TheCall of DutyZombiesstoryline is not for everyone. It takes one glance at the official timeline for the original Aether universe to recognize just how complex the survival mode’s narrative is, with circles of lore from different dimensions twisting together in an attempt to make everything cohesive. Throw in completely different universes from developers likeSledgehammer Gamesand Infinity Ward, universes like the Chaos story that have been retconned into the active plot, and a soft reboot via the Dark Aether universe, and it quickly becomes a mess when trying to follow what matters for the current releases. Me, though? I happen to love that mess.
While there is undoubtedly value in a tight, linear narrative like what is seen in the brilliantLast of Usgames, deliberately convoluted stories can provide plenty of fun long after players have rolled credits. TheKingdom Heartsfranchise is notorious for having an engaging but hard-to-follow storyline, as isMetal Gear Solid, the latter of which includes some of my all-time favorite games. I’ve loved watching gamers discuss the theories aboutReturnal, piece together details about FromSoftware’s worlds by analyzing item descriptions, and so on. As such, it’s hardly a surprise that I adore Treyarch’sCall of DutyZombies stories, whether it’s the Aether universe and its iconic characters, the under-appreciated Chaos saga, or the currently unfolding Dark Aether universe that is explored inBlack Ops 6.
Admittedly,Call of DutyZombies’ current storyline has been significantly easier to follow than its predecessors. Likely realizing how unwelcoming to newcomers the old methods of storytelling were, as key info was hidden within radios that players had to track down or cyphers that puzzle-masters had to decode, Treyarch has prioritized clearcut storytelling with its Dark Aether narrative. All key information is presented to the player as they do the main quest - something made even simpler thanks toDirected mode- while recordings and documents now exclusively offer interesting tidbits that are not essential to understanding what is going on. However, even if the storytelling has gotten less vague and the potential for crackpot theories has died down, Treyarch likely still has some tricks up its sleeve, and I think I’ve spotted one. I don’t think Weaver, Grey, and Carver are actually going to die - at least not anytime soon.
For anybody who did not pay attention toModern Warfare 3’s open-world Zombies mode, MWZ, the notion that these three characters are dead may come as a bit of a shock. However, it takes just one look atMWZ’s intro cutsceneto realize that a majority of the Terminus crew has seemingly met a grisly fate, with the skeletal remains of Weaver briefly focused on in the MWZ intro cinematic. Around him are three other bodies, two of which seem to match Carver and Grey, with the third body being unknown. While it would make sense if it were Maya, the fourth member of the playableBlack Ops 6cast, it certainly doesn’t look like her. Perhaps it is Strauss, Peck, Raptor One, the fan-favorite Blanchard, or someone else. Regardless, a majority of these corpses are characters players are actively watching the journey of inBO6, so unveiling that they seemingly die at the end of its story would be quite the spoiler.
However, I have a feeling that Treyarch might be misdirecting fans with this reveal, and that the crew isn’t dead at all. Instead, like their belovedSamantha Maxis, they could be trapped within the Dark Aether. There are a few points supporting this idea, such as:
As for how exactly the Dark Aether crew could exist without their bodies, players need look no further than Panos. While there are still a lot of questions surrounding thisLiberty Fallsscientist, who was manipulated by a seemingly dark force within the Dark Aether, the important thing to note is that he has successfully left the realm despite not having his body. Essentially a spirit of energy, the main quest sees Panos tricking the unnamed Operator of Liberty Falls into “swapping spots,” restoring his body by turning the player into a Dark Aether spirit. While Panos’ story will likely continue within the upcoming Janus Towers map, it is this act of deception that could be a glimpse at how the Terminus crew lives on. Now allied with Richtofen, it is easy to imagine Eddie having the know-how to reverse Panos’ trick and send the cast into the Dark Aether, where they could one day escape like Panos did.
One of the more excitingCall of Duty2026 leakssuggests that there will be bolder map designs comparable toBlack Ops 3, with the reports specifically mentioning a space station inside the Dark Aether as a setting. To me, this sounds like the perfect playground for theBO6crew after they hook themselves up to the machine and enter the Dark Aether, as it would explain how such a station is accessible.
Keeping the Black Ops 6 Crew Alive Would Be a Better Path Forward
I truly hope I’m right about the MWZ corpses, because I’d certainly be a bit disappointed if theBO6crew turned out to be a case of one-and-done. Maya has received some solid development, even getting the firstcharacter-specificCoDZombies side quest, but her crewmates’ stories feel far from finished. Grey re-uniting with Sam (and her daughter from MWZ, Ava) feels essential but is unlikely to happen in Janus Towers, while one map does not feel like enough time to offer redemption for Weaver. Not to mention that Carver is still, unfortunately, the “Ultimus Takeo” of the current group, as his dialogue has been largely bland, and he feels disconnected from the rest of his group. Instead of just abandoning him and his allies, I’d love to see Treyarch continue working to make the entire group beloved, as I think they could become truly memorable with time.
Still, withCall of Duty2026 rumored to pair up Richtofen with his classic allies Dempsey, Nikolai, and Takeo, perhaps Treyarch will end up killing off the current crew to make space for the legends of old. This is a hard approach to argue against, as even if the current characters are written brilliantly in Janus Towers and beyond, it is hard to imagine them ever coming close to Primus/Ultimus, as the bar is just too high.Call of Dutyhas always embraced nostalgia, too, whether it be through its many multiplayer map remakes orBO6’s Prestige rewards. With this in mind, perhaps the best case scenario for theTerminus crewis to fill Victis’ shoes, being the “number two” crew that is sent around on missions to help the more iconic main cast.
WithJanus Towersjust months away, I’ll know if I’m right about where the story is going soon enough. Though I started playing Zombies inWorld at War, and long for the days of the mode’s peak inBlack Ops 3, I still think there’s plenty to appreciate about modernCoDZombies. As such, I’m hoping Treyarch does right byBO6’s characters, and their fate in MWZ being a fakeout would give the studio more time to fully realize their potential.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
WHERE TO PLAY
Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
