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ESRB Leak Suggests DMZ Mode Will be F2P Alongside Warzone 2

By Ralston Dacanay

"This is a first-person shooter, set in the Call of Duty universe, in which players engage in a variety of multiplayer combat events."
"This is a first-person shooter, set in the Call of Duty universe, in which players engage in a variety of multiplayer combat events." / Image courtesy of Activision

Less than a week after the release date of Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 was supposedly leaked, it appears Infinity Ward's in-development "DMZ" mode will be launching for free alongside the new battle royale instead of Modern Warfare II.

The leak was apparently dropped Monday by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), in which a rating summary blurb for Warzone 2.0 specifically name drops DMZ alongside the likes of its unannounced "battle royale" and "plunder-style skirmishes."

"This is a first-person shooter," the ESRB blurb reads, "set in the Call of Duty universe, in which players engage in a variety of multiplayer combat events (e.g., battle royale, plunder-style skirmishes/DMZ).

"Players use machine guns, shotguns, sniper rifles and explosives to kill enemy soldiers in frenetic combat. Battles are highlighted by realistic gunfire, screams of pain, blood-splatter effects and explosions. A handful of weapons/attacks result in decapitation/dismemberment. Finishing moves sometimes depict dramatic stabbings and headshots, with close-up blood and gore effects."

For those who haven't yet heard about the rumored DMZ mode, it was supposedly set to be Modern Warfare 2's third premium experience dropping at launch alongside campaign and multiplayer, and the franchise's take on an extraction-based mode.

Players will be able to make excursions into open and explorable regions populated by NPC enemies and other players to collect supplies, weapons, and resources. If a player dies on such an excursion, they lose any equipment they were carrying. But if they successfully escape with their haul, they can use it all in their next run.

Prominent CoD leaker TheGhostOfHope has mentioned that DMZ will likely include a marketplace where items (e.g. operator skins, weapon blueprints) can be bought and traded for use also across multiplayer and eventually Warzone 2.0.

Infinity Ward has yet to confirm the existence of such a game mode.

Ultimately, it would unquestionably be a major change if DMZ were to be saved past the MW2 launch in October to be a free-to-play experience that drops with Warzone 2.0.

According to Activision previously, Warzone 2.0 will release soon after Modern Warfare 2 later this year, serving as an extension of the MW2 universe with new technology, features, gameplay, progression, inventories and more.

The original Warzone game will remain a separate experience that will include a continuation of player progression and inventories within itself.

For more on Call of Duty, be sure to check out our top five lists:

Additionally, feel free to check out our timeline on the history of the Call of Duty franchise!

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