An iconic staple of the Call of Duty franchise has, of course, been Zombies. The game mode made its debut in Call of Duty: World at War, before gaining a cult fandom in the original Call of Duty: Black Ops. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will apparently follow the winning formula – as well as introduce the format’s next evolution with a killer retro instalment.
Featuring a story mode set in Die Maschine – an 80s-inspired iteration of the original Nacht der Untoten map – players will be tasked with exploring the geography alongside a CIA-backed task force known as Requiem, racing against the clock as rival Soviet-backed task force Omega Group closes in… and while fighting off endless hordes of the undead, of course. Because the only way anyone could have possibly made the Cold War more fun was with zombies.
According to Treyarch:
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies is set to take veterans and newcomers alike on a bold and terrifying journey that expands on an iconic part of the Call of Duty franchise. This co-op mode includes new ways to progress, classic Perks, and an arsenal of Cold War-era Zombies weaponry that will help survivors dominate the legions of undead.
Updates to the time-honoured format you’ll soon be able to experience in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies include the following:
- Cross-Play & Cross-Gen
“Just like Multiplayer, squads in Zombies can be formed across platforms and generations, marking the first time in franchise history this co-op mode is available via cross-play.” - Battle Pass Progression & Loadouts
“Players will now advance through the Battle Pass with time played in Zombies, similar to Multiplayer and Call of Duty: Warzone. Requiem team members can also start the match with their Gunsmith-crafted weapon of choice via loadout support.” - Weapon Rarity
“In addition to the return of the Pack-a-Punch machine to transform your weapon, all weapons will now have a rarity associated with them. The higher the rarity, the greater the damage output and attachments for the weapon. For the first time, this will allow any weapon in the game to be sustainable in later rounds. This also adds more variety and fun to finding new weapons through Wall Buys and the Mystery Box.” - Field Upgrades
“Outside of weaponry, players can deploy Field Upgrades as proactive abilities that add another layer to squad-based tactics. Charge them up by killing zombies, then deploy them in times of desperate need. From offensive buffs to abilities that aid in evasion or healing and reviving, these Field Upgrades are made to fit numerous playstyles and situations.”
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- Equipment
“Around the map, you can craft and find lethal, tactical, and support equipment. Lethal and tactical equipment are similar to the equipment found in Multiplayer, like Frag Grenades, while support equipment is home to high-powered offensive weaponry. This slot could be where you deploy Grenade Launchers, Sentry Turrets, Explosive Bows and even Chopper Gunners – all tools that can deliver a massive power spike when your squad needs it most.” - Perks
“Classic Zombies Perks are back with a reimagined Cold War aesthetic, including the return of timeless favourites like Juggernog and Speed Cola. There’s no longer a limit to how many different Perks you can consume, so go ahead and crack open a six-pack, if you have the points to do so.” - Exfil
“Instead of perishing to the horde, Black Ops Cold War Zombies provides a new option to escape with your life when you’re feeling overrun… if you dare. If the whole squad is in trouble, you can opt to exfiltrate the undead combat zone via helicopter. Although zombie spawns will be dialled up to 11, you should expect to earn some rewards if your squad completes this final push to survive.”
You can now pre-order Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, with an early access Open Beta kicking off on October 8th for PS4 players and October 15th for Xbox + PC players. General Open Beta for all platforms will start on October 17th. In terms of an official launch, the latest Zombies mode is scheduled to kick off on November 13th.
