Call of Duty's extraction shooter returns with Modern Warfare 4 DMZ, launching on October 23, 2026. Arriving as a day-one inclusion alongside the full Modern Warfare 4 campaign and multiplayer suite, this iteration brings revamped mechanics and a massive new setting.

The New Exclusion Zone: Hajin

DMZ takes place in Hajin, one of the largest maps in series history. Located between Russia and the Korean peninsula, this contested zone is filled with abandoned military technology. The map features dynamic weather conditions, including heavy rain and thick fog, which directly impact visibility and movement. Key locations to explore include a fallout reactor, a prison complex, and the ruins of Hajin City.

Progression and the Forward Operating Base

Your preparation happens at the Forward Operating Base (FOB), a central hub for managing your career. You will return here to use the 3D Printer for crafting, manage your stash, visit the firing range, and interact with bounty boards. Progression is tied to the Active Duty Operator system, where each specialist features a persistent loadout and a customizable Trait tree focused on combat, scavenging, and utility.

Crafting and Looting

Looting is essential for survival. As you gather ingredients in Hajin, you can craft advanced gear using the 3D Printer at the FOB. Crafting recipes cover a wide range of items, including:

  • Gear: NVGs and parachutes.
  • Storage: Specialized backpacks with varying capacities.
  • Armor: Various plate carrier configurations.
  • Support: Field upgrades, fire support items, and consumables like radiation blockers.

The system automatically breaks down materials during your deployment, so you can focus on objectives rather than inventory management.

PVP, Bounties, and Proximity Chat

The high-stakes nature of extraction shooters returns with new consequences for combat. Aggressive players will trigger a bounty system; the more players you eliminate, the higher your notoriety, which makes you easier to track. Conversely, you can hunt these bounties to earn massive payouts and reduce your own notoriety.

Communication remains a vital tool. The proximity chat system has been technically overhauled to feature:

  • Directionality: Pinpoint enemy chatter based on their location.
  • Distance-Based Vocal Falloff: Hear enemies more clearly as they approach.
  • Environmental Reverb: Sound bounces off structures, helping you track hidden foes.

Survival and Extraction

Successfully leaving the zone requires coordination. If you are eliminated, the MIA System allows teammates to spend in-game cash to rescue you, preserving your progress. For injuries sustained in the field, the new Tourniquet item provides temporary relief, though you will still need medical supplies to stay in the fight. To get out alive, you must secure an extraction via helicopter or skyhook.

If you are looking for a squad to drop into Hajin with, you can find teammates via the Pocket Tactics Discord server.