Live-service Call of Duty Zombies game was apparently canned by Activision
Raven Software reportedly started building a live-service Call of Duty: Zombies game before Activision pulled the plug.
16th Jan 2024 15:10
Image via: Sledgehammer Games
Live-service Call of Duty Zombies game was apparently canned by Activision
Raven Software reportedly started building a live-service Call of Duty: Zombies game before Activision pulled the plug.
16th Jan 2024 15:10
Image via: Sledgehammer Games
As one of the most beloved parts of the Call of Duty universe, fans of the franchise have been calling for Zombies to get its own spotlight for quite some time now.
Having birthed over 20 maps, taken us through multiple timelines, and spawned billions of undead fiends to maul your face off, a Zombies spin-off game has been a heavily requested title in what seems like forever.
But having pivoted to this new genre in Modern Warfare 3 and previously Outbreak, it looks like any chance of having this spin-off has gone, especially as one was actually binned off mid-production.
Raven Software canned a Call of Duty: Zombies spin-off game
Back in November 2011, shortly after the release of the original Modern Warfare 3, Activision studio Raven Software began an "Unreleased Call of Duty: Zombies Game", at least according to the former developer Michael Gummelt.
As noticed by MP1ST, Gummelt has a position listed on his LinkedIn profile as the Lead Designer for this project, having worked on it for eight months.
The project was ultimately canned when the "Activision studio that "owned" that part of the Call of Duty IP wanted it back".
This hints that Treyarch pulled the plug on the Raven Software project, given that it holds the majority influence over Zombies.
Gummelt worked for Raven Software for 23 years, creating game modes like Blitz, Search and Rescue, Nukeball and Uplink, Prop Hunt, and was the Lead Designer in charge of developing the first Call of Duty Battle Royale mode BattleCity before co-developing Warzone.
Will we ever get a Call of Duty: Zombies spin-off?
Gummelt's LinkedIn statement all but confirms that anything Zombies-related goes directly through Treyarch, and it would have to give the all-clear on a Zombies spin-off title, the chances of which do look increasingly slimmer by the day.
Previous rumours have claimed that Chronicles 2 is set to be released within the next two years, either in Black Ops Gulf War (2024) or the Black Ops 2-ish remaster planned for the year after. Chronicles 2 would then pile all Zombies maps ever released into one game, nullifying the need for a spin-off game.
This wouldn't be the first time that Raven Software had games canned though, as the developer also listed an unreleased James Bond title on his LinkedIn alongside another Call of Duty sequel to a "classic Raven IP".
About The Author
Jack Marsh
Jack is an Esports Journalist at GGRecon. Graduating from the University of Chester, with a BA Honours degree in Journalism, Jack is an avid esports enthusiast and specialises in Rocket League, Call of Duty, VALORANT, and trending gaming news.
