The Esports World Cup 2025 will feature Call of Duty: Warzone in Resurgence mode, with new format details, placement multipliers, and qualifiers set. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Esports World Cup 2025 is heating up, and one of its most highly anticipated titles, Call of Duty: Warzone, has officially had its tournament format revealed. With competition heading to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, fans and players alike can expect a return to Resurgence mode, faster action, and an intense qualifying process that will lead up to one of the biggest Warzone showdowns of the year.
For the second year in a row, the Esports World Cup is bringing Resurgence mode to center stage, deviating from the traditional Battle Royale format that had previously defined Warzone esports. Resurgence, which has gained popularity in competitive circles throughout 2025, changes the tempo significantly.
Instead of players being permanently eliminated after death, Resurgence allows them to redeploy if a teammate survives a countdown timer. This mechanic keeps matches action-packed and more viewer-friendly, ensuring there’s less downtime and more opportunities for clutch plays and comebacks.
The countdown timer is shortened through active gameplay, such as opening loot caches, eliminating enemies, or simply staying mobile on the map, adding layers of strategy and urgency to each skirmish.
The scoring format for the Warzone tournament has also been laid out, focusing on eliminations and final placement. Teams rack up points for kills, but finishing position significantly boosts their total via placement multipliers:
- 1st Place: 2.0x multiplier
- 2nd Place: 1.7x multiplier
- 3rd–5th Place: 1.4x multiplier
- 6th–10th Place: 1.2x multiplier
- 11th–14th Place: 1.0x multiplier
This rewards both aggressive play and survival strategy, allowing teams to tailor their approach based on strengths while encouraging dynamic, entertaining matches.
Qualifiers for the Esports World Cup’s Warzone event begin on May 31st, 2025, and will be structured around trios. Each round of the open qualifiers includes 14 trios competing in two matches, with the top 50% of teams progressing to the next round.
The top 28 teams from these open qualifiers will earn a coveted spot in the closed qualifier, which will finalize the roster for the main tournament. While the date for the closed qualifier has not yet been announced, competition is expected to be fierce as teams from around the world try to secure their place in Riyadh.
Despite the return of Verdansk to Warzone in March and the excitement it brought to the community, the Esports World Cup will not feature the iconic map. Instead, organizers have stuck with smaller-scale Resurgence maps like Rebirth Island to maintain a high tempo.
Verdansk’s sprawling size often leads to long periods of little to no combat, a challenge for both players and spectators. The decision to stick with a smaller map ensures consistent action, making matches more entertaining and competitive from start to finish.
With clear rules, exciting gameplay, and a streamlined format, Call of Duty: Warzone at the Esports World Cup 2025 is shaping up to be a highlight of the summer. Whether you’re a player or a fan, get ready for fast-paced thrills and high-stakes competition.
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