Modern Warfare 3's Outbreak 2.0 could be free-to-play

After becoming incredibly popular in Black Ops: Cold War, the zombies Outbreak mode has long been rumoured to return, with the developers actively recruiting engineers to help mould their large-scale undead experience.

But, most people thought that this would be for Call of Duty 2024 - the Gulf War-based title being developed by Zombies masters Treyarch. This meant they were preparing themselves for one of the most readily-made game modes we've seen in years.

However, it seems like Outbreak is coming sooner than we expected, as recent Modern Warfare 3 leaks suggested that the Zombies mode will come this year.

Modern Warfare 3 leaked to include Outbreak

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After it first emerged that Call of Duty 2023 will include some form of Zombies gameplay, it has now come to light that the game mode will be Outbreak.

The large-scale game mode will be the third spoke to the wheel, which also includes a fully Sledgehammer Games-led multiplayer experience and a campaign influenced by Infinity Ward - continuing the Modern Warfare series.

It's not known how hands-on Treyarch will be with the Outbreak mode, considering that they built it originally, but it's likely that the Zombies experts will be pioneering the experience under the guidance of Sledgehammer's overall experience.

Outbreak 2.0 could be free-to-play in Modern Warfare 2

According to Insider Gaming, Activision is weighing up whether or not Outbreak 2.0 should be a Modern Warfare 3 exclusive game mode, with the alternative being a DMZ-like free-to-play model.

"It's understood that Activision is currently weighing the possibilities on if the mode should be a part of the premium title or not, or if it makes more sense for the mode to be a free-to-play experience," reads the report.

Should the publishers go with the free-to-play model, it's likely that it will also feature pay-to-win elements through in-store bundles.

There are also some fans who have theorised that the Zombies Outbreak mode will be much closer to DMZ, with an extraction-based experience akin to how you could exfil from Die Maschine.