Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 added several unique game modes to its paid multiplayer suite in 2022, including Prisoner Escape, Third-Person Moshpit, Invasion, and Raids. These new modes fit nicely into the rotation and create a welcome alternative to the traditional Team Deathmatch or Domination. However, one of Modern Warfare 2's most intriguing new modes came in the highly-anticipated DMZ, which paints an exciting future for the franchise. Despite DMZ's flaws, it should serve as the baseline for all Call of Duty content moving forward.

DMZ and the Battle Royale juggernaut Warzone 2.0 are similar on paper, as both are free-to-play with a large, sprawling map full of PvP and PvE encounters. In reality, they play very differently, as DMZ is more focused on PvE and completing missions to progress with various factions. Alternatively, Warzone 2.0 is more focused on PvP and surviving to be the last player or last squad standing. DMZ's main appeal is in the high-risk, high-reward of its extraction genre. Whereas most new Call of Duty content serves as mere distractions, players can dive deep into DMZ and dedicate themselves to it.

RELATED: Blackout Fans Should Give Call of Duty: Warzone 2’s DMZ Mode a Chance

How DMZ Should Influence Future Content

Call of Duty: Warzone 2 players want Infinity Ward to improve DMZ missions and objectives.

The Call of Duty franchise hasn't exactly shied away from its inspiration from other games in the past, and Modern Warfare 2 is no exception. In DMZ, 22 teams of three must explore a large map to gather loot and complete objectives, then extract to secure the loot for their personal stash. While DMZ doesn't necessarily reinvent the wheel for extraction games, it does offer a low barrier of entry and plenty of content to keep players engaged for weeks, if not months on end. The systems in place for DMZ keep the mode fairly high-stakes while giving more casual players some leeway with its freedom of choice.

Most content that ends up being added to Call of Duty are multiplayer maps and modes, along with battle passes and new cosmetics to unlock. These certainly give things for players to do, but they are ultimately fairly shallow experiences. DMZ adds considerably more to do within each match, as the world of Al Mazrah is absolutely packed with objectives, threats, and other players to encounter. The missions players choose also make each encounter with other players feel risky and intense, as players lose all their loot if they die, potentially causing them to restart progress on some missions.

The risk of each DMZ match starts with the weapons and equipment players choose to bring into the map. Once in a match, they can decide how aggressive or passive they'd like to be. They can gather a little loot, pick up a few weapons, and extract within the first few minutes. Or, they can engage hostile Strongholds, hunt enemy squads, and battle for rare loot around the map. The sheer amount of things to do while playing DMZ is impressive, even if there's not much to do after players extract. Between matches players can choose their loadout and which missions they'd like to tackle next.

Besides multiplayer updates and seasonal content, DMZ could have a broader influence on future Call of Duty titles. Recently, leaks emerged from a canceled open-world version of the Black Ops 3 campaign, which sparked discussions about switching up the structure for future Call of Duty campaigns. If the franchise were to move to open-world, developers could draw inspiration from DMZ for creating different objectives and enemy bases within a large environment. An open-world Call of Duty could combine the series' signature blockbuster action with MW2's advancements in AI while offering the freedom of choice seen in DMZ.

RELATED: Call of Duty Should Take Another Shot at Black Ops 3's Canceled Open World Campaign Concept

DMZ Provides Approachability and Promise

Call of Duty DMZ Mode

In a genre that is typically reserved for a more hardcore audience, Call of Duty's approachability and tight gunplay are what help DMZ stand out from the rest. Other popular extraction games like Escape from Tarkov, Marauders, and Hunt: Showdown all have slower gameplay with long animations and deeper economy systems that create a more punishing experience. The main path for progression in DMZ comes from the missions chosen before a match, which challenge players to complete tasks like extracting five of a particular item, visiting six different locations, or repairing five vehicles.

Since DMZ launched in beta, there is plenty of room for improvement and the mode is sure to evolve and expand over time. In its first couple of months, there have already been several tweaks, additions, and minor updates to DMZ, with the biggest being Building 21. This is a separate area from the regular Al Mazrah map that's highly dangerous and competitive. Building 21 has some of the best loot and toughest enemies in all of DMZ, making it a true challenge for even the best players.

The addition of Building 21 brings the tension of DMZ to a whole new level and provides an additional goal for players to strive toward. If DMZ were to continue adding new locations and upping the challenge, the potential could be endless. Offering tougher challenges is one of the best ways to keep a game's active players engaged. MMOs like Final Fantasy 14 do this by coming out with new dungeons, higher level caps, etc. Many games will also unlock harder difficulties after beating their campaign, and some will even add hardcore modes post-launch that introduce punishing features like having to restart the game if the player dies.

Possibly the biggest area for improvement for DMZ comes in its economy. Since the money and the majority of the loot extracted in DMZ get converted to XP, there are no vendors and no real economy. The mode's tension and depth could be heightened further by allowing players to keep cash, which they could use to purchase keys, weapons, or equipment. Despite this, DMZ offers players experiences that are far more cinematic and high-stakes than traditional Call of Duty multiplayer matches.

Call of Duty: Warzone 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

MORE: What to Expect From the Call of Duty Franchise in 2023