In a groundbreaking move, Activision Blizzard has announced the release of the original Call of Duty: Warzone map, Caldera, as an open-source asset. The game developer is offering a near-complete version of the map’s geometry in OpenUSD format for non-commercial purposes, making it available to aspiring developers, educators, and researchers.
The Caldera map, which was retired last year to focus on the development of Warzone 2.0, now serves a new purpose. Natalya Tatarchuk, Chief Technology Officer at Activision Blizzard, emphasized the company’s commitment to broadening access to production data. “This initiative gives back to the game industry’s research community and allows a deeper exploration into the creation and design process of large-scale game environments,” she stated.
The dataset includes not only the detailed geometry of the map but also random time samples that illustrate player movement across different scenarios. This data could prove invaluable for a variety of applications, from developing new gaming technologies to advancing artificial intelligence.
Michael Vance, a software engineer at the company, explained the rationale behind choosing Caldera for this open-source release. “We wanted a map that exemplified the scale and complexity of our current design philosophy. Caldera provides an excellent case study for understanding the intricacies of modern game design.”
Tatarchuk added, “One of our goals is to enable researchers to test their methods in realistic scenarios. The release of Caldera is expected to significantly contribute to the advancement of new solutions in the field.”
For the PC gaming community, such open-source releases can be transformative, allowing games to live on even after official support has ended. They offer educational opportunities and creative freedom, enabling users to tinker with and learn from complex game designs. Vance expressed excitement about the potential outcomes, particularly in areas like object relationships and procedural generation. “We’re eager to see what the academic community will produce based on Caldera,” he said. “These insights could lead to more efficient data representation, benefiting future Call of Duty games and beyond.”
Activision Blizzard’s initiative to open-source Caldera underscores the company’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration within the gaming and academic communities. The move is expected to inspire new approaches and technologies, contributing to the broader evolution of game development.
