Yes, Modern Warfare 3 is getting Zombies. In fact, it's getting a very good version of Zombies (if you liked Outbreak from BOCW). You can find everything publically released, or currently rumored, about MW3 Zombies below.
"Zombies in the Modern Warfare universe? Never!" We can already hear the naysayers, but yes, Zombies are coming to Modern Warfare 3, a present-day setting. This isn't even as wild as you might think. The Black Ops universe was actually connected to the rebooted Modern Warfare universe via Warzone and the events that occurred in Verdansk in 1984. But that's a different story, and frankly, it was an absolute kludge from the CoD writers. All you need to know is: MW3 Zombies will happen.
In this article, we have collected all the officially released information about MW3 Zombies, as well as everything we've heard from leakers. We have a surprising amount of info, and we think the Zombies mode in Modern Warfare 3 sounds promising. Activision are calling it the "largest Zombies offering to date", in fact.
CoD Next 2023: New Zombies Gameplay Details (October 5)
During CoD Next 2023 we got to see an extended trailer for Zombies in MW3. Here were some of the new details they gave us:
- PvE only - no killing other players.
- There will be Easter Eggs.
- Zombies will be played on the big Warzone map.
- 24-players total in the lobby, and you can go solo or as a trio.
- Up to three squads can merge to make a "super squad" of nine players.
- The center of the map is going to be more difficult.
- There will be classic Zombies features like Perk-A-Cola, but also DMZ features like buy stations and contracts.
- The Ray Gun is back, and the new Wonder Weapon is called "The Scorcher". You can fire it at the ground and use it to rocket jump.
- Like in DMZ, if you exfil with goodies you can use them in your next game.
This has made us even more excited for MW3 Zombies, which is shaping up to be a tour de force for the beloved third mode.
MW3 Zombies Release Date: Launch or Season 1?
Modern Warfare 3 Zombies was initially expected to launch with the new Warzone map, which won't be released until MW3 Season 1. But Activision has now confirmed a release date of November 10, 2023, for Modern Warfare 3 Zombies. In other words, at launch.
MW3 Zombies Gameplay
MW3 Zombies will be a mix between Outbreak and DMZ. This is how the devs descirbed it:
For the first time, team up with other squads to survive and fight massive hordes of the undead in the largest Call of Duty Zombies map ever. Modern Warfare® Zombies (MWZ) tells an involved and unearthly Dark Aether Zombies story set in the Modern Warfare universe. Expect to undertake missions across different regions that escalate in difficulty, with core Zombies features and a cavalcade of secrets to discover. Ready up for an open-world player versus enemy (PvE) extraction survival experience against some of the biggest enemies in Call of Duty history.
Here is what we know so far, broken down into simple bulletpoints for you:
- 60 minute time limit per match (Aether Storm will push players towards exfil).
- Zombies and human AI will be enemies.
- Strongholds like in DMZ or Warzone will be on the map.
- Killstreaks are available.
- Pack-a-Punch weapons and weapon rarities are back.
- Mystery Boxes, Ammo Depots, Wall Buys and Buy Stations are available.
- Elemental effects like electric, fire, frozen, brain rot will come back.
- Schematics will allow for temporary and permanent upgrades.
Although we don't have gameplay yet, we do at least have this cool cinematic to keep us going:
Breaking: Modern Warfare 3 | Zombies Cinematic Trailer pic.twitter.com/kt0KLHZx0i
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) September 19, 2023
To think, the MW gang will be teaming up with the Black Ops protagonists soon, what a time to be alive.
MW3 Zombies Lore
Modern Warfare 3 Zombies will be a continuation of the Dark Aether story started by Black Ops Cold War, with the BOCW crew teaming up with Task Force 141. It's silly, it's convoluted, but here is a rough timeline (spoiler alert, obviously):
- Viktor Zakhaev, a Russian arms dealer and Ultranationalist, also the son of Imran Zakhaev (CoD 4's main villain) wants to commit terrorist acts to goad the world's superpowers into a war with each other.
- To do this, he captures a vial of Element 115 from an undisclosed location with a group of soldiers (the stuff that creates Zombies in CoD).
- As he escapes with the vial of Element 115 Zakhaev is confronted by the local police and a gunfight ensues.
- Zakhaev throws a vial of Element 115 at the police to create a distraction before getting into his armored car and leaving.
- Dead humans instantly turn into Zombies where the vial was thrown.
- Task Force 141 are sent in to deal with the outbreak. But the CIA also put them in contact with Requiem operatives who faced zombies during the Cold War (the BO team).
- TF141 try to deal with the Zombies, but they also face a human threat: Terminus Outcomes, a private military company hired by Zakhaev as muscle.
- The Story is told through DMZ-like missions and a few cinematics.
- Set in the year 2021.
And that's all we know so far about the opening events of the Modern Warfare 3 Zombies outbreak.
What do you think of MW3 Zombies so far, does it sound fun to you?
If the Zombies mode has tempted you to go for MW3, here's a link to buy it on Xbox , although we advise getting it on PS5 if you have both consoles because the first weekend of the MW3 beta is a PlayStation exclusive.