WithCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2already out in the wild, Infinity Ward’s focus now turns to kick offCall of Duty: Warzone 2and its new narrative-driven DMZ mode that includes three factions. Infinity Ward is making some big changes toWarzonealongside the addition of DMZ, such as leaving thecity of Verdanskbehind for Al Mazrah and the new factions fighting for control inside of DMZ. The changes highlight how Infinity Ward is not resting on its laurels and wants to shake up the formula which has drivenWarzonesince the release of 2019’sModern Warfarereboot.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2is set to continue the battle royale chaos players have become accustomed to since they first got their hands on it in March 2020, though with some fresh twists. The first twist, as mentioned above, is trading the primarily urban setting of Verdansk for the more varied landscape of Al Mazrah’s ports, villages, and more arid terrain. It is this new battleground where players will be able to drop in and fight as part of the typical battle royale experience or risk it all inside of the new DMZ mode.
RELATED:Call of Duty: Warzone 2 Shows Off Explosive Action, Al Mazrah Map in Launch Trailer
As opposed to the PvP-focused battle royale, thenew DMZ modeserves asCall of Duty’s twist on PvPvE and offers “the ultimate reward for ultimate risk” inside of Al Mazrah. The single-elimination mode will task players with infiltrating Al Mazrah from several possible locations across the map, complete faction missions for bigger and better rewards, and exfil before time runs out. Players will also need to survive the numerous ads protecting objectives, dangerous weather shifts, and other operators keen on taking other players' rewards for themselves.
The aforementioned missions will be available from the three factionsbattling for control of Al Mazrahinside of DMZ - Legion, White Lotus, and Black Mous. Within the mode’s narrative, Legion is a PMC and the newest presence in the region trying to gain a foothold in the contested grounds. White Lotus, by contrast, is an older group trying to regain its strength after years of fighting for resources in Al Mazrah. Black Mous is the most mysterious group in Al Mazrah, focusing on espionage while keeping the identities of its leadership and operators anonymous.
DMZ’s inclusion inWarzone 2, as mentioned above, highlights how Infinity Ward was looking to refresh the player experience after nearly three successful years built onWarzone’s battle royale. That said, the studio has made it clear it isn’t forgetting about what brought it to the proverbial dance and has ensured the original battle royale mode will see some notable changes to its own formula including a streamlined gear system anda refreshed Gulag experience. It reflects the valueWarzonehas to both Infinity Ward and theCall of Dutyfranchise, and it would not be surprising to see more changes like these come as time goes on.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2is scheduled to launch on June 30, 2025, on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
