Infinity Ward is once again venturing into the extraction shooter genre with the upcoming DMZ mode in Modern Warfare 4. Following a beta in Modern Warfare 2 that garnered valuable lessons but didn't fully capture a large player base, the studio is committed to evolving the experience.
Joe Cecot, Modern Warfare 4’s multiplayer creative director, explained the team's dedication to DMZ, citing a passion for the genre's unique blend of cooperative and competitive gameplay. "The group of people that work on DMZ love DMZ, and they loved [the MW2 version]," Cecot stated. "Even though the beta was very hard to make, we were very proud and happy with what we made, and we learned a lot."
The appeal of extraction shooters, according to Cecot, lies in their capacity to integrate multiple gameplay elements: PvE, PvP, looting, narrative, completionist objectives, persistent progression, and significant player growth. This multifaceted nature allows for diverse player motivations, from cooperative rescue missions to high-stakes hunts.
Addressing the inherent tension between Call of Duty's traditional player-versus-player focus and the cooperative nature required in extraction modes, Infinity Ward is implementing systems to encourage, but not enforce, player interaction. "We think these kinds of games are very helpful when they do have that PVP. And I think it's that tension of not restricting behavior that makes it so interesting," Cecot noted. Features like assimilation, which allows players to merge squads, and a non-binding truce flag system aim to facilitate moments of cooperation. The introduction of a 'wanted' system, where players who have been actively hostile become targets with bounties, is designed to create an ecosystem where aggressive players can engage each other, rather than exclusively preying on unsuspecting newcomers.
Cecot views the extraction shooter as a natural evolution of the first-person shooter, building upon previous genre shifts from arena shooters to large-scale warfare and battle royales. "So to me, DMZ and the extraction shooter represents an evolution of the first-person shooter," he said. "When I think about classic Quake, my first love, to Modern Warfare and Halo and the 5v5 or the 6v6, into the evolution into Battlefield and the big war into Battle Royale. After that, for me, it's like the extraction shooter is taking the MMO plus the Minecraft plus the first-person shooter, PVP, and we'll put it all on this big melting pot, and then we'll let players go find their own fun."
The most significant learning from the previous DMZ beta, Cecot revealed, was the need for robust player progression to ensure long-term engagement. While the original DMZ offered an accessible sandbox with readily available loot and minimal friction, it lacked the sticky progression loops that define the genre. "We had a lot of players come in and stay. They loved the sandbox. They love mastering the sandbox. They love the social aspect of it. They love that they could do whatever they wanted. But I think player growth is the thing that we knew we needed to hit really hard in this DMZ," he explained. The implementation of features like FOB upgrades and a DMZ rank system, which rewards players with XP for all activities, are direct responses to this lesson, aiming to make players feel their time investment is consistently valued.
While the extraction shooter genre has seen significant interest, exemplified by titles like Arc Raiders, its long-term dominance against battle royales remains uncertain. Infinity Ward hopes that Modern Warfare 4's DMZ mode can achieve a similar impact on its genre as Call of Duty: Warzone did for battle royales, leveraging the lessons learned from its initial foray and focusing on sustained player engagement. DMZ is included as part of Modern Warfare 4.