The massively popular free-to-play fighting game from Xbox and Activision Call of Duty: Warzone is about to get one of its most anticipated additions Black Ops RoyaleA free mode heavily inspired by Black Ops 4’s Dark Mode. This is the biggest piece of content in Season 2: Reloaded and its global release is just hours away.
What should do though it was a time of feverish excitement and anticipation, it quickly became mired in controversy. Call of Duty team announced plans to test bots playing alongside players in Black Ops Royale lobbies in Europe and the Middle East next week.
Article continues below
📢 Call of Duty: #Warzone Over the past year, we’ve learned a lot by introducing bots through Random experiences in Battle Royale and Resurgence. These modes helped us better understand how to deliver the best gameplay experience in Call of Duty: Warzone around the world…March 12, 2026
Since the option to play Casual versions of Warzone appeals to those who aren’t very skilled at PvP or simply want a less stressful gaming experience, the Call of Duty team is likely looking to offer something similar with the new Black Ops Royale mode. However, the fact that bots were tested in regular matches rather than in a separate playlist has angered many in the community.
At the time of writing, a post where the developers revealed their testing plans has received more comments than likes, the vast majority of which are harshly critical of the upcoming test.
“TAKE OFF THE BOTS FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. THANKS” he wrote TimTheTatman is one of the biggest streamers Twitch. “If a Warzone scene is pushed/baked to the whole game in all regions” he said another content creator worries it will be a slippery slope.
“(Previously) having to play against bots in a pure PvP environment really takes away from the experience. Joining bots (casual mode) is fine, but forcing it is a big L,” he said.
Many competitive players have rallied behind all the big content creators complaining about Warzone’s bot testing, and some even argue that the presence of any Random offers dilutes the experience and problematically divides the player base. Others argue that the Random experience with bots is good for the game and ensures that everyone has a version of the game that they can enjoy.
Finally, I think it would be the best idea to make a Casual version of Black Ops Royale and keep bots out of regular matches like the devs did with normal Warzone, so I hope Activision does that after these tests. Still, not testing bots in a separate playlist is a bold choice, and Black Ops Royale has created quite a storm ahead of its launch.
🗨️ Do bots have a place in Black Ops Royale?
With so many different Call of Duty fans weighing in, I’m interested in hearing from you. Do bots have a place in Warzone’s new Black Ops Royale mode, either in a separate Random playlist or as part of the core experience?
Share your thoughts in the comments below and don’t forget to vote in our poll:
Join us Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your thoughts and discuss our latest news, reviews and more.
