Modern Warfare 4’s DMZ is a true extraction shooter with stash & vendors 

Modern Warfare 4 developers Infinity Ward are bringing back the extraction-based DMZ mode, but this time, they’re going all in. 

Extraction shooters are very much the ‘in’ thing at the moment, with Arc Raiders gaining a huge audience in 2025, then Bungie jumping in on the hype with Marathon. 

Infinity Ward tried their hand at an extraction mode with 2022’s Modern Warfare 2, called DMZ. It was well received, but it was only a beta, and its systems didn’t go as deep as you’d expect from a current extraction shooter. 

However, that changes with Modern Warfare 4, as they’re bringing a proper extraction mode with all of the mechanics you’d expect from the genre. 

Activision

While in most extraction shooters, you have a stash that stores all of the equipment you find in raids, where you can manage weapons, attachments, healing items, and junk. 

In the original DMZ, valuable items you brought out would be converted into XP (except for things like keys and weapons), but not in MW4 – it has a proper stash. 

After you extract, you’ll go to the Forward Operator Base. Here, you’ll be able to manage your stash, accept missions, unlock new crafting stations, use the gunsmith, buy items from vendors, and more. 

That’s right, like most other extraction shooters, MW4 DMZ has vendors. You’ll build up cash on your runs, which you can use to buy new weapons. 

There are also 3D printers where you’ll craft equipment and gear. When in Hajin, the massive new map, you’ll have to loot for basic materials and ingredients. 

Dying while on a run works the same as the original DMZ, where you’ll lose everything you’re carrying. However, this time, you can use in-game cash to buy a Rescue Pack, which will recover your items. The further on you are in the game, the more expensive it’ll be. 

For more on the multiplayer and campaign, you can check out our full Modern Warfare 4 wiki.