Today marks the launch of The Haunting of Verdansk, a major new Halloween event which spans both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Warzone. With the launch of that event, the latter is getting an all-new game mode; Zombie Royale, which will be available to play for the duration of the event, until the 3rd of November.
The New Call of Duty: Warzone Zombie Royale Mode
“When the clock strikes midnight in Verdansk,” writes Activision; “it’s time to bring out the undead. Operators can fight against and alongside powerful zombified creatures as part of Zombie Royale, a limited-time mode where death is far from permanent.”
The new Call of Duty: Warzone Zombie Royale game mode is available from today until the end of The Haunting of Verdansk. The big change in Zombie Royale is, of course, the addition of zombies. However, it’s worth noting that the mode also features a new nighttime version of the Verdansk map. (A variant which is available in both Warzone and Modern Warfare for the duration of the event.)
As for the zombies, Zombie Royale features an alternate approach to death and revival. In this mode, players aren’t sent to the Gulag when they die. Instead, they instantly respawn as a zombie, with the goal of killing living players. Zombie players have boosted speed, greater jump height, stronger melee damage, and thermal vision. However, they cannot use weapons. Zombies do have a way to rejoin the ranks of the living, although it isn’t easy to achieve. Whenever a living player dies, they leave a special syringe wherever they fall. If a zombie is able to collect two of these syringes, they can use them to respawn as a living player, parachuting back into the map to rejoin their squad.
Like standard battle royale, Zombie Royale features the special Trick or Treat Boxes during The Haunting of Verdansk. These boxes can be found scattered throughout Verdansk. On one hand, they might contain special event rewards, like stickers, emblems, sprays, or even the Epic “Return to Dust” Assault Rifle blueprint. However, they might also contain, in the words of Activision; “a brief scare.” Players who collect all 16 unique Trick or Treat Box rewards will unlock a special Legendary Assault Rifle blueprint; the Pumpkin Punisher.