Described as a “new chapter in the Zombies experience,” the eight-minute clip features a sneak peek at the backstory, weapons and characters of the 2020 plot. The chapter itself is called Die Maschine, and it’s the start of an entirely fresh story with all new characters. Players will return to Nacht der Untoten, the very first Zombies map in 2008’s Call of Duty: World at War. While the previous cast of survivors risked collapsing the multiverse in Black Ops 4 in an effort to eradicate the undead, it appears the beloved protagonists only half finished the job.
As a result, this latest Zombies mode tells a Cold War story where players fight as part of a group called Requiem, a CIA-backed response team led by Weaver. Their adversaries are Omega Group, a Soviet organization with equal interest in the undead. Die Maschine is a bunker ravaged by time, with decades-old secrets hidden underneath. That tale will largely be told via a new intel mechanic that its developers say is accessible at all times.
On the gameplay front, Black Ops Cold War Zombies features many fan-favorite concepts like round-based play, limitless Perks, Pack-a-Punch, the Mystery Box and more. The mode is also tied to a larger unified progression system, which means weapons, equipment and Scorestreaks for Zombies can be unlocked and used even while playing other modes. With this in mind, groups no longer have to spawn with pistols and can instead carry a predetermined loadout with lethal, tactical and support slots. That setup can be augmented with increasing rarity and power levels too. There are even new win conditions, including an Exfil system in which groups have an opportunity to escape peril with the help of a chopper after a few exceptionally difficult rounds.
True to the modern Call of Duty mold, Black Ops Cold War Zombies will be the first of its kind to offer free post-launch content and crossplay support. This fact, alongside its lore-drenched narrative makes the upcoming Zombies suite its most “connected” iteration yet.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War releases November 13 on PS5, PS4, Xbox and PC.
What are your thoughts on Black Ops Cold War Zombies? Does the new story sound interesting to you? Tell us in the comments section!
