The ability to keep players engaged for long periods of time is one of the most important aspects of a live-service game. A common trend is to hold limited-time events that aim to attract players. Call of Duty: Warzone, one of the most popular free-to-play live-service games, has relied heavily on its seasonal events, most recently with the implementation of King Kong.
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On May 10, the event, called Operation Monarch, launched and allows players to battle monsters. The marketing leading up to the event was misleading due to the fact that King Kong and Godzilla don't fight one another. The two beasts wander aimlessly around the map, which has caused a major sense of disappointment.
The goal of the event is to be the last squad standing. The catch is that the game's in-game characters, such as King Kong and Godzilla, can take players out with ease. You can earn intel that eventually accumulates and turns into rewards such as a Loadout Drop, Gas Mask, or even a controllable killstreak that allows you to actually command the two creatures to attack other.
The mode has a lot of problems, but the most egregious is that King Kong and Godzilla don't fight one another, despite the trailers making it seem like that. Many fans expected it to play out like one of the Splatoon events, where the community has to pick between two teams to battle it out for the duration.
The limited time mode feels more like Resurgence Battle Royale, with a sprinkle of Kong and Godzilla on top, rather than the monsters being the focus. It's easy to see why the community was upset that this didn't happen in the actual event, because there is a shot in one of the trailers that shows King Kong squaring up against Godzilla.
Warzone streamer and influencer ModernWarzone released a poll to find out what the community thought about the event. Over 70% of the 24,194 people surveyed voted that the event was a loss, which is a small sample size, but it is an informative snapshot of the event.
Was #OperationMonarch a W or an L?
— ModernWarzone (@ModernWarzone) May 11, 2022
Warzone is a very complex game and it can be difficult to keep newcomers engaged. A newcomer or casual player might get decimated in a match if they arepaired against someone else. Veteran players can sit back, fire away at one of the Titans, and rack up intel to eventually get their own custom loadout, which can be used to take out players who don't know what they're doing. It is an appealing premise for experienced players, but the casuals will have a rough time.
There isn't much reason to revisit this mode after a few matches because it plays like a worse version of Battle Royale. The spectacle of seeing the two massiveTitans is enjoyable, but it quickly gets old since there isn't a lot of substance in this mode. Since the stars are supposed to be the two giants, it would have been interesting to see something that played out cinematically. It could have made it feel special if players were able to land on top of the creatures to battle one another. Maybe we could have seen a similar version of what is in the game now, but with the ability to power up the TITANS, allowing them to duke it out.
It is difficult to blend massive monsters into a military shooter from a developmental standpoint. Considering Warzone is only a couple of years old, it stands to reason that the developer is still learning what works and what doesn't. It's a huge undertaking to figure out a way to please everyone. The main issue with the trailers is that they didn't match the final product.
The worst event Warzone has received is Operation Monarch. Warzone has a history of terrible events such as the Vanguard reveal, which required players to fire at a train for a long time. The bar is low, but Operation Monarch is an improvement over that event.
It's easy to see why players wouldn't like the Warzone's Operation Monarch, given the precedent set by Fortnite, which features large-scale events that are typically met with a positive reception. Take notes for Warzone and look at the way the game does its events, particularly its large-scale modes that feature cooperative gaming. Something like the massive event that allowed players to enjoy a more guided experience was fantastic, so perhaps the company could add its own spin on a similar formula to make something compelling. It was a step in the right direction, but there are still a lot of improvements to be made.
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