Warzone 2 is almost upon us, and with a new number comes a host of new features – like new game modes, a new battle pass system and much more.
But many gamers are also wondering if the new game has had changes under the bonnet too – luckily, we’re here to answer that question.
Let’s take a look then at what engine is powering Warzone 2.
Is Warzone 2 a new engine?
Warzone 2 is indeed running on a different engine from the original Warzone. As Infinity Ward revealed during the announcement, Warzone 2 will feature “new Modern Warfare 2 content and systems with brand new progression and inventories.”
Warzone 1 used IW 8.0 – a heavily rebuilt version of the IW engine that featured new lighting, new physics, new graphics and much more.
Warzone 2, meanwhile, will use what’s being dubbed as IW 9.0 – though it hasn’t been given an official moniker at the time of writing. This new engine builds on everything so far, but adds a bunch of new features that debuted in Modern Warfare 2.
This includes a new water simulation system, improved AI, new audio engines and improved 3D directionality and immersive audio.
Gameplay wise, this also means that it’ll include some of the new things seen in Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer, like underwater combat and hanging from ledges.
On a practical level, sharing an engine with Modern Warfare 2 should allow IW and other developers to keep the two games much closer in sync with each other, meaning it can share its battle pass with the new game.
However, as a side effect – this does mean player progression, weapon XP, inventories, battle pass content and store bundles for Warzone, Modern Warfare (2019), Black Ops Cold War and Vanguard will not carry over to the new game, and will only be available in the renamed Warzone Caldera.
You also will not be able to transfer 2XP and 2WXP tokens between Caldera and Warzone 2. However, COD Points will be transferrable between all games.
Warzone 2 arrives on November 16.
