Before the DMZ Beta went live in 2022 as a bonus mode for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, it was widely considered one of gaming's worst-kept secrets. Pretty much everything about it had leaked in the months leading up to its launch.

When players did get their hands on it, the fledgling extraction mode was notably undercooked. The smarter AI for the time was impressive, but there was just not enough substance to keep a large player base active and excited.

Don't get me wrong, there were definitely DMZ die-hards in the Call of Duty community, but I was not among them. I liked the premise, and it certainly wanted to fill a void that had been left empty since I completed The Division's "Survival" DLC. But ultimately, I was convinced that I just wasn't meant to be an extraction shooter girly, and I made my way back to multiplayer and Warzone, where I belonged.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit Infinity Ward's studio and be among the first to see the reveal for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. This included the upcoming third mode — DMZ.

I'm not going to act like I wasn't surprised. Signs were pointing to DMZ's potential return, especially with the rise in the success of extraction shooters like Arc Raiders, for example, but I just wasn't sold on the idea that the previous DMZ Beta had warranted enough fanfare to justify spending 4 years of resources on this extraction mode over some other third mode like classic Spec Ops.

I grew even more nervous about the state of DMZ after the reveal, as launch inched closer and closer with absolutely zero marketing or reveals for the returning mode. No mention of DMZ during the MW4 Open Beta.

Finally, we had "DMZ Week", with a rush of information about the new mode flooding Call of Duty's marketing. When I returned to the studio to go hands-on with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 this month, it was DMZ that I was most looking forward to playing, surprisingly. I was starting to warm to the idea of the mode in general, at least.

For me, these hybrid PvEvP modes can be a hard sell. In the original DMZ Beta of yesteryear, I often felt like the AI combatants were more of an annoyance than an actual threat — just an obstacle in the way of finding the next squad to take down because I was thoroughly Warzone-brained. While there were tasks to complete on the inside, they felt menial and didn't really add much to the overall experience. Looting was an option, but it just didn't mean much at the end of the day.

We started our hands-on time in the Forward Operating Base, the opening hub world for all things DMZ. It's nicely designed, but I do find that overall the HUB itself is a bit disjointed. There's a laptop for every feature. Walk over to this side of the HUB to check your dog tag collection; go back to that side to buy intel on Lieutenants you can hunt. Certain features are locked until you reach the minimum level requirement. Once we were familiar with the layout, we were placed into teams and turned loose to explore Hajin.

Welcome to Hajin

Before I get too deep into overall gameplay, I want to talk about the design of Hajin. The map for DMZ is absolutely massive, especially when compared to the previous map used for the DMZ Beta, Al Mazrah. Al Mazrah felt spacious, but barren. Hajin, however, is a massive map that feels dense and alive. The large buildings tower against the DMZ's skybox, teeming with enemy AI that pose legitimate threats to your safety in the zone. Lush open outdoor areas offer plenty of trees with beautiful foliage and tall grass as cover, making it possible to take a stealthy approach when hunting targets.

The world of Hajin feels real. If you're looking for bandages, check a hospital. Need ammo? Head to a police station. This isn't a new concept, not even for Call of Duty. The original DMZ and the first attempt at Warzone 2.0 both relied on this mechanic of lootable items being found in areas that made sense instead of just stuffed in a box against the wall. For DMZ, it serves an added benefit of forcing players to explore areas outside of popular hot zones.

It's easy for communities to lock into certain areas of maps, especially ones this big, and only want to fight for control of a certain building or lootable box. But the most basic mechanics of Hajin are designed around that. If you're going to level up your operator, you're going to have to eventually go into dangerous areas to collect valuable gear and crafting materials.

Gameplay with meaning and depth

My biggest complaint with the original DMZ Beta was that completing tasks felt like they had little to no purpose. I'm happy to report that Modern Warfare 4's DMZ is overflowing with opportunity. From the story missions that continue the events of the campaign, to the dynamic ops that piece together new challenges with every deployment, to lieutenant hunts, and PvP encounters, this year's DMZ has plenty to offer players of all skill levels.

In my first attempt at DMZ during the hands-on period, I was paired up with a Sherpa from the development team and another player. We were pretty amenable to just exploring Hajin, taking in whatever came our way. Our Sherpa set us up with some dynamic ops that would let us get a little extra XP, and we dove in with the intent to free roam. We didn't start empty-handed; we had beginner-level vests and basic free loadouts to get us started.

Before long, we were collecting the necessary gear to take on bigger challenges, exploring areas with increased threat levels. Collecting gear and returning to the FOB gave us the opportunity to upgrade our operators' skill trees, making our progress feel even more meaningful than just "go in, grab things, get out." We became attached to our operators and their kits.

That is, until another team saw us heading for an exfil and opted to run us over with their trucks.

With my operator now MIA in the exclusion zone, I was left with a choice: Pay the ransom to get her back, or take the loss and go in as a fresh little newbie again.

I paid the ransom.

But then I decided to return to the DMZ for another run, this time solo. I'm too agreeable for my own good, and playing with a squad had left me following along with what they wanted to do. I wanted to see what happened if I went in and followed my own whims. I headed to a laptop in the base and ponied up $10,000 for intel on the location of a Lieutenant, a sniper with a ghillie suit and deer skull mask.

I didn't head straight for the marked lieutenant; I gave myself some time to look for important gear in case I ran into trouble. A med kit, some bandages, extra ammo. When I felt confident I could handle the fight, I headed that way. The lieutenant I had picked wasn't a particularly challenging one, but for a solo player with lower-tier weapons and armor, it certainly proved to be a challenge. I grabbed the dog tags when all was said and done and made my way to exfil, where I threw up a truce flag from the menu wheel and hoped for the best.

My next deployment into DMZ was once again with two additional players. This time our group took a more adventurous approach, diving into some of the more extreme areas of Hajin. We were grossly underleveled, but that didn't stop us from tackling the enemies that were coming at us. By playing it smart and working together, we were able to slowly fight our way through the mission and take down its in-world boss. We hadn't yet finished the mission in its entirety, and there was one other problem: the gas was coming.

We had a choice to hit the only exfil left, which was 900+m away, or we could attempt to finish the mission and hope that an in-place exfil would drop as a reward. Right as our helicopter took the air, the gas overtook the zone. We made it out, but only barely.

DMZ is an exhilarating addition to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

Call of Duty's third modes have always been a bit of an enigma. Treyarch's Zombies mode is an actual gold mine, building up a completely separate world that still ties in with the mainline title it's attached to and creating an intense alternative to multiplayer and Warzone that you can easily get lost in for hours, both solo and as a squad. It's genuinely impressive, but Infinity Ward's third mode, namely Spec Ops, never quite hit the community the same way that Zombies did.

The DMZ Beta was a dice roll for Modern Warfare 2, and whether it genuinely paid off at the time is dependent entirely on who you ask. But if we scope out and look at how the DMZ Beta has evolved into the DMZ that is part of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, I think it is safe to say that Infinity Ward has finally struck third-mode gold.

And I've finally found something to fill the void left behind by The Division.

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It has been 23 years since Infinity Ward dropped the first Call of Duty title; more than 25 games later, CoD fans are all seated with bated breath and waiting for the conclusion of one of gaming's most popular franchises.

For those who pre-ordered Modern Warfare 4, early campaign access is available now.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is both a swan song and a rebirth for Infinity Ward, as the title is the first to release under new studio leadership, Jack O'Hara and Mark Grigsby, while also serving as the finale for the subseries' rebooted plotline that kicked off with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2020).

I had an opportunity to play the campaign for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 in advance, and while I plan to hold off on an official review score until the full game is available, I do have some early thoughts — spoiler-free, of course.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Impressions — Story, setting, and art

It only takes 5 days — and a few extra years, but we're not counting — to change the world. While the events leading up to the story for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 have culminated over a few years of time, the latest campaign takes place over the course of just 5 chaotic days.

Before diving too deep into Modern Warfare 4, it would be a good idea to refresh yourself on the lore of the MW trilogy up until this point.

The reboot of the subseries kicked off in 2019, centering Task Force 141 — Captain John Price, Lieutenant Simon "Ghost" Riley, Sergeant Kyle "Gaz" Garrick, and Sergeant Johnny "Soap" MacTavish — and their hush-hush global counter-terrorism efforts. Their efforts introduce us to a variety of interesting characters, including cartel leader "El Sin Nombre", Valeria Garza, and founder of the Urzikstan Liberation Force, Farah Karim.

I'm going to be a little reductive for brevity here, but ultimately the squad finds themselves chasing down the series antagonist, Vladimir Makarov, but their hunt turns personal after Makarov kills Soap in the finale of Sledgehammer Games' Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023).

In my review for Modern Warfare 3 (2023), I remarked that the final act of the campaign, which included MacTavish's abrupt demise, felt rushed. It was a seemingly unnecessary death at the end of the story that did nothing to push things forward.

3 years later, I realize that I wasn't entirely correct. The ending was rushed, yes, but Soap's death kicked off an avalanche of global events. The beginning of Modern Warfare 4 shows us a squad of more green soldiers than we've become accustomed to seeing in Modern Warfare.

We begin with a group of military conscripts, South Korean soldiers serving their mandatory enlistment alongside American Marines, Corporal Joseph Dunn and First Lieutenant Reggie West, in Seoul.

West has introduced the squad to Wu-Tang Clan's classic, "C.R.E.A.M.," and we start the game with some playful banter between music beats that sets up who our would-be heroes actually are.

The scene is decidedly cinematic, feeling more like the cold open to a movie than the opening sequence of the fourth installment to a subseries of a two-decade-old franchise. We spend some time with the younger squad as they plan a hazing of one of their newbies before they are faced with an explosive and unexpected attack.

We ultimately help the squad make their way through the rapidly deteriorating city, fighting through a night-shrouded urban battleground against threats from a mysteriously enhanced North Korean invasion.

From this opener, we're then transported back in time to just 5 days before North Korea's attacks on South Korea and reunited with Captain Price, who we learn has continued his hunt for Makarov to avenge Soap's death.

Price chases Makarov through a nightclub and eventually into a snowy alleyway where the two engage in hand-to-hand combat. Shortly after this, Price is captured and taken to Makarov's accomplice — El Sin Nombre, herself. She makes Price an offer he can't refuse: a means to go straight to the top of the food chain and take down the Archer, the "head of the snake" for the terrorist organization.

Price's trust in Valeria comes at a cost, however, and he is then considered AWOL by CIA Watcher, Kate Laswell, who has no choice but to send what remains of Task Force 141 to capture or kill their own Captain, friend, and mentor. This story beat sets up a recurring theme of loyalty and betrayal that threads together all of the various subplots over the 5-day timeline.

Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare reboot has long faced challenges of satisfying the needs of its nostalgic player base while also innovating on the subseries in such a way that it draws in a new crowd to create nostalgia for.

Modern Warfare 4's campaign captures that struggle in its own way, with the actions of Price and the rest of Task Force 141 rippling throughout the narrative to have unexpected effects on Park and his squadron.

It's easy to reduce Call of Duty down to just an arcade shooter full of cinematic set pieces and Michael Bay-worthy explosions, but Modern Warfare 4 has somehow managed to increase the heightened sense of emotion in its story. Soap's death, which once felt meaningless and egregious, has created a weighted cloud over the events of Modern Warfare 4, one that leads to big emotional moments that legitimately took my breath away.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Impressions — Gameplay

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's campaign consists of a mostly linear mission structure where the 16 story missions can take roughly 6 to 8 hours to complete, depending on skill level and willingness to look for secrets — of which there are plenty.

Most missions feature fairly on-rails gameplay that the Modern Warfare subseries is known for, big cinematic set pieces with the single player-controlled character assisted by AI squadmates working their way through a mission setting.

However, a couple of missions do deviate from the standard formula. In Mission 2, "Out in the Cold", we're faced with a chase sequence similar to what we have seen in past Call of Duty titles. Price, in his hunt for Makarov, tails the terrorist through a nightclub with some light parkour over rooftops and through crowded streets into an alleyway for a hand-to-hand brawl.

This is followed by Mission 3, "Following Orders", which certainly feels reminiscent of Modern Warfare 2 (2009)'s "No Russian" campaign mission. In this particular sequence, players are an unnamed North Korean operative assisting in the hunt for a defector.

The brutality of the North Korean regime is on full display, but the player does have the option to make choices in whether they participate in the cruelty or merely stand by as it happens. While the player can choose whether or not to confiscate contraband or intimidate civilians, there are some decisions that can have a lasting impact on the player, though the choice fails to have a lasting impact on the overall narrative of Modern Warfare 4.

The most notable departure from the linear campaign is Mission 10, "Stranded." The members of Sierra-1 are behind enemy lines and must keep a low profile while exploring a semi-open world environment.

Players can engage or avoid North Korean operators as they read notes, search for an eye-watering 58 collectibles, unlike a plethora of special equipment chests, and take down 3 specific mission objectives. It's a chance to see Sierra-1's Park Hyun-Jun really stretch his legs as a lead character and to develop a deeper bond with the grunt squad as they fight to survive in dangerous territory.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Impressions — Final thoughts

If you've been playing the Modern Warfare reboot's campaigns up until this point, you might agree with me that it has long felt like there was only one way for the story to come to an end. And yet, even as I reached the final missions of the campaign, I repeatedly found myself gasping at every turn, surprised by the hows and whys that led up to the events of this blockbuster finale.

Every aspect of Modern Warfare 4 is crafted with attention to detail that is unmatched in the AAA space. Infinity Ward leads the charge in high-detail graphics, creating sets where every ray of light adds to the ambience and emotion of the scene.

From the bright lights of a Seoul convenience store to the bloody snow of a New York alleyway to the cracked glass of a city high-rise bearing the weight of a contested brotherhood. Modern Warfare 4's campaign is nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece, beautifully shot and choreographed to enhance the story with purposeful action.

Even the narrative writing is carefully crafted, and every member of the cast brought their A-game to the voice acting and motion capture. Barry Sloane slips into Captain Price like he himself has seen the captain's battles firsthand, encapsulating Price's grief and moral quandaries with seriousness, while Valeria's voice actress, Maria Elisa Camargo, playfully ribs at him with niceties and nicknames.

Samuel Roukin's haunting stare as Ghost is every bit as damning as his insistence on holding the line. I want to care about these characters and have the story being told over a 4-installment subseries pay off.

When all was said and done, I sat back from my desk, controller in hand and mouth agape with tears welling up in my eyes. That sounds dramatic, I'm sure, but Infinity Ward has come up with a group of characters that I have invested in and cared about. Their efforts, their stories, and their camaraderie and brotherhood mattered.

Task Force 141's chapter may have come to a fitting — albeit gut-wrenching — end, but the cycle continues on. Somebody has to get their hands dirty so the world stays clean.

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