Call of Duty: World at War Nearly Featured Extensive Vehicle Combat in Multiplayer

Dataminers have uncovered content suggesting that Call of Duty: World at War's multiplayer was originally planned to have a much larger emphasis on vehicle combat.

During the mid-to-late 2000s, Call of Duty was solidifying its identity. The series became annualized, with multiple studios alternating releases, featuring fast-paced, class-based PvP multiplayer and blockbuster campaigns. However, the exact nature of those multiplayer experiences was still being refined. It appears that Treyarch experimented with vehicles in the early multiplayer modes.

Both Call of Duty 3 and Call of Duty: World at War included vehicles that players could enter and drive. In World at War, vehicles felt somewhat tacked on, with only four maps featuring tanks. But it turns out there were grander plans for them.

According to findings by ForwardLeaks and @TheSpoopatron on X, World at War would have allowed players to call in tanks after achieving a seven-kill streak. These tanks would have been highly customizable, with special perks, alternative weapons, and more. Players could equip flamethrowers, adjust speed settings, and utilize various other options.

To support this, World at War would have included additional maps specifically designed for tank combat. Unfortunately, all of this was either cut or drastically reduced before launch. The reasons remain unclear, but it's possible the feature wasn't as fun or didn't work as well as anticipated.

World at War also had a somewhat rushed development. Despite a two-year cycle, the game underwent significant revisions, which may have contributed to the removal of these features and maps.

🚨LOST MEDIA FOUND:Call of Duty: World at War was initially going to have a much deeper focus on vehicle combat before being scrapped. After a player reached a 7 kill streak, they could call in a tank. The tank would be fully... pic.twitter.com/6zzWJ6vl9d

• Railway (mp_railway)• Sandtrap (mp_sandtrap)• Village (mp_village)• Zoo (mp_zoo)* indicates map released in WaW pic.twitter.com/hU6jd95Jzi

It's intriguing to consider how Call of Duty might have evolved if these features had shipped. Would vehicles have played a larger role in future titles? It's hard to say. The recent Modern Warfare games have included vehicles in Ground War mode, seemingly to compete with large-scale shooters like Battlefield. While a fun addition, it hasn't matched the intensity of the core 6v6 experience.

Players have also discovered a cut Zombies tower defense mode in the recent Black Ops ports. These ports have become some of the best-selling games of 2026, as fans flock to the older titles.