A few years ago, the battle royale genre changed the gaming industry forever. Titles like PUBG and Fortnite were so popular that studios with giant IPs had to rethink strategies to adapt to this new and popular genre. Activision had plans for a standalone Call of Duty zombie title, but canceled it after the release of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)
Activision only had plans for this on paper; it did not develop an alpha version. There would have been a world map for up to four-player cooperative gameplay, as in all the previous Zombie modes.
PUBG’s massive popularity changed everything
The video game industry moves in trending waves; every few years, a new dynamic dominates player’s tastes, and all studios try to profit out of this success. Battle royale has been the new genre studios have wanted to exploit over the past decade.
Only a few titles survived the loss of interest; the original was PUBG, but Fortnite later surpassed this title. Other games, such as Apex Legends and Warzone, are also part of this elite, but many of the others have failed.
Before Warzone was even announced, Activision was considering launching a standalone Call of Duty zombies game, developed by Raven Software. This information comes from a recent interview with a former Call of Duty dev, who explains that Activision only introduced this project on paper and it never progressed to an alpha version or playtest.
OFFICIAL: Standalone Zombies game information:
— COD: Zombies News (@MargwaNetwork) April 8, 2024
-Developed from 2011-2012 but never passed design documents.
-Would be fully supported and updated as a live game
-had microtransactions based on cod online with customization
-NOT a straight port of old zombies
-built off of cod… pic.twitter.com/cwQezOgrA8
The Battle Royale genre has made companies lose millions
This ex-Call of Duty developer revealed everything about the canceled/discarded project while talking to YouTuber, Glitching Queen.
The title would have debuted in 2011–2012, with a substantial amount of content. It would be a four-player co-op with an enormous map, as well as some features from the franchise’s online mode as a standalone zombie game.
The initial introduction of the idea preceded the release of PUBG and the battle royale genre, leading to significant changes. Following the cancellation, DMZ incorporated some details and mechanics from the project.
The codename was Project Zed; it would have full customization, with different themed arenas to fight the stronger zombies.
There are almost no details about the new entry in the franchise that will come out this year. Various rumors are saying it will be a direct sequel to Black Ops 2. Numerous leakers have even confirmed the game’s name as Black Ops Gulf War.
Activision has not denied any details about the title, so time will tell if this information turns out to be true. After Modern Warfare 3’s poor reception among critics, Activision will likely be hoping to score some redemption points with the next installment.
What are your thoughts about this zombie-only game that never happened? Let us know in the comments below!
