Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies Can Still Give Fans The Best of Both Worlds

Highlights

• Modern Warfare 3 Zombies is well-received and caters to DMZ fans and those who don’t like original Zombies, but not everyone is happy.
• Fans are concerned that round-based gameplay could fade away, but Modern Warfare 3 Zombies can change that narrative before Call of Duty 2024 will have the chance to.
• Treyarch could potentially add full round-based maps or survival contracts to Modern Warfare 3 Zombies, offering a well-rounded experience that caters to different types of players.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies has, as expected, split the community. While fans were instantly divided when an open-world Zombies experience was announced, as Black Ops Cold War’s own open-world experiment was divisive, the discussion has intensified in recent days. Most players seem to be in agreement that Modern Warfare 3 Zombies is a good casual experience and does a stellar job of catering to its target audience – DMZ fans and those who do not like classic Zombies – but that does not mean everyone is happy. However, there is no reason that cannot be the case.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies actually being well received has fans concerned that round-based gameplay could slowly fade away before eventually being retired completely. With the increased focus on Warzone even impacting Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s campaign, this is an understandable fear, as time and resources could surely be saved by delivering more experiences like MWZ. However, while Call of Duty 2024 will hopefully prove that round-based gameplay is here to stay, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies can do so a whole lot sooner.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies Can Still Find a Middle Ground

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies Could Eventually Add a Round-Based Map

Because Zombies is a paid experience locked behind the premium release that is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, full round-based maps feel like a legitimate possibility. Though they are a bit less likely now that MWZ is well-received, as the poorly received Zombies mode from Call of Duty: Vanguard pivoted to round-based maps because of community complaints, Treyarch could still add in a map or two for round-based fans. After all, the maps that will come to Warzone after Urzikstan are confirmed to be coming to MWZ as well, and while DMZ has shown that smaller maps can be adjusted to suit the formula, they would also be perfect round-based maps. Fighting through somewhere like Rebirth Island could be a lot of fun, as it could feel like an expanded Mob of the Dead, while Fortune’s Keep could suit survival gameplay too.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies Could Add Round-Based Areas To Urzikstan

However, with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies attracting newcomers and winning over a different audience, Treyarch will likely want map additions to stick to the new style. Still, this should not stop the developer from adding a round-based option of some kind. While full survival maps are likely off the table, as Call of Duty 2024 Zombies will probably be the next time that the mode returns to the basics, something like Vanguard’s Void objective could be the perfect middle ground.

After players responded negatively to Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies, Treyarch integrated a short-term and long-term solution. The long-term fix was the round-based Shi No Numa and Archon maps, while the short-term fix was the Void objective that offered limited survival gameplay.

Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Void objective type saw players teleport to an area where they had to fight three waves of Zombies, and after doing so, they could return to the main map and stock up on gear and perks. Players could also stay in the Void and keep fighting more waves if they wanted to, with rewards increasing as they progressed through the rounds. While this may not have been a perfect solution, it was still a solid compromise, and something similar could be wonderful for Modern Warfare 3 Zombies. Players could teleport to a unique location or a large building somewhere in Urzikstan where they have to survive for as long as they can, with Wunderfizz and Pack-a-Punch machines present to keep them going. When ready, they could trigger an exfil that allows them to leave the area and secure a landing zone for a helicopter nearby.

Triggering the round-based gameplay could be as simple as activating a contract that opens a nearby portal, though if Treyarch wanted to, it could make this gameplay type even more seamless. Perhaps every match, a part of the map could be marked with a round-based Zombies icon. When players enter this area, their loadout could be stripped down to a pistol like the 1911 and an unfilled Field Upgrade meter. From there, they could play out a normal survival match for as long as they wish, opening a few barriers and surviving for as long as they can. When they leave the round-based zone, they could keep anything they earned while also having the option to restore their loadout weapon. Whichever option Treyarch chooses, some kind of survival opportunity would make MWZ enjoyable for all types of players.