Axis & Allies and Zombies, with chainsaw tanks and mind-control rays, is a real thing

Remember at the start of the year when Wizards of the Coast president Chris Cocks made an offhand comment about how a new version of Axis & Allies might include a zombie mode?

Oh, how we laughed at the idea that the classic historical strategy game would be mashed up with an invasion of the undead. Well, we’re not laughing anymore – Axis & Allies and Zombies is real, and it’s coming to get you, Barbara.

Cocks confirmed the project during a recent Hasbro investor update at Toy Fair, hinting at some of the out-there twists being added to the World War II sim.

“Axis & Allies and Zombies takes the beloved World War II strategy classic Axis & Allies and adds a fun alternate-history twist with streamlined gameplay, curveballs – like chainsaw tanks and zombie mind-control rays – and a zany storyline strategy fans everywhere will enjoy,” he said. (Listen for yourself at around one hour 11 minutes in the webcast.)

Yes, he did indeed say that chainsaw tanks and mind-control rays are coming to Axis & Allies.

Unfortunately, that was all Cocks had to say about the game during the talk, but ICv2 managed to dig up a few more details, including the fact that Axis & Allies and Zombies is being created by some of the designers behind Dungeons & Dragons: Fifth Edition, Magic: The Gathering, Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate and Duel Masters, including D&D creative director Mike Mearls.

The premise of the game appears to be the typical Allies-versus-Axis battle for victory, but with the added complication of a zombie outbreak happening across the globe.

Like the original game, Axis & Allies and Zombies will play with two to five people in between an hour and three.

It’s yet to get a release date, price or specifics of the other gameplay changes, but we’d hope to hear more information soon alongside the mobile version of Axis & Allies Cocks teased may arrive in "in 12 to 18 months".