Warzone is a free to play battle royale style video game. This means it is played exclusively online with up to 150 people playing in one match.
Users play as part of a team (or squad) and their aim is to be the sole survivors of the match, after every other player has been killed off. The map is constantly shrinking as the game continues, pushing enemy squads closer to each other.
There are currently over 100 million players worldwide.
Age Restrictions
Call of Duty Warzone is rated PEGI 18+, but there is no effective age verification.
Core Functions
- Players choose an avatar, which they can equip with the latest skins, weapons, armour, and other equipment.
- Once in a match, players must quickly find weapons, in-game currency called ‘Cash’ while they maintain some form of strategy through teamwork in an attempt to win the match. This is typically done by communicating via headset.
- Users can make use of various vehicles scattered throughout the map.
- During each match, there are various in-game missions (otherwise known as ‘contracts) which users can complete to gain more Cash.
- There is ample opportunity for in-app purchasing as users can purchase guns, ammunition, respawns (re-enter a match after dying), medicine, and more.
Risks
- Although many squads are made up of friends, sometimes, it can be strangers. If, for example, no friends were online or your squad of friends was one person short for a team, the game would allocate a random player in need of a team.
- As much of the game relies on teamwork and communication, there is ample opportunity to interact with strangers who could very well be adults.
- The game includes realistic and gory violence throughout. In the event of a player’s death, the kill is replayed (this feature can be skipped).
- As communication is not moderated, users will very likely hear foul and offensive language from other players during game play.
Safety Settings
- Users can block and report players.
- To make sure children and young people are not exposed to gory content, we suggest making use of the games content filter which will reduce blood and offensive language.
- Chat functionality can be switched off, meaning less interaction with strangers.
- Users can simply turn their headset off and continue playing the game, to reduce interaction with strangers online.
Top Tips
- If a child or young person wants to play Warzone, the adult who cares for them should make an educated decision as to whether they are allowed.
- Make sure children and young people know who to talk to if something bad happens online.
- Engage young people in conversations about the game, and suggest a safer game play situation by disabling chat functions and gory graphics.
- Parents/carers should disable and/or control in-game purchasing.