Highlights
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies is confirmed to be an open world experience, offering the biggest map in the series' history.
The Outbreak mode in Black Ops Cold War successfully drew in a fresh audience with its immersive open world approach and laid-back gameplay. However, it fell short in meeting the expectations of fans who prefer the traditional round-based gameplay.
There is apprehension surrounding the open world map featured in Modern Warfare 3 Zombies, as there are fears that it might lack distinctiveness and innovation, ultimately leading to a letdown for fans of this game mode.
The Call of Duty Zombies mode has undergone significant changes since its introduction. From a simple round-based mode, it has evolved to include unique features such as Perk-a-Colas and Pack-a-Punch. The Ray Gun has been overshadowed by numerous Wonder Weapons, mini bosses now accompany the undead, and complex quests offer players additional objectives. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War introduced a semi-open world experience alongside the traditional round-based content, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is now expanding on this concept.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies will adopt an open world approach, making it the largest map in the series to date. While this brings potential benefits and excitement for fans who enjoyed Outbreak, there are also downsides to consider. Activision may view the open world nature of the map as entirely positive, but history has shown that it could divide the player base.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies Could Fix or Continue Outbreak’s Problems
Outbreak had its strengths, serving as a big success for Treyarch in Black Ops Cold War. The open world Zombies concept attracted a new audience and provided a refreshing break from the usual survival structure. Additionally, Treyarch incorporated vast areas to hide CoD Zombies' intel, creating a mission-focused gameplay experience. Casual players found Outbreak to be a relaxing way to grind camos, engage in fishing, and gradually clear out maps. However, fans of round-based gameplay were left disappointed, which could potentially impact the future of MW3 Zombies. Despite its successes, Outbreak had room for improvement.
The primary drawback of Outbreak was its lack of a true Zombies feel due to its map design. This can be attributed to the fact that Outbreak repurposed locations from multiplayer. While the large zones allowed for exploration, they lacked the distinctive atmosphere of exclusive Zombies maps like Kino Der Toten or Der Eisendrache. Although the first Easter egg in Outbreak cleverly introduced a new area to one of these maps, the majority of Outbreak's maps consisted of reused multiplayer assets. Without small environmental details such as blood or building damage, the locations felt sanitized, failing to convey the presence of an undead outbreak.
The lack of Easter eggs in Outbreak was its biggest downfall. Aside from the main quests and casette tapes, there was nothing else worth noting. This missed opportunity is disappointing, as side quests are a crucial aspect of the Zombies experience. Hopefully, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies takes note of these flaws and makes the necessary improvements. By adopting a fully open world approach, players can explore a vast map without any loading or zone switching. If the game includes intriguing side quests and a distinctive Zombies aesthetic, it could elevate the Outbreak concept to new heights.
Unfortunately, there are concerns regarding Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies. The game's multiplayer heavily relies on old content, featuring map remakes from Modern Warfare 2 in 2009 and a Carry Forward system that indicates a lack of innovation. Without any information about the Zombies map, it's likely that it will be a reused Warzone location. This would be extremely disappointing, as recent entries have struggled with a lack of personality in their Zombies mode. Given that Sledgehammer Games had limited time for development and Treyarch is focused on the next Call of Duty installment in 2024, it's doubtful that there was sufficient time to create a fully original open world Zombies location. If this turns out to be true, fans may once again express their outrage.
MW3 Zombies will feature a vast map for players to explore. However, it is essential for the areas to be meticulously designed to avoid a lackluster and clunky gameplay experience. Although certain side activities such as launching the Dragon rocket or battling an Orda might make a comeback, there is a possibility of fewer Easter eggs. Additionally, the introduction of new enemy types and powerful Wonder Weapons may be less probable. Despite the potential shown in Outbreak and the concept of open world Zombies, this map runs the risk of feeling devoid of soul, given its sheer size. If the speculation proves accurate and the open world location fails to capture the essence of a typical CoD Zombies map, fans of the mode may face yet another challenging year. Mark your calendars for November 10 when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 releases on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.