Many of us wonder about potentially violent video games, and how this kind of content impacts our children. This is especially true for games that are very popular and easily accessible. ‘Warzone’ is the latest installment of the Call of Duty game series, which is popular among children and free to download. While many children enjoy playing this game, there are facts to consider when evaluating the suitability of Call of Duty for kids. 

An introduction to Call of Duty Warzone

• The premise: In Warzone, children can play in a scenario titled ‘Battle Royal’, within which 150 players participate in player vs player combat. The objective is to kill opponents - a child wins by being the last player alive. Additionally, after players are killed, they arrive in a prison titled the Gulag. Here, all players that were killed in Battle Royal compete in player vs player combat, where the winner rejoins Battle Royal.    
  
  
• Modern Warfare age rating: Call of Duty Warzone is rated 18+. This is consistent among all games within the Call of Duty series. 
  
  
• How it's accessed: With internet connectivity, children can download Call of Duty Warzone on Xbox, Playstation and PC. To play, children must have a Playstation or Xbox membership, and create an account. 
  
  
• Online chatting: Within Warzone, players around the world can communicate. So, if your child has a negative interaction, players can be reported in the Main Menu.  

How violent is Call of Duty: Important facts

• It is combat-based and features weaponry: The game can only be won by killing all other players in simulated combat. In order to achieve this, players will use simulated military weapons like grenades and large guns. 
  
  
• Features depictions of blood: The player vs player combat is animated in detail, including graphics of blood. These depictions are not brief, as players are shown replays of deaths.  

Advice

Whether or not your child plays this game, having an open and blame-free line of communication about Call of Duty is crucial. If a child feels they will ‘get in trouble’ for playing this game, they will be less likely to approach a parent or caretaker if something about the game makes them uncomfortable. 

At Natterhub, we want us all to learn more about violent video games and their risks. By being thoughtful about children’s video game usage, we can encourage mindfulness and help children thrive online. And if you decide Call of Duty may not be for your child, there are plenty of other video games you can explore as a family.