After weeks of leaks and speculation, the Call of Duty universe got its first look at Warzone 2 DMZ, a brand-new extraction mode giving players numerous ways to play. Taking inspiration from Escape from Tarkov, players drop into a match, loot, complete objectives, score kills, and attempt to exfil the area before time runs out. If you die, you lose all the items found over the course of a match.
Instead of a fully-fledged reveal, developer Infinity Ward invited a number of content creators to its Los Angeles studio for a chance to play the mode ahead of its worldwide launch. One creator in attendance was Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek who’s no stranger to a first-person shooter.
During his first DMZ playthrough, the streamer claims Call of Duty’s take on an extraction mode is “nothing like Tarkov.”
DMZ isn't like Escape from Tarkov
“This is a touched-up Plunder,” says the streamer. “I’m a little disappointed. I was hoping it would be a little more gritty and a little bit more hardcore.” Those tuning in seem to agree with one viewer even suggesting the mode will be “dead on release.”
Content creators loaded into the game with the choice of playing it however they want. With numerous objectives to complete to earn high-tier rewards and bounty contracts requiring players to hunt down nearby enemies, there’s no correct way to play. Once players manage to find an effective way to earn XP and the best loot, the opinions of players are bound to change.
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Instead of DMZ coming across as a direct competitor to Tarkov, the mode is something much more basic. “You can’t even say Tarkov but casual,” adds Shroud when comparing the two modes. With a week until the mode launches alongside Warzone 2, there’s a small window for Infinity Ward to acknowledge feedback and make any changes to improve the game.
While we wait, check out our guides showcasing our early predictions on the best Warzone 2 SMG and all the latest intel on the first Warzone 2 double XP event.