Warzone Rebirth Island: map, gameplay, and bunker codes to access the golden vaults

So what exactly is Warzone Rebirth Island? The simple answer is that Rebirth Island is a special mode in Warzone that, after the game relaunches as Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera, will once again be vanishing from the playlist/

First removed at the end of Warzone Season 4 to make room for Season 5's new map, Fortune's Keep, massive fan outcry meant that the map was quickly reinstated.

Sadly, both of these maps are going to be removed from the playlist. The game servers will go offline on November 16 until Warzone Caldera relaunches on November 28, following the release of Warzone 2 and Modern Warfare 2's first in-game seasons.

First appearing back in Call Of Dury Black Ops: Cold War as a season one update in the mission entitled Rebirth, Rebirth Island is a 40-player battle royale mode on a much smaller map.

Parachuting straight into a Soviet-era chemical weapons testing facility, Rebirth Island feels like a standard day at Warzone - with some major twists. It shares its core DNA with regular Warzone map offerings, allowing you to chase contracts, stockpile cash, scoop up floor loot, and make for a loadout drop as soon as you can. 

You can even make use of most of our standard Warzone tips as you prepare to drop into Warzone Rebirth Island, but be sure to come prepared; it's a different world out there.

Here’s everything you need to know about this unique battle mode, from maps to codes and more, so that you can dominate on the field next time the dead rise.

Warzone Rebirth Island: everything you need to know

Warzone Rebirth Island: can you still play?

For the relaunch of Warzone Caldera on November 28, both Rebirth Island and Fortune's Keep will not be available to play.

You can play Warzone's Rebirth as a Limited Time Mode as and when it becomes available as part of the game's regular playlist rotation.

With Season 5 being the latest and final installment of Warzone before Warzone 2 lands, you'll be able to play the spooky undead island intermittently from the main menu.

Warzone Rebirth Island: what is different about its gameplay?

Rebirth Island is essentially a condensed version of Warzone's 150-player battle royale, since it is for 40 players only.

 There are some key differences you should be aware of before you climb aboard the plane.

• You have a shorter window to completed contracts, and their objectives will be closer to you
• Killing an enemy will ping you and your squad with the location of the team they were part of
• Loadouts only cost $7,500 instead of the normal $10,000, so you and your team will be able to grab yours much faster
• There are only 40 players, instead of the usual 150
• There is no gulag, and as long as you've got at least one squadmate alive you can redeploy after a delay
• You start with a self-revive in every new game, but it does go away if you have to spawn back in
• Green-colored weapon trading stations will spawn around the island. These allow you to trade in your gun for a lower quality gun and get a bunch of other items and cash in return
• Communications towers are located around the island. You can use these for $1,500 to send out a one time ping similar to a UAV to locate nearby players

Warzone Rebirth Island: what is the map like?

Rebirth Island is the little sibling of Warzone's Caldera, and has its own collection of hot spots to be aware of. Thankfully, they're not too numerous, and you'll get used to them quickly. That's one of the real perks of Rebirth mode - with a smaller map it's much easier to learn the ins and outs of the environment. 

Here are some of the key features of the map:

• Stronghold – Reworked in the Reinforced update, Stronghold now has several outbuildings with roof areas, numerous areas of crates and low-cover, and the massive radar dish tower to give you a wide view of the approaches. It's also got a Redeploy Balloon if you need to get out in a hurry
• Dock – Replacing the Shore point of interest, Dock has become a concrete area full of crates, along with one of the two ships added to the island. The masts on the ship are a bit risky to get up, but they've got a great vantage point
• Factory – Factory got the smaller of the two ships, and a staircase to access it. The masts are still tall enough to give you good sightlines, though
• Prison Block – The massive Prison Block area got a refresh, adding covered walkways to the courtyard, some tents in the courtyard itself, so there's a bit more cover in the approach (or when running from a fight). You'll also find some TV remotes in the prison cells that can get you into the golden vaults, but more about that below

Warzone Rebirth Island: how to access bunkers

How do you get into Warzone Rebirth Island bunkers? What are the Golden Vaults? Unlike so many of life's mysteries, we have hard answers. 

As part of a community challenge, the golden vaults were opened to players on April 11 and now can be accessed by anyone – if they go through the right steps.

Breaking into the bunkers and their vaults starts in one of the most dangerous places on the island: Prison Block. 

Follow the steps below exactly to get your shot to break in. Just watch out, because you won't be the only person going for them. And do remember, the codes are different for each match, so you can't just carry them over to the next one.

1. Locate six TV remotes with red lights on the back of the toilets in Prison Block
2. Press the Interact button on each one to get the lights to go off
3. A phone should start ringing in the middle of Prison Block
4. Answer the phone and listen to the code that the voice reads off
5. Trek over to one of the three locations of the Golden Vaults and enter the code

Once you do, you'll be able to grab yourself some high-tier loot to either use or trade-in with one of the Trading Stations.

• Love Warzone? Why not take a look at our list of the best FPS games?