Thus, the launch of the new map Haven Hollow in the new Call of Duty: Warzone game has come with a feature that is widely debated. It is the slot machine that works like a casino. Or maybe more like a gambling cashier. The final point? A slot machine that runs like a casino and takes your in-game cash for a chance to get more money. It is indeed! You understood it correctly. Now, it is possible to lever the machine and hope for a jackpot right in the middle of a battle royale where shooting and looting are supposed to be taking place. Activision is really pushing their luck with this one, and the response from the Warzone community is…mixed at the very least.
The news came from the ever-reliable source, CharlieINTEL, showcasing the new feature. You go to this slot machine situated in the new Haven Hollow area, spend some of your hard-earned (or looted) in-game cash, and watch the wheels spinning. To your advantage, you will get more cash as the winning payout. Cash that you can use to buy killstreaks, armor plates, or anything else you fancy at Buy Stations. It’s a madness little risk-reward mini-game that is right into the chaos. Some players are on the fun, chaotic side of things. Others opine that it is a perfect analogy of the current state of the modern Call of Duty. And there are a few who are just inquisitive whether this is the start of something more… disturbing.
In the beginning, people’s reactions to this news were extremely varied. Player Doug definitely did not censor himself, calling the game ‘pure unadulterated ass.’ It is harsh criticism, but you can sense the passion. Another player, CertifiedSperg, likened the slot machine to being the ‘Perfect metaphor for modern call of duty,’ which would hurt if you thought about it deeply. On the other hand, others were just thrilled by the classic Modern Warfare 2 level-up sound that plays, with RIGOS saying it ‘made me splooge.’ That is also a sign of the whole broad spectrum of human emotions being felt.
Nonetheless, the larger problem was very rapidly progressed from ‘hey, a cool trick’ to ‘wait, is this in-game gambling?’ A user who goes by the name AEIDOLONE stated plainly: ‘Activision testing the waters with in-game gambling. 💀’ That skull emoji pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it? It’s a delicate issue. For a long time, games have offered loot boxes and random rewards, but having a large, interactive slot machine would be a new, and bold, intrusion into the gameplay. Another user, DisguisedKai, humorously referred to ‘dopamine receptors 💀💀💀 yall are beyond fried and cooked,’ making a point about the fact that these game mechanics are designed to keep you coming back. bam even referred to them as ‘surprise mechanics!!!!!’ which is a clever, and most likely unintentional, nod to that whole industry debate that was a while back.
Nonetheless, some do not think it is the end of the world and consider it a matter of choosing a strategy. Ilman Shazhaev stated, ‘Fun gimmick, but the best versions of this keep risk-punishment very close so it adds a quick decision to the loop, not a distraction from actually winning fights.’ He is correct. If it is well-balanced—you risk a little cash for a potential big reward that could help you late-game—it could be a cool, high-stakes call. But if it simply leads players to camp at the slots all match, that’s a different scenario. Trexler seemed a little too much into that idea, stating, ‘best part of the entire update I gamble all game and when the gas closes in I back out and find another game to hit the slots more.’ Dude, maybe you should take a break.
The brand new map, Haven Hollow, seems to be the first move in a larger plan to keep Warzone exciting. Players have been demanding new content, and with this, along with the recent MW3 integration, they are finally getting their wish. But is it also a matter of reviving old grievances? One player, greedyybastarrd, used this chance to complain about lag: ‘Idk why every time I play with friends I always get some mean ass lag.. I’m always at 60ms latency minimum it’s so annoying.’ Look, you can give people a slot machine, and they will still whine about the netcode. It’s like the circle of life in the Call of Duty community.
