Saber Interactive's World War Z: Aftermath is getting a major update on January 24 that's bringing some of gaming's most massive zombie hordes into the mix with Horde Mode XL. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of World War Z: Aftermath will also be coming out this month along with an upgrade for the PS4 and Xbox One versions.
World War Z was a sleeper hit when it was released in 2019, effectively filling the zombie-slaying co-op void left in the wake of Left 4 Dead's 10-year reign. Despite World War Z's mixed reviews in the beginning and low expectations for a novel and film adaptation, the game has come into its own over the years as strong sales and a series of major updates have helped the game continue to stand out among other competing titles like Back 4 Blood. World War Z's Game of the Year Edition a year later brought new weapons, characters, and a three-episode story arc set in France.
Saber Interactive has put out a brief trailer showcasing the upcoming World War Z: Aftermath update, which will introduce the new Horde Mode XL to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on January 24. Essentially Horde Mode but bigger, massive hordes featuring over 1,000 zombies can be encountered in one of the largest gatherings of zombies in gaming. As for why this mode isn't coming to older consoles, it's likely due to the performance hit from rendering and processing so many zombies simultaneously. The next-gen update will also be bringing 4K and 60FPS gameplay to the most recent consoles.
Although the new mode will be limited to next-gen consoles and PC, players of the Xbox One and PS4 versions are not being completely left out. A free update coinciding with the new Horde Mode will introduce some new mutators to mix up gameplay on these earlier consoles, along with new weapons and a revamped weapon progression system. The new progression system will change the way skins and perks interact, hopefully giving players more options and a smoother progression curve when trying to customize their appearance and playstyle. Since World War Z's Nintendo Switch version doesn't include the Aftermath expansion, those players won't be getting the same treatment for now.
World War Z has come a long way in the last few years thanks to continued support from the developers, which has led to it being considered one of the best zombie games around at the moment. Hopefully, more new content is on the horizon now that the game is officially supported on the latest consoles.
World War Z: Aftermath is available on PS4 and Xbox One with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions coming on January 24.
