Modern Warfare 2 leaker gives more details on Escape from Tarkov-inspired ‘DMZ’ mode

Nathan Warby
Modern Warfare 2 Captain Price with Escape from Tarkov gameplay

A Call of Duty leaker has revealed more details about the third mode expected to feature in Modern Warfare 2, DMZ, which has been long-rumored to take cues from Escape from Tarkov.

Modern Warfare 2 is a name that sparks great excitement within the CoD community, so it’s no surprise to see plenty of buzz around the 2022 installment with the same title. The possibility of returning maps and weapons in multiplayer will no doubt be the main draw, but it also appears that Infinity Ward are trying some new things this time around.

Aside from the campaign and PVP multiplayer modes, most CoD entries come with a third mode – Spec Ops in the original MW2 and Zombies in the Treyarch-developed games.

‘DMZ’, inspired by Escape from Tarkov, is the final mode rumored to make up Modern Warfare 2, and a CoD leaker has offered up some fresh details on what the devs have in store.

Modern Warfare 2 Operators

In a thread of tweets on May 6, Call of Duty leaker TheGhostOfHope claimed that the DMZ will launch in beta form at the same time as Modern Warfare 2’s release

Quoting an unnamed source, expected to work for either Activision or Infinity Ward, they said: “Something like the DMZ doesn’t become final until the general public has gotten hands on it. It’s a large mode that needs maintenance.”

This wouldn’t be the first time that a new mode in the CoD series received a beta. Black Ops IIII’s Blackout battle royale launched as a free trial for those who preordered the game, before being made available for everyone for a short time.

However, this would mark the first time that a feature like this releases in beta at the same time as the full game hits shelves. Fans can expect plenty of updates and improvements as Infinity Ward tries to perfect the mode.

For as long as DMZ has been rumored, comparisons to Battlestate Games’ Escape From Tarkov have been unavoidable. In a later tweet, TheGhostOfHope seemed to hint that these are accurate.

When asked how the mode is similar to Escape from Tarkov, the leaker responded: “What you take with you you can lose. [It’s] more tactical. Etc.”

In Tarkov, players carry out raids and fight against both bots and other players to secure valuable loot, then plot an escape. It’s a far more challenging and methodical experience than standard CoD multiplayer, so it will be interesting to see how Infinity Ward adapts it in Modern Warfare 2.

Of course, these are all just leaks and rumors until Activision gives us official confirmation. With the gameplay reveal expected soon, fans hopefully won’t have to wait too long to see DMZ in action.

In the meantime be sure to check out some other Modern Warfare 2 leaks, including the rumored return of the Last Perk and the possible reworking of SBMM.

Image credits: Activision / Battlestate Games

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About The Author

Nathan is a Senior Writer at CharlieIntel. He’s an expert in EA Sports FC, Call of Duty, and Overwatch, as well as superhero games, including Marvel’s Spider-Man. With a master's degree in Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University, he worked as a Trainee Reporter for Derbyshire Live before moving into games media, with bylines at Dexerto, Cultured Vultures, and more. You can contact Nathan by email at [email protected].