2023’sCall of Dutytitle has been the source of a lot of controversy already, despite so little official information being known about the game. Reports about what the release will entail have conflicted massively in recent months, although recent leaks seem to have finally nailed down what kind of experience the title will provide.
Aside from reported details about 2023’sCall of Dutycampaign and multiplayer, it has also been reported that the game will feature its own Zombies mode. While Zombies has been a hugely successful game mode forCoDin the past, the lack of involvement from Treyarch in the upcoming title could spell disaster. When considering how similar modes have been received in the past, 2023’sCoDseems dangerously close to repeating past franchise mistakes.
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Call of Duty’s History with Non-Treyarch Zombies Modes
TheZombies mode first came toCall of Dutywith 2008’sWorld at War, spearheaded by Treyarch. A tense and addictive mode, Zombies would go on to become a staple of Treyarch’s influence overCall of Duty,appearing extensively throughout theBlack Opsfranchise. With Treyarch’s Zombies experiences being so iconic, it is perhaps unsurprising that otherCoDstudios found less success with different takes on the mode.
For example, non-Treyarch Zombies modes include theExo Zombies ofAdvanced Warfare, as well as modes forInfinite WarfareandWW2. While some of these found a level of success, such asIW’sZombies in Spaceland, these modes are significant flops when compared to their Treyarch-led counterparts. The franchise has a fairly terrible track record when it comes to Zombies modes outside of Treyarch’s influence, and it appears a similar situation could arise in 2023’sCall of Dutyinstallment.
Call of Duty 2023’s Reported Zombies Mode
It was originally thought that 2023 would see no mainlineCall of Dutyrelease, although this early theory has now completely pivoted. Recent reports indicate that2023 will see a premiumCoDrelease inModern Warfare 3, bringing the rebootedMWtrilogy to a close. This release will reportedly be led by Sledgehammer Games, oddly taking the trilogy away from Infinity Ward who releasedModern Warfare 2only a year ago.
These reports also point toward a Zombies mode being developed forModern Warfare 3, which of course will have no input from Treyarch. This mode is set to work akin tothe Outbreak mode ofBlack Ops Cold War. A step away from the traditional round-based Zombies experience, Outbreak provides players with much larger environments that can be traveled between, with things like primary and secondary objectives populating each zone.
This in and of itself is quite controversial, withCold War’sOutbreak having its own criticisms for its deviation from the original Zombies formula. While it may be easier for Sledgehammer Games to create a well-received Zombies experience via the Outbreak formula, it remains that the most memorable Zombies modes come from Treyarch’s original framework.
Given theconcerns that are already being raised around 2023’s reportedCall of Duty, it seems doubly risky that the release may include its own Zombies mode. Past franchise experiments have clearly indicated a lack of success without Treyarch’s involvement, and it may be difficult for Sledgehammer Games to break this trend. With more creative freedom being present with the Outbreak formula of Zombies, it remains to be seen whether Sledgehammer Games will find success with a Zombies mode if all these rumors do culminate in truth and fruition later this year.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3is rumored to be in development for a 2023 release.
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