Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's DMZ mode is introducing paid "infil" options that allow players to enter matches with vehicles, raising concerns about fairness in the extraction shooter.
The DMZ progression trailer showcases five distinct ways players can enter a match, varying in cost from free to $100,000 in DMZ Cash per deployment. The free option places players on foot at a random location, a common starting point in similar extraction shooters designed to ensure an equal start.
However, the paid options provide escalating advantages. For $5,000, squads can spawn in a Polaris Dagor A1 tactical vehicle, offering increased mobility. Spending $25,000 grants access to a Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV) with enhanced armor. The trailer indicates that LTVs found within DMZ can feature an optional .50 Cal turret, though it is unclear if the player-spawned versions will include this armament.
A $50,000 cost allows squads to deploy via helicopter, providing a substantial speed and positional advantage over players who start on foot. The most expensive option, costing $100,000, is an air vehicle that appears to be a C-130 transport plane, similar to those used in Warzone's battle royale mode. This option presumably allows players to select their starting point on the map, an advantage not offered by the randomized spawns for other players.
To unlock the LTV and helicopter spawn options, players must first complete specific story missions. These requirements mean the advantages are not immediately available even to those with the in-game currency.
These vehicle spawns offer clear benefits. A player in a fast buggy can quickly traverse the map to complete objectives. A helicopter squad can reach boss locations or points of interest more rapidly, potentially reducing risk and extraction times. If these vehicles remain intact throughout a match, squads could leverage them for efficient travel between objectives.
Reports suggest the highest-tier paid spawn option might actually be an AC-130 gunship, a heavily armed aircraft. If true, deploying with such a powerful combat vehicle at the start of a match could significantly imbalance the gameplay for other players.
As players accumulate DMZ Cash and gain familiarity with the map over time, it is anticipated that free, on-foot spawns could become the default for new or less-resourced players, placing them at an immediate disadvantage. How Infinity Ward will balance these paid advantages against the standard spawn mechanics remains to be seen.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is scheduled to launch on October 23rd for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.