The highly-anticipated release of Call of Duty Black Ops Royale, also known as Blackout 2, is finally upon us. The new battle royale experience aims to liven up the rapidly declining status of Warzone by injecting it with some Blackout-inspired chaos. Treyarch has ensured that “Black Ops Royale” isn’t just a buzzword to describe the same-old BR experience on a different map by implementing a range of new features.
Naturally, the changes can seem a bit overwhelming for players who’ve invested thousands of hours into the traditional Warzone Battle Royale experience. To help make this transition seem less daunting, we’ve provided a full breakdown of Black Ops Royale vs Warzone, including a look at the core similarities between both game modes and their many differences.
Black Ops Royale vs Warzone Similarities
At the risk of stating the obvious, Black Ops Royale and the standard Warzone Battle Royale both belong to the same genre. Being part of Call of Duty HQ, they obviously share the same aesthetic, weapons, cosmetics, gunplay, movement, and much more. You’ll still be dropping into an open world map, completing activities, and eliminating enemies to be the last squad standing.
For unacquainted players, the two experiences might even appear visually identical. But there are a ton of differences under the hood, which draw a fine line between the core gameplay loops.
Black Ops Royale vs Warzone Differences Explained
Below, you’ll find a quick overview of the major differences between the two modes. Here’s the definitive Black Ops Royale vs Warzone comparison that you need to know:
CategoryWarzone Battle RoyaleBlack Ops RoyaleMapSet in VerdanskSet in AvalonCurrency and Buy StationsFeatures ‘Cash’ currency and Buy StationsNo currency or Buy StationsGulag and RedeploymentGulags and Buy Backs for RedeploymentGulag Scrapped, Players can Redeploy via Tokens and TowersWeapon Acquisition and TiersWeapons of all tiers can be picked up as floor loot or via LoadoutsWeapons are only available as floor loot, and can be upgraded to higher-tiersLoadoutsCustom Loadouts are availableCustom Loadouts are not availablePerksPerks grant passive effects and can be acquired via LoadoutsPerks are only available as floor loot, and their effected last for a limited-timeArmor TiersContains just one Armor TypeContains Three Armor TiersActivitiesStandard Warzone ContractsNew Avalon Activities
Black Ops Royale vs Warzone: Map Differences
Image Credit: Activision
The most obvious difference when it comes to comparing Black Ops Royale vs Warzone is the map. The former is set in the iconic hills of Verdansk, while the latter takes place on Avalon, which also hosts the Black Ops 7 Endgame mode.
In terms of terrain, Avalon has dense city sectors, tactically diverse interior spaces, exposed routes where faster traversal may be advantageous, and extended sightlines. To better fit Black Ops Royale, Treyarch is reducing the prevalence of water between its major areas by adding sandbanks, fords, tidal flats, and more. Still, the boat traffic on Avalon is a crucial factor, especially compared to Verdansk, which has limited water bodies.
Currency and Buy Stations
Moving on to one of the biggest changes in Black Ops Royale – Buy Stations are no more. Collecting cash and purchasing gear at Buy Stations is a central element of the Warzone Battle Royale experience, but this certainly isn’t the case in Blackout 2. All the gear you’ll use over the course of a match has to be picked up as floor loot or acquired via supply boxes and rewards.
Of course, the absence of Buy Stations also means that you won’t be able to purchase Killstreaks or buy Redeploys for fallen teammates.
Gulag and Redeployment
Image Credit: Activision
Speaking of redeployment, Black Ops Royale introduces new ways for players to get back into the fight. In Warzone, operators largely rely on the Gulag and the financial kindness of their squadmates for respawns. But in Blackout 2, they’ll need to either carry Redeploy Tokens or hope that their team can capture a Redeploy Tower to return to Avalon.
Weapon Acquisition, Tiers, and Loadouts
While both Warzone and Black Ops Royale feature five weapon tiers (or qualities), the method for acquiring them is vastly different. In Warzone, you can grab low-tier guns as loot, but there’s no option to upgrade their attachments. In contrast, you can upgrade weapons to the highest-tier using Attachment Kits in Black Ops Royale.
Moreover, you cannot fall back on your favorite weapons via the Loadout system since it simply isn’t available on Avalon. You’ll need to work with whatever you’ve managed to scavenge to get the win.
Perks
Image Credit: Activision
In Warzone, Perks are passive bonuses that you can obtain via Perk Packages out in the wild or select as part of your Custom Loadout. These abilities are seen as essential elements of the best loadouts in Warzone Battle Royale. However, in Black Ops Royale, Perks are essentially limited-time consumables.
While exploring Avalon, you’ll find Perks of all kinds as ground loot. You can stow up to five Perks in your inventory and use them strategically during the match. Once consumed, their effects will kick in for a limited-time before fading away. You can also give Perks to your teammates to help your squad set up for endgame battles.
Armor Tiers
Armor in Warzone is straightforward. There’s only one tier of Armor, as far as damage resistance is concerned, and you can reinforce it by applying Armor Plates. However, Black Ops Royale features three different Armor Tiers, each offering more damage resistance than the one before. These items can be earned as floor loot or obtained via supply boxes and rewards.
Activities
Image Credit: Activision
As far as gameplay variety goes, this is easily the biggest point of distinction between Black Ops Royale and Warzone. The former’s activities revolve around standard “Contracts,” which most players will undoubtedly be well-acquainted with. You’ve got Bounty chases, Supply Runs, and Capture the Point-style activities.
In a sharp contrast, Black Ops Royale’s activities are much more involved. This is due to PvE elements such as Guild Robots and Zombified enemies that’ll present an additional challenge as you’re completing certain activities. For instance, the Surprise Shipment activity will see your squad take on a powerful batch of robots before looting their wreckage for the rewards.
The PvE approach becomes even more important once you step into Avalon’s limited-time Cradle Breach zones. These areas have the best loot on the map, but you’ll have to fight the undead to claim it. That combat element alone introduces a more interesting objective as compared to any of Warzone’s contracts.
While that wraps up the key differences and similarities in the Black Ops Royale vs Warzone comparison, it’s important to note that they’re part of the same game. These changes can seem overwhelming at first, but the gunplay and movement are still rooted in the core Black Ops 7 experience. As such, we highly recommend checking out the new game and deciding which mode is better for your tastes.
What’s the difference between Black Ops Royale and Warzone?
Black Ops Royale is a Blackout-inspired mode set in Avalon, while Warzone follows the traditional Call of Duty BR formula and takes place in Verdansk.
Is Call of Duty Black Ops Royale a separate game?
No, Black Ops Royale is just a new game mode that you’ll find with the Call of Duty: Warzone application. Click on the playlist, and you’ll see the option to launch a Black Ops Royale match.
Aryan Singh
A massive gaming nerd who’s been writing stuff on the internet since 2021, Aryan covers single-player games, RPGs, and live-service titles such as Marvel Rivals and Call of Duty: Warzone. When he isn’t clacking away at his keyboard, you’ll find him firing up another playthrough of Fallout: New Vegas.
