[Update: First Look at Black Ops 2 Zombies & World Premiere Date]
When Infinity Ward was able working away on the sequel to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Activision tasked Treyarch with the impossible task of delivering a comparably successful game stuck in the dated World War II genre. The addition of one innovative game mode helped the game succeed while also offering its most marketable and buzz-generating selling point: zombies.
An idea that at first glance seemed too far gone for the Call of Duty franchise has now become a mainstay in each Treyarch-developed title since. The four-player co-op mode returned with Call of Duty: Black Ops and while still the details are still under wraps, the feature is returning for Black Ops 2 this fall (check out the zombies teaser poster) – perhaps with some significant changes this time around.
We had the opportunity two years ago to be one of the first to demo Black Ops days after its 3D features were announced. As such we briefly had the chance to browse the menus of the game, seeing the zombies mode before any of its details were revealed. At the time we inquired about the mode, hoping to learn details on how the fan-favorite multiplayer feature may have changed and grown since its debut in World at War two years prior. Our hopes were that instead of hiding in isolated spaces with just four players, the game would allow for more zombies, larger maps, perhaps even a storyline. With Black Ops 2, that may actually happen.
Kotaku picked up on the following line displayed on Amazon’s product listing of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.
”The inclusion of a Zombies in gameplay, both in as an option in multiplayer, and as a campaign option.”
By multiplayer, the listing refers to Black Ops 2 featuring the traditional co-op survival (with 8 players this time around!) mode against waves of increasingly difficult zombies and the new 4v4 zombies mode, but “as a campaign option” implies something entirely different. Could the next Call of Duty let players play the single-player game against zombie soldiers in the future?
This slip-up by Amazon (the description has since been altered to remove this line) adds credence to rumored leaked screenshots from back in May which revealed a menu option for a zombie story mode.
Either way, we were bored of four-player survival in Black Ops 1 rather quick, so more players, bigger maps, and a story mode all have us intrigued and excited. More more related leaked information, check out the Black Ops 2 multiplayer map list.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 launches November 13, 2012 for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. It will release sometime in the five-month launch window on the Wii U.
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Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes.
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Its funny how many times Amazan lets things “slip”. But the only reason I am sticking with Treyarch is purely because of zombies. I hate CoD and I really want to be done with it but the zombie mode is awesome (imo) and the sound of a actual zombien campaign is amazing. I still wish they made zombies its own title but I can settle for this. I just hope they don’t screw with the formula too much.
Agreed
“We were bored of four-player survival in Black Ops 1 rather quick.”
Your co=op partners must have sucked then. Black Ops Zombies (especially Ascension) is still a major title in my video game rotation.
Most people get tired of games after playing them for a year and a half.
One day, call of duty: The undead will be a retail game, and I will totally buy it.
This.
Wow I can’t wait! It sounds fantastic on paper, let’s see it in action. Zombies in COD is so addictive.
I don’t get the whole zombie obsession people have these days.
Its not an obsession, its just that zombies is the one thing that Treyarch nails (so far). Also its different from all the other zombie games out there.
@G
In a game, only if done correctly. Red Dead Redemption, Call of Duty, and Dead Island imo. DayZ looks amazing but I have yet to try it.
The atmosphere must fit the game. The fear and fight for survival. The desperate and thrilling feeling of being chased with no escape. It’s almost like playing tag as a kid. Red Dead had that large open world that gave you a sense of emptiness in a once breathing world. Call of Duty does an excellent job at making it feel desperate and getting your adrenaline pumping, team work is vital. DayZ has the best atmosphere and set up.
It’s hard to explain.
And with one single rumor my interest in COD was rekindled.
i really cant wait for black ops 2 to come out it is by far my number one pick of the year and its all because of the zombies side of the game sure re6 is also coming out and will be part of my shelf but black ops zombies has the spark that resident evil lost a long time ago and that is the reason why this game is so successful