Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s ambitious new extraction mode, DMZ, has received a massive deep dive from Infinity Ward.
DMZ was initially introduced in 2022’s Modern Warfare II, and now, with the rise in popularity of extraction shooters, it is coming back in a bigger way. The mode is expected to be a major part of Modern Warfare 4’s offerings, with its own 70-level progression system, lucrative rewards, and world building/lore. Additionally, there will be a forward operating base for players to hang out in between matches. Here, players can practice at a firing range to test their loadouts, craft items based on loot they’ve found in the world, gain intel and track different missions, bosses, and unique challenges for their next deployment, and more.
Speaking in a new behind-the-scenes video, Infinity Ward co-studio head Jack O’Hara stated that fans made it clear that there weren’t high enough stakes in the first iteration of DMZ, so they’ve worked to change that. For starters, your time in DMZ is defined by your operator. This is a character that you build and level up, but if they die, it will cost you to bring them back. There are also lootable items that can be permanently lost if the player dies or drops them. These items can be used at a 3D printer to craft things like armor plates, consumables, gear, and seemingly killstreaks or AI-controlled fire support, based on a menu seen in some gameplay.
The team behind DMZ also described it as an “action extraction shooter.” Infinity Ward wants players to feel like there is constant danger both through AI combatants, bosses, and other players, so you won’t spend a ton of time wandering around opening boxes with minimal friction. Infinity Ward laid out a plethora of different enemy types in a blog post, noting that there will be drones, helicopter and vehicle patrols, tanks, and tougher enemies.
Different parts of the map will have different threat levels, and those levels can rise based on the player’s actions. If you’re running around causing a bunch of noise, it will create more attention and lead to enemies searching for you. However, if you play stealtihly with silenced weapons, melee takedowns, and exercise caution, you can avoid extreme conflict. Additionally, the more players explore, the more opportunities there will be to uncover loot and secrets in the game’s world.
Infinity Ward has also promised extensive support for DMZ post-launch, including changes to the map, dynamic weather that can vary per season, and much more. It sounds like a big focus for the team and it should be a really cool change for Call of Duty. Hopefully it sticks and isn’t dropped next year, but that will likely depend on if players show up to support it.
DMZ will be available at launch when Modern Warfare 4 releases on October 23. Unlike MWII’s version, it will not be free-to-play.