"Sweats and streamers won't understand": COD players think current Warzone has killed different playstyles in battle royale

Warzone has evolved along with its design throughout the years. Features that once rewarded patience and positioning were steadily nerfed or removed in response to complaints from high-skill players and streamers. The Warzone community has always been divided between casual players and high-skill “sweats” who thrive on aggressive, fast-paced gameplay, and a recent Reddit post by u/AdamTheGreyHound has reignited the discussion.

Warzone 1 Camping byu/AdamTheGreyhound inCODWarzone

The Redditor argued that the game has moved too far in favor of the latter at the cost of strategic, slower playstyles that once defined battle royale:

"Sweats and streamers won’t understand this but whatever, here goes. We prioritised going for the win and not going for kills. We liked doing recons, camping roofs/buildings, using Ghost perk instead of overkill, good rotations etc etc. anything to try for the win. IMO that’s the idea of a BR, not kills kills kills, more strategic."

In their comment, u/LongrodV0NhugenD0NG captured the nostalgia many players feel for the original Warzone’s strategic gameplay. Using contracts to secure intel, getting a loadout, and setting up in the final circle with a height advantage was a viable and rewarding play style.

Some fans are still longing for strategic gameplay during Warzone's early days(Image via Reddit)

While they have adapted to the new fast-paced meta, their longing for the methodical, tactical approach of old Warzone alludes to a growing sentiment among players who feel that the game has shifted toward an aggressive, team deathmatch-like experience.

u/nug4t highlighted how Warzone’s shift toward a fast-paced, skill-heavy meta has strayed from the original BR experience, where players of all skill levels could use various strategies, not just high-kill gameplay.

The current Warzone meta prioritizes speed and kill count(Image via Reddit)

u/lemongrenade emphasized a fundamental aspect of traditional battle royale gameplay — positioning over eliminations. Their comment echoed the frustration of many who feel Warzone no longer rewards smart rotations and holding strategic positions.

Positions and rotations once decided victory in Warzone(Image via Reddit)

u/realiks highlighted the key frustration among longtime Warzone players — the shift away from strategic, survival-based gameplay. The user reminisced about holding a position, planning rotations, and making tactical decisions to emphasize their frustration with the current iteration of the battle royale.

According to some fans, high-kill chaos has replaced tactical depth (Image via Reddit)

Read more — Despite player numbers falling, Black Ops 6 remained the best-selling game in the US in 2024

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Warzone 1 players recall different playstyles in the Verdansk days

The original Warzone, especially during the Verdansk era, allowed players to approach battle royale in various ways — whether through high-kill aggression or methodical strategy. However, many longtime fans believe that Warzone’s evolution has eliminated slower, more tactical playstyles in favor of a fast-paced, team deathmatch-like experience.

They argued that changes driven by streamers and high-skill players, such as nerfs to Ghost and increased map mobility, have forced Warzone away from its battle royale roots.

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