COD Vanguard Zombies

Treyarch is a renowned video game development studio best known for its work on the Call of Duty franchise, particularly its critically acclaimed Black Ops series. Founded in 1996 and based in Santa Monica, California, Treyarch quickly rose to prominence in the gaming industry through its dedication to creating immersive, fast-paced first-person shooters. The studio became a key part of Activision’s roster of developers, consistently delivering top-tier titles that push the boundaries of gameplay, narrative, and multiplayer innovation.

Treyarch is praised for its ability to craft gripping storylines, innovative multiplayer modes, and its contribution to the hugely popular Call of Duty Zombies mode, which has developed a large and dedicated fan base. The studio has a long history of collaboration within the Call of Duty franchise, working alongside other development studios such as Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games, and their titles are known for their high-quality graphics, fluid gameplay, and engaging mechanics.

Treyarch’s focus on player experience and cutting-edge technology has made it a leader in the gaming industry, with its games consistently achieving commercial success and critical acclaim. As a studio, Treyarch is known for fostering a creative and collaborative work environment, where developers are encouraged to innovate and push the limits of what’s possible in game design.

What I did

As Senior Art Director at Virtuos Xi’an, I led a team of 30 artists in the creation of two levels used to test Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies, showcased in the trailer (shown above). My primary responsibility was to guide a junior team, fostering their growth while ensuring the levels came together with a cohesive style and vision. I worked closely with both our Xi’an and Chengdu teams, acting as the key liaison between the studios and our client, Treyarch, to maintain alignment on creative direction and project goals.

What is Call of Duty Vanguard Zombies?

Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies introduced a continuation of the Dark Aether storyline, which began in Black Ops Cold War. Developed by Treyarch, it featured a new set of characters facing off against Nazi zombies, powered by Dark Aether entities. The game’s mechanics revolved around completing objectives, often through portals to different maps, such as Stalingrad and other iconic locations. However, despite initial excitement, many players found the gameplay repetitive, with its departure from the traditional round-based structure criticized.

The Zombies mode for Vanguard didn’t live up to expectations, especially in terms of the fan-favorite round-based gameplay, and the community felt the mode was underdeveloped. This dissatisfaction contributed to its decline.

After Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, internal changes, and a shift in development focus towards future Call of Duty titles, the decision was made to stop further updates and development for Vanguard Zombies. The aim was to realign resources toward bigger projects within the Call of Duty universe, under Microsoft’s guidance.

Trailers

Final Level Images 

Links