Call of Duty's Modern Warfare 3 is bringing back Zombies mode with a familiar adversary, following in the footsteps of Star Wars' pattern of resurrecting characters that were previously believed to be dead. Classic villain Zakhaev is set to return to the game, even though he did not appear in the story of any rebooted Modern Warfare series. Zakhaev reprises his role as the leading villain for the serious Zombies storyline, marking its debut in a Modern Warfare game.

In the end salvo cutscene of Warzone, Zakhaev was tossed into a deep pit, leading many to assume his character's demise. However, in a twist reminiscent of Star Wars, Zakhaev has returned, albeit scarred, instigating a zombie outbreak that forms the base of Zombies mode in Modern Warfare 3. The situation is set up by the cinematic trailer released recently.

Zakhaev triggers the zombie apocalypse using a viral agent called Aetherium, converting people into zombies. The Zombies mode in Modern Warfare 3 will feature a large map and will act as a fusion of Black Ops Cold War's Outbreak mode and DMZ. Groups of four will need to infiltrate, accomplish various objectives, and escape. Traditional features, such as pack-a-punch and mystery boxes, will reappear.

Treyarch is responsible for the development of Modern Warfare Zombies. An upcoming multiplayer reveal event for Modern Warfare 3 in October is expected to showcase more details about Zombies. The game is scheduled to hit the market on November 10 and will be available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.