Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4: DMZ Early Access and Bounty Guide

DMZ’s bounty loop extends beyond defeating a target. In the Hajin Exclusion Zone, a Lieutenant’s dog tags have to make the return journey to the Forward Operating Base (FOB), and bounty payment depends on bringing the target’s tags back. That makes extraction part of the hunt: the squad carrying the evidence still has something valuable for rival players to contest.

Infinity Ward’s combat-first extraction mode connects those deployments to a persistent base, a separate 70-level progression track, and an economy of cash and crafting materials. The early-access schedule determines when you can enter; the bounty and FOB systems determine what you are trying to bring home.

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DMZ early access dates and digital preorder requirements

Campaign Early Access and DMZ Early Access begin on different dates. Access to the campaign on October 16 does not open DMZ at the same time. The full game launches worldwide on Friday, October 23, 2026, with Campaign, Multiplayer, and DMZ.

Access window	Start date	Eligibility
Campaign Early Access	Friday, October 16, 2026	Preorder or prepurchase any digital edition
DMZ Early Access	Tuesday, October 20, 2026	Preorder or prepurchase any digital edition
Worldwide launch	Friday, October 23, 2026	Full release of Campaign, Multiplayer, and DMZ

The digital preorder offer applies across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are not listed among the release platforms. If DMZ early access is your purchasing priority, the important distinction is digital preorder eligibility; do not treat a physical preorder as carrying the same entitlement.

The published dates use Pacific Time. Check your platform’s local countdown rather than assuming a universal midnight unlock. Regional timing, platform conditions, and service outages can affect access, and the preorder offer is subject to change. October 20 provides a three-calendar-day head start over the worldwide launch, rather than a guaranteed 72-hour window in every region.

How DMZ’s Bounty Systems work

Bounty hunting sits inside DMZ’s extraction structure. Lieutenants roam Hajin as high-value enemies, and defeating them awards XP, weapons, and valuable loot. Their dog tags add a delivery requirement: the tags must be carried back to base to secure the bounty payment.

The practical consequence is a change in priorities once your squad has the tags. Before the kill, the objective is reaching and defeating the target. Afterward, the carrier becomes a target for rival squads, and the return route matters as much as the fight. Taking another engagement or extending the deployment means exposing the bounty objective to more interference.

Plan the return journey before committing to a Lieutenant hunt. This is particularly important when using transport: Hajin’s vehicles have finite fuel and armour, with repairs and refuelling handled at Gas Stations. A vehicle that gets you to the target still needs enough capacity to support the journey afterward.

The FOB includes a Bounty Leaderboard, Boss Board, and Dog Tag Case alongside its equipment and progression stations. Keep the payment condition clear when planning a deployment: defeating the target and returning its tags are separate parts of the objective.

Choose the deployment that matches your objective

DMZ supports solo and squad deployments, with three deployment options available through the FOB. For players interested in organised high-value-target hunts, Dynamic Operations provide the clearest connection between accepting an objective at base and pursuing it in Hajin.

Deployment option	Structure	Planning implication
Story Missions	Story-focused objectives within DMZ	Choose these when your priority is the mode’s narrative objectives.
Dynamic Operations	Squad-based assignments accepted at the FOB, including destroying targets, securing items, and assassinating Lieutenants	Arrange your squad around the assigned objective; hunt towers help locate targets.
Free Roam	A deployment option alongside Story Missions and Dynamic Operations	Choose this when you want to pursue your own priorities in Hajin rather than a structured Operation.

Each completed Dynamic Operation grants the squad a Supply Drop, with rarity increasing as Operations are completed. That creates an incentive to continue pursuing objectives, but a squad already carrying bounty tags has an additional delivery requirement to protect. The next Operation’s reward and the current bounty’s return journey can pull your plans in different directions.

Hajin’s threat levels complicate the return trip

Each area of Hajin has a Threat Level, and loud activity triggers an enemy response specific to that area. Enemy forces include North Korean soldiers, armoured units, combat drones, autonomous quadrupeds, helicopter patrols, and road convoys. A Lieutenant fight can therefore leave your squad dealing with more than the original target.

Commanders occupy the most challenging enemy tier and travel with a group of tough defenders. Treat them as a separate commitment from a Lieutenant hunt: a squad carrying bounty tags has a concrete reason to avoid adding a Commander encounter to its return route.

For a bounty-focused deployment, transport maintenance deserves attention before the target fight. Hajin includes trains, trams, watercraft, and aircraft, while vehicle fuel and armour impose limits on movement. Factor a Gas Station stop into the route when your chosen vehicle needs maintenance, rather than discovering the problem while transporting tags.

How the FOB turns deployments into progression

DMZ has its own progression track from level 1 to level 70, separate from the rest of the game’s progression. Weapon progression is shared with multiplayer. DMZ Cash and crafting materials persist between rounds, giving successful deployments a role in developing your base and equipment beyond the immediate bounty payment.

The FOB expands as you complete Operations and successful deployments. DMZ Orders provide structured objectives through the Orders Tablet, while Stash/Loadout manages the equipment you take out. The firing range gives you somewhere to assess that equipment before deployment.

The 3D Printer uses Resources and 3D Printer Ingredients to craft gear and upgrade FOB stations. The Gunsmith lets you purchase attachments with DMZ Cash or build weapons using a Weapon Manual. The Vendor rotates its weapons and gear daily, so its stock can change between visits.

That progression makes bounty planning a base-to-base decision: prepare at the FOB, complete the target objective in Hajin, and return the tags for payment. After each deployment, check the After Action Report’s performance rating; an S Tier or better rating yields the best rewards.