Are Backpacks Being Removed From DMZ? A Deep Dive into the Inventory System
The answer to the question, “Are backpacks being removed from DMZ?” is a bit complex, as it’s not a simple yes or no. Backpacks in DMZ (and Warzone) have seen significant changes over time, particularly between different seasons and iterations of the game. While backpacks as a concept are not entirely removed from DMZ, their implementation and functionality have undergone alterations. Let’s explore the evolution of backpacks in DMZ, current mechanics, and answer some pressing questions players may have.
The Evolution of Backpacks in Warzone and DMZ
The initial introduction of Warzone 2 brought with it the concept of backpacks. These gave players more control over their inventory, allowing them to carry more loot, weapons, and equipment. This was a marked change from earlier iterations where inventory space was more limited. Upon dropping into a match, players started with a small backpack, providing a base level of carrying capacity.
However, this system evolved quickly. In Season 2 of Warzone 2, Infinity Ward made the decision to remove upgradable backpacks altogether. Instead of the previous system of acquiring bigger bags, every player spawned with a limited, pre-determined inventory space. Moreover, the loot system was tweaked, resulting in loot spreading around a defeated enemy, rather than being contained within a single backpack drop. This was a conscious effort to increase the pace of the game and discourage the previous slower, more methodical gameplay.
In DMZ, backpacks have played a crucial role, serving as a way to store valuable items for extraction. Unlike standard battle royale, DMZ relies heavily on the ability to accumulate and extract loot.
Backpacks in DMZ: Current Status
While large, upgradeable backpacks are no longer present in the traditional Warzone battle royale mode, they still exist in the DMZ mode, albeit with some changes.
Standard Backpacks
Players will still spawn in with a basic backpack in DMZ, providing space to carry various items. These include, but are not limited to, weapons, tactical equipment, killstreaks, and mission-critical items. The size is standard, providing a reasonable storage space.
Scavenger and Secure Backpacks
There are specialized backpack types that can be obtained within DMZ, including the Scavenger Backpack and the Secure Backpack. These add a strategic layer to gameplay. To get a Scavenger Backpack, players need to barter at the Buy Station using specific materials like battery, canned food, and gun cleaning oil. In DMZ Season 4, the Secure Backpack was introduced, which could be bartered for after completing a series of tasks. One such task involves eliminating the Scavenger multiple times. The Secure Backpack offers the significant advantage of keeping items safe even if you fail to extract.
Finding Backpacks
While you no longer drop standard backpacks from defeated enemies in the way you used to in Warzone, you can sometimes find them in specific locations or inside orange supply crates throughout the DMZ maps. Some known locations include:
- Fire Department: On the rooftop, on a blue tarp.
- Police Department: Under the stairs of the rooftop helipad.
- Train Cargo and Passenger Cars: Orange crates can have backpacks inside.
Important Considerations for DMZ Backpacks
It’s crucial to understand a few things about how backpacks work in DMZ:
- Loss Upon Death: Unlike some other games, you lose all items in your inventory, including your backpack, if you fail to extract successfully in DMZ. The exception is if you have a Secure Backpack, which retains it’s items when you fail extraction.
- Contraband Weapons: Weapons obtained in DMZ are often considered “Contraband” weapons. While you can extract with these weapons to unlock them in multiplayer, they will be lost if you do not extract with them and are eliminated within the DMZ zone.
- Stash/Inventory: The DMZ involves managing a persistent stash of weapons and items. You start with a small inventory of “Contraband” weapons.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Backpacks in DMZ
To further clarify, here are 15 related FAQs about backpacks, inventory, and loot in DMZ:
1. What happens to my backpack when I die in DMZ?
If you fail to extract successfully in DMZ, you lose everything you are carrying, including your backpack and all items inside, unless it is a Secure Backpack.
2. Are there any backpacks I can keep if I die?
Yes. The Secure Backpack allows you to retain the items you have stored inside, even if you fail to extract.
3. How do I get a Scavenger Backpack in DMZ?
You can obtain the Scavenger Backpack by bartering at a Buy Station. You will need items such as one battery, one canned food and two gun cleaning oils.
4. How do I get a Secure Backpack in DMZ?
You must first unlock the Scavenger Backpack, then kill the Scavenger nine additional times. This will unlock the ability to barter for the Secure Backpack.
5. Can I upgrade my standard backpack in DMZ?
No, the standard backpack is a fixed size. You cannot directly upgrade it outside of bartering for a Scavenger or Secure Backpack.
6. Do backpacks spawn as loot in DMZ?
Yes, sometimes, you can find backpacks inside supply boxes, particularly orange crates. They also can be found at specific locations on the map.
7. Can I store guns in my backpack?
Yes, you can store weapons and other items in your backpack, but you are limited to its capacity. Be aware that these weapons could be lost if you do not extract, unless using the Secure Backpack.
8. What are “Contraband” weapons and how do they relate to my backpack?
Contraband weapons are weapons you find in DMZ. You can store them in your backpack, and if you extract with them, they become permanently unlocked. However, if you lose them in the DMZ they are permanently lost.
9. Can I extract with weapon blueprints I find in DMZ?
Yes, if you successfully extract with a weapon blueprint, you will keep it and can use it in other modes.
10. Are there any hidden stashes that contain backpacks?
Yes, Hidden Caches can contain backpacks, although they are not guaranteed. They also contain other valuable loot. Locations like Sectors D1, D2, C7, and D7 on Al Mazrah, such as Sawah Village and Cemetery, tend to have higher concentrations of hidden caches.
11. What is the best place to find loot in DMZ?
Some of the best locations for loot include tunnel entrances to underground strongholds, drifting supply bag locations, the H.M.S. Shipwreck cache, and rooftops accessible via trash cans. You also have an increased chance in the Orange crates.
12. Can I keep armor vests in DMZ?
No, you will lose any armor vest you are carrying if you fail to extract successfully, similar to backpacks. The Secure Backpack will not preserve armor vests.
13. Are skins from old Warzones usable in DMZ?
Unfortunately, no, existing cosmetics from previous Warzone versions are not accessible in the current version of DMZ or Warzone.
14. Does killing AI enemies in DMZ unlock camo challenges?
Yes, you can unlock camo challenges by eliminating AI enemies in the DMZ mode.
15. Will DMZ be in MW3?
DMZ is a part of Warzone, not Modern Warfare 2. With the release of MW3, Warzone will be updated, and this will include DMZ as a part of that. DMZ is not being removed for Modern Warfare 3.
In summary, while the traditional, upgradable backpack system has been removed from the standard Warzone battle royale, backpacks are still a key component of the DMZ experience. Players must understand their limitations, and make strategic use of them for successful extraction and progression.