Highlights
- Modern Warfare 3 Zombies lacks PvP combat, which was a key feature of DMZ and added intensity to the gameplay.
- Adding an opt-in PvP feature in MW3 Zombies would increase variety and add intensity to matches without alienating players who prefer PvE.
- Alternatively, a separate playlist with PvP for MWZ would allow players to fight others for rare loot while also dealing with the infected without interfering with the current gameplay style.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies has quite a bit of DMZ DNA within its gameplay. As if the DMZ menu icon carrying over was not enough, players will find contracts and human mercenaries roaming throughout Urzikstan. The countdown timer and looming storm also carry over, ensuring that the mode feels like a hybrid between Outbreak and Warzone’s now-concluded beta mode. However, despite all the similarities, MW3 Zombies is lacking PvP combat.
Part of what made DMZ so entertaining is that there was always a constant threat of other players to contend with. This made getting rare loot more intense, as players that found a special case were marked by everyone else in the lobby, forcing them to fight off other live players to successfully extract with a rare item. In MWZ, though, that PvP element is nonexistent, with all the players found within the open-world guaranteed to be friendly. This feels like a missed opportunity, as there are ways to make PvP work in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies without detracting from the current experience.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies Should Make Orcas Its Orda
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies has a golden opportunity with Orcas, and Treyarch should not miss its chance to bring back the Aether Worm.
How PvP Could Work in Modern Warfare 3 Zombies
PvP Could Be Opt-In For Modern Warfare 3 Zombies
Obviously, many players who enjoy Call of Duty Zombies have no interest in PvP, as it is one of the many reasons they play the mode instead of multiplayer. The casual matches that are currently the focus are perfect for MWZ players who just want to grind camos, search for schematics, and kill the undead. However, PvP would make matches feel more varied and would make looting more intense, and that potential gameplay depth should not be ignored. To make sure everybody is satisfied, players could opt-in to PvP when deploying into Urzikstan.
The feature could be as simple as a button press while riding the helicopter into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies, with players pressing left or right on the D-pad to decide whether they want to fight other players. If they choose to enable PvP, they could see UAV pings across the map that provide red dots and label a vague location for enemy players. A counter below the storm timer could tell players how many enemy players are active in the match, and new contracts could be added that task players with eliminating other players.
Opt-in PvP works well in Diablo 4 , with pacifist mode in GTA Online being another example of this kind of mechanic being used well. As such, it would probably make a good addition for Zombies.
MW3 Zombies PvP Could Be Tied To a Separate Playlist
Alternatively, Treyarch could simply add a separate MWZ playlist where PvP is active for everyone. This mode could be built entirely around the feature, with equipment like zombie meat to lure the undead toward opponents being added as well as markers for the best loot spots, encouraging players to fight for rare gear. The player with the most kills in the match could be marked on the map, and they could earn increased XP the longer they stay alive, though players could get a large amount of points if they kill them - encouraging them to challenge the most dangerous player in the match.
While PvP fights could be encouraged, PvE would still have to be a key part of this playlist with plenty of Zombies to fight in addition to mercenaries. After all, it is easy to picture intense gunfights where gamers are stuck fighting another player while a Mega Abomination tries to break up the fight. Anything players extract in the PvP playlist could also be used in the main MWZ mode, with exclusive loot giving fans a reason to play both versions of MWZ. No matter what route it takes, Treyarch should fully embrace DMZ’s blend of PvP and PvE at some point.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
Released in November of 2023, Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) continues Captain Price's story from the 2019 and 2022 games.
