Call of Duty: Warzone Temporarily Disables Popular Shotgun

Call of Duty: Warzone's Reclaimer 18 Shotgun Temporarily Deactivated

The popular Reclaimer 18 shotgun, a staple in Call of Duty: Warzone, has been temporarily disabled by developers. The sudden removal, announced via official Call of Duty channels, has sparked considerable player discussion regarding its cause.

Warzone boasts an extensive arsenal, constantly expanding with weapons from new Call of Duty titles like Black Ops 6. This vast selection presents balancing challenges, particularly when integrating weapons initially designed for different games (e.g., Modern Warfare 3). Maintaining balance and stability across the diverse weapon pool is a significant undertaking for the developers.

The Reclaimer 18, a semi-automatic shotgun inspired by the SPAS-12, is the latest weapon affected. The official announcement offered no specific reason for its deactivation, only stating its unavailability "until further notice."

Player Speculation and Reactions

The lack of explanation fueled speculation, with many players suspecting a "glitched" blueprint variant, potentially offering unfair advantages. Videos and screenshots showcasing the weapon's seemingly excessive lethality have circulated online.

Community reaction is mixed. While some players applaud the developers' proactive approach in temporarily removing a potentially overpowered weapon, others express frustration, particularly regarding the JAK Devastators aftermarket parts. These parts allow dual-wielding of the Reclaimer 18, creating a highly effective, albeit controversial, combat build. The nostalgia for "akimbo shotgun" builds in previous games clashes with the frustration of facing these powerful combinations in current gameplay.

Criticism also focuses on the timing of the deactivation, especially concerning the Inside Voices blueprint, an exclusive item within a paid Tracer Pack. Players argue that the apparent "pay-to-win" element resulting from the glitched weapon highlights insufficient testing prior to the Tracer Pack's release.