Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 gets a release date and an all-new third-person mode

After tonight’s big Call of Duty blast, we finally have a release date for the highly anticipated Warzone 2.0 – and we’ve got plenty more details on what to expect.

Warzone 2.0 is set to launch on November 16, about two weeks after Modern Warfare 2 launched on October 28. The pair will share the same engine, a first for the Call of Duty franchise and which should ensure parity and a more cohesive feature set – it all feels like a new dawn for the series. Warzone 2.0 introduces the new desert map of Al Mazrah, along with some of its own variations on the battle royale formula, such as several circles appearing in certain endgame scenarios. It will also feature a new AI faction, with Strong Holds housing loot patrolled by NPCs and a modified Gulag system. There will also be a new sandbox mode called DMZ, and while details remain slim, it does indeed look like Warzone’s version on Escape from Tarkov.

Here’s your first look at Warzone 2.0’s Al Mazrah map in action

Like other popular Battle Royale titles, it will also feature a third-person view – something entirely new to Warzone 2.0, and an addition that will likely be up for debate. Third-person playlists will also be available in Modern Warfare 2, reminiscent of the third-person mode that was available in the first Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 back in 2009.

Confirmation of a third-person mode comes after it emerged earlier that console versions will finally get FOV options. We also got more information on how Gunsmith 2.0 works, with a polished interface and more customization options.

This all comes as Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 enters its open beta this weekend, and more details have been provided on exactly what to expect. Large-scale Ground War mode will be featured, featuring 32v32 battles on the Sariff Bay map. There will also be more intimate 6v6 matches, played on the trio of Valderas Museum, Farm 18 and Mercado Las Almas.

And finally, there was a word on Call of Duty Warzone: Mobile, a new venture that shares some features with its console brethren and promises cross-progression and shared social features. It’s being developed by a squadron of studios like Beenox and Digital Legends, and is set to release on iOS and Android next year.