The classic Walking Dead franchise has entered into its sixteenth year and it still isn't afraid to experience some firsts. Yes, it's been a decade and a half since AMC introduced TV viewers to the vivid world of Rick Grimes' survival against an army of the undead, bringing Robert Kirkman's legendary comic book series to the screen in a thoroughly gripping fashion. And now, it's still entertaining us each year.
2026 will be a bittersweet year as it will also mark the end of another chapter in the franchise, as beloved spinoff Daryl Dixon comes to an end after its fourth and final season, leaving just one spinoff on the air in Dead City. But, on the sweet side of things, the major first that fans are talking about right now is that the crossover we never thought possible has finally arrived - bringing two of the biggest franchises in the world today to consoles around the world.
World War Z x The Walking Dead crossover is finally available
It's official: The long-awaited crossover between World War Z and The Walking Dead has arrived on gaming platforms. The crossover itself comes in the form of a special DLC on the veteran World War Z video game, which was officially made available on January 29, launching on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One & Series X/S, and PC. To say that it's worth the wait would be an understatement.
To celebrate the launch, AMC and Saber Interactive released a brand new trailer showcasing exactly what fans can expect from the collaboration. If you haven't already played it (first of all, what are you waiting for?!), this is the best look at the game thus far... and let's just say it's everything TWD fans could hope for. Check it out below:
The trailer showcases the three previously-confirmed new chapters of the WWZ game that are inspired by the world of TWD. They are the infamous prison (which Rick and the gang called home during seasons 3 and 4 of the original Walking Dead TV series), the Alexandria Safe Zone (which Rick and the gang also called home from halfway through the show's run until its conclusion, making it one of the permanent settlements on the show), and the Grady Memorial Hospital (which Dawn Lerner infamously used to "help" injured folk while making the lives of those around her a living hell, eventually killing Beth there too).
It also showcases how you can play as four of the most iconic and beloved characters from The Walking Dead, revealing actual gameplay of Rick Grimes, Michonne, Daryl Dixon, and Negan taking on a nightmarish amount of walkers. The visuals are incredible - both for the characters and the surroundings - which some larger-than-life images of the overrun cities and farm-like areas that really capture the terror of the zombie apocalypse. Cities are destroyed, buildings in Alexandria are destroyed, and the dark, narrow corridors of the prison are overrun with a crowd of walkers - it's all so vivid!
If you're playing the game and those voices sound familiar, that's because Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus actually reprised their roles as Rick and Daryl - which is obviously very exciting as it means two of the original TWD cast members were involved in the project. While all voice actors do a wonderful job in the game, it's particularly awesome knowing that the legacies of Lincoln's Rick and Reedus' Daryl continue - especially as fans are hoping to see a reunion between the pair on the actual TWD Universe TV franchise at some point in the near-future.
Now, if you're on the World War Z side of things and wondering why those zombies are moving a lot slower than they typically do in the Saber game, that's simply down to the fact that they have been modified to more closely resemble the legendary walkers of the TWD Universe. While those particular zombies have evolved somewhat throughout the franchise's near-two-decade run, they primarily live up to their name on every occasion: Slowly walking through the apocalypse, stalking their prey with those terrifying growls. Heck, the game even has the terrifying Spiked Walker, who appeared in the series as a member of the Scavengers in the seventh season.
First announced at the end of last year, World War Z x The Walking Dead was given a vague January release window before Variety officially confirmed a January 29 debut. With it now out in the world, zombie enthusiasts all over can enjoy as the two sagas come together for what can only be described as a gripping experience. Seeing the early days of the TWD Universe come to life in the World War Z universe is a sight to behold - and it's certainly one that so many fans of both are ready to experience.
So, stop what you're doing, load up your respective game consoles and watch two of the most terrifying worlds collide in a crossover that was simply years in the making.