Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's DMZ mode has received a significant patch that addresses player feedback on the controversial "Possum" trait. Infinity Ward has implemented changes to the ability, aiming to refocus its purpose from an offensive tool to a survival mechanic.
Previously, Possum allowed a player to self-revive once per match after appearing dead, with their body remaining lootable. This led to instances where players could spring back to life and eliminate their killers or nearby opponents. The developer's latest update restricts Possum's activation, preventing it from being used while the team that eliminated the player is still in close proximity. Additionally, the trait cannot be activated within four minutes of a player's death.
Infinity Ward stated that the intention behind Possum was to provide a "second chance" for operators to extract from a match, rather than using it as an immediate combat advantage. The developer noted in a blog post accompanying the patch that the current iteration was being employed as a combat mechanic rather than a survival one. These adjustments are designed to stop players from re-engaging in combat immediately after a loss, and Infinity Ward will continue to monitor its use.
Beyond the DMZ changes, the patch also includes weapon balancing adjustments. Several assault rifles and submachine guns have received buffs, while the APOC-338 and FiNN LMGs have been nerfed. These updates follow an earlier beta period where Infinity Ward experimented with a wider nerf to weapon time-to-kill, which had made weapons feel less impactful. The patch also resolves various bugs affecting both multiplayer and DMZ modes. Notably, the Shipment map has been added to the game, accompanied by a 24/7 playlist.