Raven Software's Cancelled Projects: Live-Service Call of Duty Zombies and Classic IP Sequel

Former lead designer reveals ambitious projects halted due to intellectual property rights and shifting market trends.

Raven Software was working on a live-service project for Call of Duty's Zombies mode in 2011-2012, according to former lead designer Michael Gummelt.
The project was cancelled when Zombies owner Treyarch wanted it back.
Raven Software also attempted to develop a sequel to a classic Raven IP in 2019, which was also cancelled due to the success of Warzone.
The Zombies mode, first launched in 2008, has been a popular feature of the Call of Duty franchise, leading to discussions about a standalone game.
The exploration and cancellation of these projects highlight the challenges of expanding game modes into new formats and balancing creative ambitions with intellectual property rights and market trends.