Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s ambitious new mining mode, DMZ, has been the subject of an in-depth study by Infinity Ward.
DMZ was originally introduced in Modern Warfare II in 2022, and now, with the growing popularity of pull-out shooters, it’s returning 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/story. Additionally, there will be a forward operating base where players can relax between matches. Here, players can practice on a shooting range to test their gear, craft items based on the loot they found in the world, gain information and track different missions, bosses, and unique challenges for their next deployment, and much more.
Speaking in a new behind-the-scenes video, Infinity Ward studio co-head Jack O’Hara said fans made it clear that there weren’t high enough stakes in the first iteration of DMZ, so they worked to change that. For starters, your time in DMZ is set by your carrier. This is a character that you build and upgrade, but if he dies it will cost you to bring him back. There are also collectable items that can be permanently lost if the player dies or drops them. These objects can be used on a 3D printer to make things like armor plates, consumables, equipment, and apparently killstreaks or AI-controlled fire support, based on a menu seen in some games.
The team behind DMZ also described it as an “action extraction shooter”. Infinity Ward wants players to feel like there is constant danger from both AI fighters, bosses, and other players, so you don’t spend a lot of time wandering around opening boxes with minimal friction. Infinity Ward showed off a plethora of different enemy types in a blog post, noting that there would be drones, helicopter and vehicle patrols, tanks, and tougher enemies.
Different parts of the map will have different threat levels, and these levels can increase depending on the player’s actions. If you run around making a lot of noise, it will attract more attention and make enemies look for you. However, if you play stealth with silenced weapons, melee kills, and exercise caution, you can avoid extreme conflicts. Additionally, the more players explore, the more opportunities there will be to discover loot and secrets in the game world.
Infinity Ward has also promised extensive support for DMZ post-launch, including map changes, dynamic weather that can vary depending on the season, and much more. This seems to be a priority for the team and should be a really cool change for Call of Duty. Hopefully this sticks around and isn’t abandoned next year, but that will likely depend on the players being there to support it.
DMZ will be available at launch when Modern Warfare 4 releases on October 23. Unlike the MWII version, it will not be free.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. It covers all things entertainment, including games, movies, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
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