Treyarch Talks Call of Duty and Zombies in New Conversations with Creators

Not since the release of World at War in 2008 has Call of Duty hosted a multiplayer beta prior to release, but Treyarch will buck the trend by offering fans a vertical slice of Call of Duty: Black Ops III to poke and prod around in this August. Treyarch will be revealing more details about the beta, such as information about maps and modes, in the coming weeks.

During the beta, fans will have an opportunity to try the new momentum-based, chained movement system, the variety of Specialists, get a feel for the new multiplayer maps, and more. Gamers also got the official prequel to “Call of Duty: Black Ops III“, an exclusive Mega Blocks CoD figurine, plus a code to an online sweepstakes for a chance to be a Black Ops zombie.

The move toward holding a beta for Black Ops 3 is likely due, in part, to Call of Duty’s decreasing sales numbers over the last few years. Access to the beta is guaranteed to consumers who pre-order the game. However, if the beta doesn’t generate enough buzz, it could hurt the game’s sales this fall. This beta will not include Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 players.

If you’re an Xbox One or PC player, you’ve probably been waiting with bated breath to hear when you can get a sneak peek of the latest installment of the Call of Duty series on your console of choice, too.