Activision Reveals First Look at DMZ Extraction Shooter

Activision and Infinity Ward revealed the first look at DMZ, described as the definitive Call of Duty extraction shooter experience, during the Xbox Games Showcase.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and DMZ launch together on October 23, 2026. The titles arrive on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, cloud, Battle.net, Steam, Nintendo Switch 2, and PlayStation 5. Modern Warfare 4 is available for pre-order on the Xbox Store and other digital retailers.

DMZ builds on years of player feedback from its beta. The mode has been transformed to deliver a deeper, more complete extraction shooter experience with new dynamic systems. It is set across a large-scale conflict zone shaped by the events of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.

Players deploy solo or with a squad into a volatile living combat zone as off-the-books assets. Their task is recovering advanced military technology left in the wake of war. The experience supports structured missions and emergent gameplay where participants can loot, fight, negotiate, betray, and extract with whatever they can carry.

The living world features constantly shifting harsh conditions. Changing weather, dynamic military objectives, and hostile forces move throughout the exclusion zone. Every deployment becomes a new story inside this combat sandbox, according to the Xbox Wire post.

Progression centers on persistent inventory and base upgrades. Studio Multiplayer Creative Director Joe Cecot said DMZ now emphasizes meaningful player growth over months, with a Forward Operating Base that players upgrade. Stations allow interaction to build out loadouts and weapons, creating a hero's journey distinct from the beta version.

Cecot compared the approach to how Call of Duty: Warzone became an action battle royale by adding parachutes, buybacks, and gulags. The team studied other extraction shooters to identify what feels good to players. Lead Game Designer Jacky Reynolds also contributed to discussions on learnings from the beta, evolved progression and rewards, and ensuring accessibility for new players alongside depth for dedicated fans.

Last week brought initial details on Modern Warfare 4's single-player campaign and multiplayer features. DMZ launches alongside the full game later this year.