Summary
A reliable industry insider has claimed that next year’sCall of Dutytitle will see the return of DMZ, an extraction-based mode that was released alongside 2022’sModern Warfare 2. WhileCall of Duty’s DMZ mode was fairly well-received by both critics and fans, Activision announced it would no longer be supporting the mode back in December 2023 with the launch ofModern Warfare 3Season 1.
With the launch ofCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2in 2022, Activision also introduced a brand-new mode: DMZ. Similar toother extraction shooters on the market, DMZ allowed players to jump into an open world (in this case, it was on variousWarzonemaps such as Al Mazrah, Vondel, and more) with their teammates and complete a variety of missions while going up against both AI enemies and real-life players. The aim was to complete as many missions as possible, earn valuable items, and then successfully extract with the rewards. Unfortunately, with games likeEscape From Tarkovdominating the genre, DMZ didn’t quite take off likeWarzonedid.
Call of Duty’s DMZ Mode Potentially Returning in 2026
AfterCall of Dutyended support for DMZover a year ago, fans were uncertain if the mode would ever make a return. With Zombies,Warzone, and Multiplayer already taking up a hefty amount of resources for theCall of Dutydevelopers, a fleshed-out extraction mode seemed like it was too much to maintain. However, according toTheGhostOfHope, who is a reliableCall of Dutyleaker, DMZ will be returning in 2026. This also isn’t the first time that rumors of the mode’s return have been circulated, asCODWarfareForumdiscovered references to DMZ in theCall of Duty: Black Ops 6beta files.
Rumors of DMZ’s return has many fans skeptical, includingModernWarzone, who says that they hope the mode is “more fleshed out” as it simply won’t compare to therecently releasedDelta Force. The extraction shooter was released in December 2024 for PC via Steam, but the developers have confirmed that it will also be making its way to consoles in Q1 2025, which means a release window between January 1 and March 31. IfDelta Forcetakes off in a similar regard toEscape From Tarkov,Call of Dutycould have a hard time convincing extraction shooter fans to jump ship come 2026.
WhileCall of Duty: Black Ops 6is only three months old, there have already been plenty of rumors surrounding upcomingCall of Dutytitles. Various leaks and rumors have already revealed thatCall of Duty2025 will allegedly be a sequel toBlack Ops 2and may also be keeping Treyarch Studios' brand-new omnidirectional movement system, which was introduced in the latestBlack Opstitle. As for 2026, rumors indicate that Infinity Ward is helming development on the title, which could be either another entry in the rebootedModern Warfareseries or a sequel to 2013’sCall of Duty: Ghosts.
Call of Duty: Warzone
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Welcome to Call of Duty®: Warzone™, the massive free-to-play combat arena which now features Urzikstan, Rebirth Island and Fortune’s Keep.Turn the Heat UpPrepare to take the battle to a new metropolis in the all-new Urzikstan map, the new big Battle Royale map. Jump in to celebrate the epic return of Rebirth Island and Fortune’s Keep, two Resurgence maps that are sure to excite veterans and newcomers alike.Loot For RewardsDiscover supply boxes and complete contracts to build your arsenal and gain a tactical advantage.A Game Pass Core subscription is not required to play Call of Duty®: Warzone™. All other online modes still require Game Pass Core.A mobile phone number may be required to be linked to your Activision account to play Call of Duty®: Warzone™.
