Call of Duty: Warzone Unveils the New Area 99 Map

Activision has officially announced the new Area 99 map for Call of Duty: Warzone, set to debut in Season 1 following the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. This upcoming map is billed as the "birthplace" of the iconic Nuketown map, a fan-favorite from previous Black Ops installments.

The launch of Black Ops 6 will bring significant updates to Warzone, including the introduction of Call of Duty's new omnidirectional movement system in both games. At the recent Call of Duty NEXT event, it was confirmed that Warzone will undergo some major changes, such as the removal of backpacks and scorestreaks like Modern Warfare 3's Guardian and Mosquito Drone. However, the return of the Wildcard system is also on the horizon. Despite these adjustments, players will still have access to weapons from Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3. They can also look forward to new content, including fresh game modes and maps, starting with Season 1 and continuing in future updates.

A Closer Look at the Area 99 Map

Treyarch describes the new Area 99 map as inspired by the "fast-paced and intense gameplay" that made Nuketown a hit among players. As the origin point of Nuketown, Area 99 will explore the backstory of this legendary map, featuring numerous points of interest (POIs). Key locations include main roadways ideal for traversing on foot or in vehicles, leading to areas such as the Reactor, Cooling Towers, Warehouse, and the Nuketown Shipping facility in the southern part of the map. Additional POIs, like the Test Site and Bunker, are interconnected by open sand trenches, pipes, and wiring. Similar to other Warzone maps, most combat will likely occur around the center, near the Reactor POI.

Exploring the Secrets of Area 99 in Warzone Season 1

Area 99 is depicted as a top-secret government facility, abandoned in March 1962. This new map will dive into the lore surrounding Nuketown's creation, with 10 unique POIs for players to explore:

1. Reactor

2. Cooling Towers

3. Mannequin Assembly

4. Test Site

5. Bunker

6. Pods

7. Warehouse

8. Manufacturing

9. Nuketown Shopping

10. Loading Bay

Treyarch has designed Area 99 with a retrofuturism art style, drawing inspiration from 1950s diners and classic media aesthetics. The map even features its own mascot, "Archie Atom," whose image appears on various signs and billboards scattered throughout the Resurgence map. Although the lore suggests Area 99 has been deteriorating and leaking radiation since its abandonment, players will still be able to explore and engage in combat across the map.

Fast-Paced Action Awaits on Area 99

Area 99's size is comparable to the Rebirth Island map in Warzone, with Treyarch emphasizing its "focused and compact" nature. This design ensures that players will quickly find themselves in the heat of battle shortly after deployment.

While a specific release date for Warzone Season 1 has yet to be announced, more details are expected to emerge in the coming months. In addition to the Area 99 map, players can anticipate other new features, such as the return of Classic Prestige, a Mastery Camo track, Dark Ops Challenges, and more. Additionally, the much-loved Verdansk map is slated for a comeback in Warzone in spring 2025.