How We Turned Verdansk’s Return Into a Global Moment

The Idea

To celebrate the return of Call of Duty: Warzone’s most iconic map, Verdansk, we created a series of six mixed media films that brought real in-game memories to life — each told by celebrity players and realised in a unique animation style.

From live-action intros to stylised 2D, motion graphics and surreal sequences, the series stitched gameplay chaos into a cohesive creative spectacle. Every film reflected the celeb’s personality — crafted to feel nostalgic, cinematic, and bold. The result? A playful, high-impact series that brought the Call of Duty: Warzone community memories back to life.

Brief & Solution

Activision wanted to make the return of Verdansk more than just a map drop — it had to feel personal. The challenge was to reconnect with players through the chaotic, emotional moments only Call of Duty: Warzone can deliver. We created a series of animated shorts based on real stories, voiced by celebrity fans and brought to life in six distinct styles. Each film blended live-action with animation to reflect the energy of the storyteller. The series played like a greatest hits album — loud, weird, personal, and made to be shared. A love letter to Verdansk, told in six wild voices.

"Verdansk holds a special place in the hearts of Call of Duty players, and bringing it back is a huge moment for the community. With ‘Stories of Verdansk,’ we wanted to tap into the passion and personal experiences that make this map so beloved. Waste Creative has done an incredible job crafting a campaign that not only celebrates Verdansk’s return but also puts the players’ own memories at the heart of it." – Lee Godfrey, Call of Duty Live Ops Senior Manager, EMEA at Activision

"This campaign was about more than just nostalgia. It was about orchestrating a full-scale creative spectacle, uniting world-class talent, cutting-edge production, and a vision that does justice to Verdansk’s return. We blended live action, animation, and authentic storytelling to deliver something truly unforgettable for Call of Duty: Warzone players worldwide." – Sam Whiffing, Associate Creative Director at Waste Creative

How We Did It

The series blended live-action with animation, each tailored to the storyteller’s tone. We used frame-by-frame 2D, motion graphics, and digital collage — crafted in After Effects, Photoshop, and TVPaint. Live-action featured a minimal, repeatable set: a warm-lit armchair and lamp against cool, industrial backdrops. Testimonial-style interviews kept the tone grounded and personal, while DaVinci Resolve handled compositing. The approach was built to be flexible — consistent enough to scale, but customisable enough to make every film feel original.

“This project has been an absolute dream for our studio. We take pride in the variety of flavours and styles we bring to our work, and it’s been incredible to see Ben Sayer’s, aka Babe Splat’s, wild illustrations come to life. Watching our director, Jacob Reidy, inject his own artistic touch into a stunning style has been nothing short of amazing!" – Alex Robinson, Head of Animation, Waste Creative

The Results

With 58+ million views across Call of Duty’s and featured talent’s social channels (and counting), Stories of Verdansk re-ignited the Warzone fandom worldwide: the player base grew by 200% that same week. The series sparked conversation across regions and demographics — each story resonating with different corners of the gaming community, from sweaty squad grinders to casual chaos merchants.

Beyond reach, it delivered emotional re-entry. Players didn’t just remember Verdansk. They felt it. And then, they started sharing their own stories too. A campaign built for fans, powered by fans, and delivered by voices they already knew and loved.