Trailer, Story, and Gameplay for Modern Warfare 3’s Zombies Mode: Everything You Need to Know

Modern Warfare 3 Zombies developers

Modern Warfare 3 Zombies will be developed by Treyarch Studios in collaboration with Sledgehammer Games and High Moon Studios.

Treyarch is widely recognized for its remarkable work in Zombies since its first introduction in World at War. Luckily for Zombies fans, they’re back developing the first version of the Zombies for the Modern Warfare universe.

Does Modern Warfare 3 Zombies have round-based gameplay?

No, Modern Warfare 3 Zombies does not feature round-based gameplay. Modern Warfare 3 Zombies will feature a departure from the classic Zombies gameplay to offer a PvE open-world experience where teams must work together.

Modern Warfare 3 Zombies gameplay

Modern Warfare 3 Zombies will allow players to immerse themselves in an “open-world, player-versus-environment” gameplay experience, in order to survive and fight overwhelming waves of zombies in the “largest Call of Duty Zombies map ever.”

Unlike previous iterations of Zombies, MW3’s version offers a more “cooperative experience” that allows players to team up with other squads, rather than being restricted to forming a four-player team. Players will also have the “freedom and flexibility to explore the Exclusion Zone throughout Urzikstan.”

MW3 Zombies supports eight teams of three up to 24 players, who have the option to assimilate and tackle objectives together. 

One of the new gameplay features devs shared was the inclusion of Zones. MW3 Zombies’ Zones will dictate the threat level that players have to deal with. In other words, Zones indicate the active difficulty level, similar to rounds in previous Zombies experiences.

This new Zombies experience includes gameplay features from DMZ and Outbreak. As such players can expect a 45-minute countdown that leads to a 15-minute window where players must exfil. A successful exfil leads to story progression as you work your way through the story acts.

While Modern Warfare 3 Zombies is a completely fresh experience and departure from the classic Zombies gameplay that players know and love, the devs did tease that classic Easter egg quests will arrive post launch.

Modern Warfare 3 Zombies Perks

Activision

Modern Warfare 3 features fan-favorite Black Ops Zombies Perks.

Following previous iterations, Modern Warfare 3 Zombies will include Perks, better known as Perk-a-Colas, available in machines scattered around the map. These will grant players special abilities enhancing attributes that will help them survive the living dead.

Here’s a list of every Modern Warfare 3 Zombies Perks.

• Jugger-Nog
• PhD Flopper
• Deadshot Daiquiri
• Death Perception
• Elemental Pop
• Quick Revive
• Speed Cola
• Stamin-Up
• Tombstone Soda

Modern Warfare 3 Zombies Field Upgrades

Activision

The Zombies mode also features powerful Field Upgrades, similar to MW3’s multiplayer.

Modern Warfare 3’s iteration of Zombies will also introduce Field Upgrades into the mode, allowing players to further confront both human and non-human enemies within the vast map. Depending on the power of the Field Upgrade, its recharge time will vary.

Here’s every Field Upgrade available in Modern Warfare 3 Zombies:

• Energy Mine
• Frenzied Guard
• Healing Aura
• Frost Blast
• Aether Shroud
• Tesla Storm

Modern Warfare 3 Zombies Ammo Mods

Activision

Modern Warfare 3 Zombies’ Ammo Mods grant weapons special effects.

Following its first addition within Black Ops Cold War’s Zombies mode, Ammo Mods return in Modern Warfare 3 Zombies adding Elemental Ammo types attached to the weapon which upgrades the player’s gun for higher fire rate, damage, and other stats improvements.

Here’s every Modern Warfare 3 Zombies Ammo Mod:

• Brain Rot
• Cryo Freeze
• Dead Wire
• Napalm Burst
• Shatter Blast

Modern Warfare 3 Zombies Wonder Weapons

Activision

Both Ray Gun and Wunderwaffe appeared on Vanguard which had the last Zombies mode before MW3.

Despite not being officially revealed, Call of Duty have confirmed that some beloved Wonder Weapons are making a return for Modern Warfare 3’s version of the Zombies mode.

The sole image shared in their blog shows a small glimpse of the popular Ray Gun and Wunderwaffe, both extremely useful guns that veteran Zombies players will easily recognize.

Modern Warfare 3 Zombies story

Modern Warfare 3 introduces the story and lore of the Zombies mode into the series, as a group of multinational Operators joins forces with Modern Warfares 3’s Task Force 141 to combat a “vast undead horde,” triggered by a second formidable enemy menace.

In this iteration of Zombies, players confront a dual menace: the undead and living adversaries. The living threat stems from Terminus Outcomes, a private military corporation contracted by Zakhaev for their brawn, overseen by Jack Fletcher.

Activision

Modern Warfare 3 will unify the Black Ops Zombies universe into the Modern Warfare series.

The game centers around Aetherium, a substance now concentrated in vials, which led SSO Laswell to assemble a contingency plan called “Operation Deadbolt” devised by the CIA in response to the Cold War outbreak incidents, along with ground commander SSO Selma Greene.

The team, which includes MW’s Soap and Black Ops‘ Ravenov, arrives at the Exclusion Zone several weeks following the events portrayed in the trailer. Players unite with multinational Operators to combat the threat within the Exclusion Zone.

Modern Warfare 3 Zombies trailers

Call of Duty revealed a cinematic trailer for Modern Warfare 3 Zombies, which grants players a first look at the mode and an approach to the game’s story and its merger with the Black Ops Zombies universe.

In the cinematic trailer, players witness the reappearance of Viktor Zakhaev, a notorious ultranationalist arms dealer and antagonist of Task Force 141. Along with his team, Zakhaev successfully locates two vials containing a potent substance within a highly secure container.

As military police arrive in response to security alerts, a firefight ensues. Zakhaev throws one vial at his attackers before retreating, this triggers the release of a purple fog, suffocating the police forces and rapidly transforming them into zombies. Instead of displaying fear, Zakhaev boasts a satisfied smile, realizing the weapon’s power.

In Modern Warfare 3 Zombies, Viktor Zakhaev will face Captain Price’s Task Force 141.

A helicopter then arrives at an outbreak area, and SSO Kate Laswell and Sergeant Johnny “Soap” MacTavish brief an unseen Operator about Operation Deadbolt. Furthermore, Black Ops Sergei Ravenov and SSO Greene are part of the team. They have intel suggesting Zakhaev was planning something a few months ago, but the details are unknown.

Another trailer arrived alongside the COD Next event that went a step further in revealing the gameplay and overall Zombies experience that awaits players in Modern Warfare 3.

This trailer which arrived on October 5 also provides a better look at the Warzone Urzikstan map, which is where your Zombies adventures will take place in MW3.

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