Raven Software has confirmed that Solos will eventually arrive in the new Black Ops Royale mode for Call of Duty: Warzone, but the developer says the feature will first appear as a Private Match option before potentially expanding to public playlists. The announcement comes shortly after the experimental battle royale mode launched with only a four-player squad option.
The clarification addresses one of the biggest questions raised by players after the debut of Black Ops Royale. When the mode launched as part of Warzone’s Season 2 Reloaded update, it only supported Quads, meaning players could enter matches only in teams of four.
Raven Software confirmed that additional squad sizes—including Solos—are planned, but the first implementation will be limited to Private Matches, where they can test how the new mode performs in other formats.
Black Ops Royale itself represents a major gameplay shift for Warzone. Inspired by the “Blackout” battle royale from Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, the mode removes several defining Warzone systems such as loadouts and buy stations. Instead, players must scavenge for weapons and upgrade them throughout the match, returning the game closer to the traditional “start with nothing and loot to survive” battle royale format.
At launch, however, Raven intentionally limited the playlist to Quads. The developer explained that the decision was based on player data across Warzone’s history. In a public statement, the studio said it chose a single playlist because Quads has consistently been the most popular squad size in Warzone and provides the most stable starting point for testing a new mode.
“We’ve seen quite a few questions about squad sizes,” Raven Software said in a statement shared online, adding that launching with one format helps the team focus on evaluating the core gameplay experience before expanding to additional variants.
Despite the explanation, the lack of Solos quickly became one of the most discussed issues surrounding the mode. Solo playlists have long been a key feature of battle royale games, allowing players to compete independently without relying on teammates. For many players, Solos also serves as a convenient entry point because matches can be started without assembling a squad.
Introducing Solos through Private Matches first appears to be a controlled way for the developer to test how the format performs in the new mode. Private lobbies allow the studio to monitor gameplay balance, map pacing, and matchmaking behavior before committing server capacity to a full public playlist.
The approach also reflects a common strategy in live-service games, where developers deploy new features in limited environments to collect data and player feedback.
The move comes as Activision and its development teams attempt to refresh Warzone’s battle royale experience. Black Ops Royale is part of a broader effort to experiment with alternative rule sets while keeping the core Warzone ecosystem active. The mode’s design—focused on looting, weapon rarity, and map exploration—marks a departure from the loadout-centric gameplay that has defined Warzone for years.
For Raven Software, the rollout strategy suggests that the studio is prioritizing data-driven development rather than immediately expanding the playlist. If Solos performs well in private lobbies and the mode gains traction among players, the developer could expand the format to public matchmaking alongside other potential squad sizes such as Duos or Trios.
For now, however, Quads remains the only official public playlist for Black Ops Royale. The upcoming addition of Solos in Private Matches signals that the feature is on the roadmap, but the timeline for a full public release will likely depend on player feedback and how well the new battle royale variant performs during its early lifecycle.
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