Call of Duty: Warzone is set to roll out a new feature, “Covert Exfil,” stirring a mix of excitement and skepticism among its fan base. This addition, part of the game’s Season 1 Reloaded update, has sparked debates about the future of Activision’s popular battle royale game and whether it’s staying true to its genre.
The new “Covert Exfil” feature allows players to strategically exit the game early by purchasing a helicopter extraction at a Buy Station. This feature, however, is limited to five per match and comes at a high cost. A significant aspect of this addition is the introduction of a new leaderboard specifically for Covert Exfil, encouraging players to engage with this novel escape route.
Despite being an innovative step, some fans are concerned that it dilutes the essence of a battle royale game. Comparisons are being made to the extraction shooter genre, exemplified by games like Escape from Tarkhov, suggesting a shift away from traditional battle royale mechanics. This sentiment is echoed in community discussions, with concerns that early exits could disrupt the game’s competitive flow.
With the #Warzone Season 1 Reloaded update next week, we'll be introducing Covert Exfil – a challenging new way to escape the match that provides players with one of two methods to secure the Weapon Case!
Successfully extracting via Covert Exfil does not count as a traditional…
— Raven Software (@RavenSoftware) January 10, 2024
Adding to the confusion, Raven Software’s statement contradicts the official blog post by stating that a successful Covert Exfil will not be considered a traditional win and won’t count towards Champion’s Quest progress. This contradiction has led to further uncertainty about the feature’s role in the game. Fans are calling for clarity, with some even urging Activision to make this a limited-time mode, fearing it might detract from the core battle royale experience.
The Season 1 Reloaded update isn’t just about Covert Exfil. It also introduces new elements like the Gulag Night Vision Public Event, a fresh quest in Urzikstan, and a new Weapon Case objective. These additions aim to spice up gameplay, especially in the early stages of a match. With the Urzikstan map launched in December, players have much to explore and adapt to in the evolving Warzone landscape.
As anticipation builds for the upcoming patch notes, the community awaits further details on how these changes will shape the Warzone experience. Additionally, with the expected release of a new Black Ops game set during Desert Storm, 2024 promises to be an exciting year for Call of Duty fans.
