‘Call of Duty: Vanguard’ Drops First Look at Zombies Mode from Treyarch Studios

There can’t be a Call of Duty release without the inclusion of their flagship Zombies mode, and today new details were finally revealed. From the first introduction back in Call of Duty: World at War in 2009, to the latest version by Treyarch Studios (in partnership with Sledgehammer Games) in Vanguard, players have been exposed to all manner of gameplay features that focused on staving off hordes of zombies. Today, Activision showcased a first look at the new mode coming to their latest title November 5, which features a franchise-first crossover with the studio whose legacy goes back to the mode’s humble beginnings.

Set in Stalingrad in 1944 and incorporating Dark Aether magic, the latest installment of Zombies coming to the Call of Duty franchise featured a 14-minute reveal trailer and breakdown of the iconic mode. With the return of the studio who brought Zombies to life over a decade ago, players can anticipate playing signature Treyarch gameplay features.

Gameplay image featured in the Zombies mode reveal for *Call of Duty: Vanguard* (Credit: Activision)

While the Dark Aether and Projekt Endstation storyline was first introduced in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Treyarch looks to develop its narrative in Zombies for Vanguard. The four-player co-op mode will expand on the story and promises to “take players to the darkest corners of the occult.” The map “Der Anfang” — or “The Beginning” — will introduce players to new entities, artifacts, and clues behind the plague of undead soldiers wandering the map.

Activision is promoting the mode as a return to its roots, with Treyarch “utilizing Sledgehammer Games’ powerful Vanguard tech to immerse players in a brutal new environment that will appeal to longtime fans and new players alike.” New upgrades will be available in “Der Anfang,” as well as weapon and ability boosting powers made accessible through the new Altar of Covenants after players use Sacrificial Heart loot items found in-game.

The game mode will feature cross-play no matter the platform you’re on or generation of console you use, and it will have a unified Battle Pass and player progression system that shares your player level between both the multiplayer and Zombie modes. Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies will drop when the game launches November 5 on Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.