Activision Blizzard recently released a trailer for the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 a few days ago. Setting off a chain reaction of speculation, the video has fans speculating that the Verdansk map will be making a return, among some other iconic Modern Warfare staples.

The new Call of Duty trailer reveals that Makarov will - again - be the next big villain for the franchise. However, while many gamers are focused on the character, eagle-eyed fans scanning the landscapes in the footage have spotted references to Verdansk.

Fans have quickly grabbed images from the notable moments in the trailer that points towards a return to the popular map from Warzone and 2019's Modern Warfare reboot. According to internet sleuths, one of the biggest giveaways that referenced Verdansk is a soccer logo found in the trailer. 

‼️😱 VERDANSK IS COMING BACK 😱‼️

🤯 Images clearly show Verdansk is coming back in some form in #ModernWarfare3! 👀🔥

Do you want Verdansk back in #Warzone? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/XZJJFx7brG

— Warzone Stats Tracker | Warzone Meta (@WZStatsGG) August 9, 2023

Gamers are also pointing to the fiery remnants of a soccer stadium in the trailer, as the signage on the sports arena is the same one found on the Verdansk map. The Verdansk Sparks is the official team for the fictional city from Modern Warfare. While it would be entirely possible that the team owned another stadium elsewhere, the addition of the signage seems to be very intentional.

The Verdansk map is very popular as it was the original battle royale map in Call of Duty: Warzone when the game was released in March 2020. Part of the campaign for Modern Warfare also took place in the city, and there are also multiplayer maps based on locations within Verdansk.  

The map was eventually replaced by Verdansk '84 when Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War came out. Later on, Caldera was introduced as a tie-in to Call of Duty: Vanguard and became the main map for Warzone.

Many gamers have been clamoring for the return of Verdansk ever since it was removed from the game. The fate of Verdansk has been up in the air since the release of Call of Duty: Warzone 2. Hopeful players have been constantly asking Activision to relaunch the map in the current iteration of Warzone.

Sledgehammer Games is set to reveal more details about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on August 17, 2023. The big reveal is taking place within Call of Duty: Warzone with Activision teasing that Commander Phillip Graves from Modern Warfare 2 will feature heavily in the event.

A new base weapon and other rewards are up for grabs during said event. Fans should consider joining the event as the weapons unlocked during the event will carry over to Modern Warfare 3, alongside everything else you've unlocked in the contemporary title.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is coming on November 10, 2023.