As part of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s efforts to renew interest following backlash to its Gamescom showing, Treyarch has started rolling out the red carpet for its next iteration of CoD Zombies. While a proper deep dive into the mode’s mechanics, map, and more can be expected further into September, the intro cinematic for Ashes of the Damned has been shared with the public. The cutscene and the accompanying backstories for the main cast have given fans of the Dark Aether narrative plenty to speculate about, though most of the attention has understandably been given to Black Ops 7 Zombies’ new villain.
Currently, players lack a name for the mysterious character who captured the souls of both the Terminus crew and the latest iterations of the original four Zombies protagonists. A prominent theory suggests that he’s not only the Shadowsmith that was mentioned in Black Ops 6’s intel, but is also Jebediah Brown, the creator of the Pack-a-Punch machine in the original Aether timeline. Regardless of whether this theory proves true, one thing is for certain: this mysterious holder of a caged, soul-sucking skull looks very familiar to Fallout fans, and for good reason.
Though unconfirmed, CoD Zombies fans think this character could be the latest demonic announcer that calls out power-ups and controls the undead. Previously, the Forsaken and the AI version of Samantha Maxis filled this role in the Dark Aether saga.
Black Ops 7’s New Zombies Villain is a Spitting Image of The Ghoul From Amazon’s Fallout Show
All throughout social media, the CoD Zombies community can be seen referring to the new character as Fallout’s Ghoul, which is no surprise given the following traits:
- The new villain’s voice sounds a lot like Walton Goggins, with the character speaking with a southern drawl that heavily resembles The Ghoul’s own voice.
- The new villain’s outfit is shockingly similar to that of The Ghoul’s, with the tattered clothing and cowboy hat creating an obvious parralel between the two characters.
- The new villain’s mannerisms and way of speaking make him seem both intimidating and playful, with the character exuding a creepy sort of confidence in the same way as The Ghoul.
- The new villain boasts a scarred face, and though it’s not nearly as damaged as The Ghoul’s is from radiation, it’s another similarity worth noting.
Given all these similarities, it’s no wonder that jokes are being made, and it likely won’t be long before players refer to this Call of Duty character as a ripoff of someone from another Microsoft-owned property. However, though it’s certainly true that there are striking similarities between The Ghoul and the currently-unnamed villain of the TranZit-inspired Ashes of the Damned map, they could still turn out to have some major differences. Perhaps the most obvious are The Ghoul’s anti-hero tendencies and the BO7 character’s clearly malevolent intentions, but there will surely be other aspects that set them apart. And even on the off chance that this character is essentially just Call of Duty’s take on the Ghoul, he’d still be a boon for the game.
Black Ops 7 Zombies’ Fallout-Like Villain Could Be a Game-Changer
Call of Duty Zombies has had a hit-or-miss relationship with villains over the years. The Aether saga shined brightest when Richtofen was working on his master plan and Samantha Maxis was keeping players terrified, but struggled when intriguing forces like Dr. Monty were introduced and retired before their stories got a proper payoff. These struggles extend to the Dark Aether story, with the Forsaken being a fine-but-forgettable foe, Kortifex being tied to a despised game, and the AI S.A.M. Struggling to work as well as it could have due to BO6’s big recasting controversy. With all this in mind, a brand-new threat appearing out of nowhere, showcasing legitimate power, and immediately having an undeniably “cool” vibe seems like a needed win in the antagonist department.
Considering how much Black Ops 7 Zombies is banking on nostalgia by bringing back the original crew, it’s nice that the trip down memory lane will be balanced out with a fresh threat for the characters to face off against. Treyarch’s writing will still have to do some heavy lifting to justify the latest variants of the O4, but it seems like the Shadowsmith — or whoever else he may be — is going to be a surefire hit. Sure, Fallout’s homework may have been copied a bit since the Ghoul parallels are so obvious, but that character became as popular as he did for a reason. For the first time since the Dark Aether saga began, CoD Zombies has a charismatic villain to play around with, and that’s something to look forward to.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 66 /100 Critics Rec: 34%
- Released
- November 14, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch, Raven Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
