3 Reloaded launched as a major update for Warzone 2, with Ranked Play being added as a brand new game mode, new DMZ experiences, weapon rebalances, new multiplayer maps, new weapons and some major bug fixes.

Nathan Bliss