Gamers have been optimistic about Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies ever since it was revealed that Treyarch will serve as the developer of the mode. However, that optimism may soon fade, as it seems like Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies will not feature a round-based map at launch.
This would be a first for Treyarch, as every Zombies mode that the developer has made always launches with at least one round-based map. As for the series as a whole, only Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare has seen its first Zombies map being held until later. While there was a Zombies easter egg players could find that set the stage for the first map, the Exo Zombies mode itself did not debut until DLC 1. For Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies fans, the launch of Season 1 will serve as an important date.
Call of Duty: Vanguard players will be able to hop into the Season 1 content on November 23, and according to the reputable leaker @TheMW2Ghost, this is when the first Survival map will debut. Supposedly called “War of the Dead,” this leaked map follows the naming convention of classics like Mob of the Dead and Call of the Dead. Its title hints that fan theories are correct, with players likely experiencing a story that shows the Nazis using undead soldiers in an attempt to win World War 2.
However, the name is the least interesting aspect of the leak, as many fans will likely be stunned that the map is not available at launch. While all leaks can obviously be taken with a grain of salt, Call of Duty Zombies fans have good reason to believe this one, as @TheMW2Ghost has proven to be a credible insider on several occasions. Though the delayed map is interesting, it seems like Zombies fans will have something to do on launch day, as the leaker confirms that there will be some kind of content on day one.
While this content is not specified, and could be something like a new game mode, the most likely candidate is Outbreak. While this is purely speculation, Outbreak’s popularity in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War makes it a great choice to fill the void of a Survival map on launch day. Treyarch’s support for Outbreak in Black Ops Cold War also suggests that it will play an important role in Zombies’ future, and it could continue to be used to keep players busy between Survival maps.
It will be interesting to see how Outbreak evolves if it does return, or if Treyarch finds another way to keep players busy until Call of Duty: Vanguard Season 1. Regardless, those expecting a new map on launch day may want to lower their expectations.
Call of Duty: Vanguard launches November 5 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.