ZOMBIESBO1 browser not loading?
The Black Ops 1 zombies browser port on vel.gg is heavy: a few hundred MB per map and a 1.5 GiB memory budget. Most problems come down to the GPU, memory or where the link was opened. Find your symptom below. Looking for an exact error message? See every error the port shows.
Do these first
60-second checklist
- BrowserA current desktop Chrome, Edge or Firefox, 64-bit
- Opened directlyOpen vel.gg/bo1z in its own tab, not inside Discord, TikTok, Reddit or another app's browser
- GPUHardware acceleration on:
chrome://settings/systemin Chrome,edge://settings/systemin Edge, Settings → General → Performance in Firefox - MemoryClose heavy tabs and apps; the game reserves 1.5 GiB
- StorageUse a normal window (not private) with a few GB of disk free
Fix by symptom
What are you seeing?
Stuck on "Downloading" for a long time
The first load of each map downloads a few hundred MB. The loading screen shows the size and an estimate such as "about 3 min left", so a slow connection can take a while. Leave the tab open until it finishes.
If your connection drops, you'll see "Download interrupted". Press Try again: files that already finished are kept and the download resumes.
Black screen, or stuck on "Preparing graphics"
This is almost always the GPU. Turn on hardware acceleration (see the checklist), restart the browser and update your graphics driver.
In Chrome or Edge, open chrome://gpu or edge://gpu and check that WebGL2 says "Hardware accelerated". If it says software only or disabled, the game can't render. Try another browser if one won't cooperate.
It runs, but like a slideshow
Low frame rate usually means the game is running without the GPU: turn on hardware acceleration first. Then close other tabs and apps, especially video and other games.
Big hordes on large maps are the heaviest moments. If you're using Hell mode, lower the maximum number of zombies.
"Click to start" or "Press any key to start" does nothing
Click inside the game area itself; the game needs to capture your mouse to start and to aim. Press Esc to release the mouse again.
If you dismissed the browser's mouse or sound prompt, the game reports "Mouse or sound access was declined". Reload the page and allow it.
No sound
Browsers block sound until you interact with the page, so click into the game once. Check that the tab isn't muted (right-click the tab) and that you allowed sound if the browser asked.
If the game shows a "Music and voices paused" message, reload the page and click into the game once it has loaded.
It crashes mid-game
You'll see "The game engine stopped unexpectedly". Reload: your verified download is saved, so it won't download again. Heavy Hell mode settings make crashes more likely.
If it keeps happening, use "Copy error report" on the crash screen and share it with the port's developer.
I opened the link from Discord, TikTok or Reddit
Apps open links in their own built-in browser, which can't give the game the shared memory it needs; you'll usually see "Unsupported browser". Copy the link and open it in Chrome, Edge or Firefox on a computer.
I'm on a phone, tablet or Chromebook
Phones and tablets get a "Desktop required" screen, and low-end Chromebooks usually run out of memory. See CoD zombies on mobile and Chromebook for what does work.
Still not working?
Play a lighter zombies game
If your computer can't run the Black Ops 1 port, Nazi Zombies: Portable is an open-source remake of World at War zombies built on the Quake engine. The whole download is about 100 MB and it runs right on this site.
Questions
FAQ
Why does Black Ops 1 zombies take so long to load in the browser?
The first time you open a map, the browser downloads that map's game files, a few hundred MB. The loading screen shows the size and an estimate of the time left. After that the files are saved in your browser, so the next load is much faster.
Do I have to download the map every time?
No. Finished files stay in your browser's storage, and if a download is interrupted, the files that already finished are kept and the download resumes.
Which browser works best?
The port asks for a current desktop Chrome, Edge or Firefox. Results vary by computer, so if one stutters, try another one with hardware acceleration turned on.
Does it work in Safari or on a Mac?
Safari isn't on the port's list of supported browsers. On a Mac, use Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
Is vel.gg down?
The status light on our homepage checks vel.gg every few minutes. If it says vel.gg isn't responding, it's down for everyone.