Call Of Duty Infinite Warfare On PS4: Complete Campaign Guide, Multiplayer Tips, And Best Loadouts

Call of Duty Infinite Warfare launched in 2016 and continues to draw players into its sci-fi universe across PlayStation and other platforms. For PS4 players, this entry delivers a memorable campaign, engaging multiplayer, and the cult-favorite Zombies mode. Whether you’re revisiting this title or jumping in for the first time, you’ll want solid guidance on campaign progression, multiplayer strategies, and weapon configurations that actually work. This guide breaks down everything, from mission walkthroughs and hidden collectibles to loadout builds that dominate in multiplayer. We’ll also cover Zombies survival mechanics and tactical approaches that separate casual players from competitive ones. The game runs smoothly on PS4, and with the right strategies, you’ll get the most out of your time in the campaigns, online matches, and undead rounds.

What You Need To Know About Call Of Duty Infinite Warfare

Game Overview And Setting

Call of Duty Infinite Warfare shifts the franchise into space. You’re commanding the UNSA (United Nations Space Alliance) Navy in a war against the Settlement Defense Front (SDF) across multiple planets and space stations. The campaign follows Captain Nick Reyes as he leads strike teams, manages resources, and executes strategic missions across Earth’s orbital zone and the solar system.

The game’s narrative is driven by strong character moments and high-stakes decision-making. Unlike traditional CoD titles, this one leans harder into sci-fi aesthetics, plasma weapons, jetpacks, and futuristic tech replace conventional loadouts. The single-player story takes roughly 6–8 hours to complete, depending on difficulty and how much you explore. The tone balances serious military drama with blockbuster moments: expect big set pieces, space combat, and moral choices that affect how missions play out.

PS4 Performance And Graphics

On PS4, Infinite Warfare runs at a solid 1080p resolution at 60 FPS in multiplayer, which is the standard for the series. Campaign performance is equally stable, though some players report minor frame drops during intense firefights or when rendering multiple enemies and environmental effects simultaneously. The graphics hold up well nearly a decade after launch, character models are detailed, environments are richly textured, and particle effects during combat look crisp.

The game utilizes the PS4’s hardware efficiently. Textures are sharp, draw distances are respectable, and the sci-fi aesthetic pops with neon-lit space stations and planetary backdrops. Load times are reasonable for the hardware generation, typically 30–45 seconds between missions. If you’re coming from Call of Duty on PS5, don’t expect drastic visual improvements, but the PS4 version remains visually polished and performs consistently during competitive multiplayer sessions.

Campaign Walkthrough And Story Guide

Main Campaign Objectives And Missions

The campaign spans twelve main missions across three acts. You’ll start at Earth defending against SDF attacks, then move into deep space where the real conflict unfolds. Here’s the mission progression:

Act One: Earth Defense

• Mission 1: Blackout, Tutorial-style introduction. Complete objectives to familiarize yourself with movement, aiming, and basic combat. No difficulty spike here.
• Mission 2: Brave New World, Your first major engagement. Expect standard infantry combat mixed with vehicle sequences. Grab the assault rifle early: it’ll serve you well.
• Mission 3: Burn It Down, Introduces stealth and objective-based gameplay. You can approach this guns-blazing or tactical: both work.

Act Two: Ascension

• Mission 4: Black Sky, Zero-gravity combat section. Movement feels different here: thrust vertically to avoid fire, then reorient for counterattacks. Take your time learning the controls, rushing leads to deaths.
• Mission 5: Rubicon, Larger-scale assault on an SDF facility. Bring an SMG for close quarters and a rifle for mid-range. Armor pickups are abundant: don’t waste them.
• Mission 6: Risen, Story-heavy mission with fewer combat encounters. Focuses on narrative beats.

Act Three: Retaliation

• Mission 7–12, Escalates in scale and difficulty. Expect tougher enemy density and more frequent environmental hazards. Higher difficulties (Hardened and Veteran) significantly spike difficulty here.

Key tip: The game autosaves after major checkpoints, but manually save before attempting Veteran difficulty missions if you’re struggling. The campaign features optional side-objective challenges that unlock intel and unlock lore: completing them gives context to the broader conflict but isn’t mandatory for story completion. You’ll unlock weapon access gradually throughout the campaign, so don’t worry if you’re limited early on.

Collectibles And Hidden Items

Infinite Warfare features collectible intel scattered throughout each mission. Grab these to unlock briefing videos and codex entries that flesh out the universe. Intel typically sits in side rooms or on downed enemies: scan areas thoroughly before moving on.

Each mission also contains one audio log per playthrough. Audio logs unlock character backstories and expand the narrative. They’re optional but highly recommended if you want to understand the conflict’s nuances. A typical mission has three to five hidden items, plus weapon caches scattered in less-obvious locations.

The game rewards exploration without forcing it. Hidden weapons often grant advantages during tougher firefights, especially on higher difficulties. Grenades, armor plates, and ammunition are stashed in ventilation shafts, destroyed buildings, and behind destructible walls. Learning where these spawn makes Veteran playthroughs more manageable.

One crucial tip: If you’re hunting collectibles for completion, chapter select is your friend. After beating the campaign, you can jump to specific missions to grab any intel you missed without replaying the entire game. This saves time and lets you experience the story once without distraction.

Multiplayer Modes Explained

Team Deathmatch And Core Playlists

Infinite Warfare’s multiplayer revolves around traditional modes with sci-fi twists. Team Deathmatch (TDM) remains the foundation, kill enemies, avoid dying, rack up scorestreaks. The maps are tight and vertical, encouraging jetpack mobility and fast-paced engagements. Average match length is 10 minutes: TTK (time-to-kill) is roughly 150–300 milliseconds depending on weapon and engagement distance.

Core playlists include the classics:

• Team Deathmatch, Straightforward 6v6 combat. Great for learning weapon handling and map flow.
• Search and Destroy, 4v4 bomb-defusal mode. One life per round: tactical positioning matters more than raw gunplay.
• Domination, Capture three flags across the map. Point-based scoring rewards objective play over pure gunplay.
• Hardpoint, Control a rotating hardpoint on the map. Spawns shift every few minutes, forcing aggressive map movement.
• Kill Confirmed, Grab enemy dog tags after kills to confirm the elimination. Encourages aggressive pushing but punishes overextension.

Each mode feels balanced on PS4. Server stability is solid: lag isn’t a major complaint at launch, though matchmaking can occasionally pair you with high-ping players. Stick to playlists that match your playstyle. TDM is beginner-friendly: Search and Destroy punishes mistakes heavily.

Weapon variety is crucial in Core. Different weapons dominate different ranges. An assault rifle excels at medium range, SMGs own close quarters, and sniper rifles reward precision at distance. Learn one weapon thoroughly before branch out: weapon recoil patterns and handling feel distinct in this game.

Cooperative Modes And Special Events

Infinite Warfare occasionally rotates special playlists, limited-time modes that change weekly. These include Gun Game, where players start with weaker weapons and progress through a kill-based tier system, and All or Nothing, where everyone spawns with just one magazine.

Cooperative modes are sparse in standard multiplayer, but squad-based systems let you team with friends for ranked progression. Playlist updates roll out monthly, introducing new maps or tweaking weapon balance. Follow official Call of Duty channels on Dexerto or PushSquare for playlist rotation schedules if you’re after specific modes.

Seasons and special events grant limited-time cosmetics and weapon blueprints. These are purely cosmetic: no pay-to-win mechanics exist. If you’re playing casually, ignore them. Competitive players might grind for exclusive weapon skins, but they don’t affect gameplay balance.

Best Weapons And Loadout Configurations

Top-Tier Assault Rifles And SMGs

Assault rifles are the game’s backbone. The XM-AR (also labeled as the base assault rifle) is reliable at range with moderate recoil, perfect for beginners. For more experienced players, the Type-2 offers lower TTK but higher recoil. Control your aim discipline when using it: tap-fire at distance rather than full-auto spraying.

The R.A.W. is a burst-fire assault rifle that rewards accuracy. Three-shot bursts delete targets quickly if you land shots. It’s punishing if you miss, so use it when confident in your aim. The KBAR-32 is another popular choice, fast firing rate, lower damage per shot, but excellent for hip-firing during close-range encounters.

For SMGs, the Banshee dominates close quarters. It has the fastest TTK in its class and minimal recoil. Pair it with a scoped sight for mid-range engagements or use iron sights for full aggressive play. The Oni is slightly slower but hits harder per shot: use it when you know you’ll face tight-quarters combat.

The Trencher (shotgun-styled SMG) bridges the gap between SMGs and shotguns. It excels on maps with tight corridors and building interiors. Expect one-shot kills at close range but falloff at medium distance.

Loadout recommendation for TDM:

• Primary: XM-AR or Type-2
• Secondary: Banshee (if you expect aggressive close-range fights) or a pistol for backup
• Lethal: Grenade (versatile for clearing rooms)
• Tactical: Flashbang (excellent for flushing campers)
• Perk 1: Lightweight (faster movement)
• Perk 2: Scavenger (ammo replenishment)
• Perk 3: Hardline (faster scorestreak progression)

Sniper Rifles, Shotguns, And Special Weapons

Sniper rifles reward precise placement. The LW3A1 Frostline is the go-to, one-shot kill to the upper torso, two shots to the lower body. It has no glint (unlike Call of Duty games with scope shine), so you can hide on high ground without telegraphing your position.

The Nv4 Suppressed is technically an assault rifle, but it’s silenced for stealthy play. No red dot on killcams, and enemies won’t hear your shots clearly. Perfect for players who avoid direct firefights.

Shotguns are niche weapons. The Reaver is slug-based (fires single projectiles) and requires accuracy. The Smoothbore fires buckshot (multiple pellets) and forgives slightly worse aim. Both one-shot kill at close range but are useless beyond 10–15 meters.

Special weapons like the Handcannon (high-damage sidearm) and laser rifles (futuristic alternatives to conventional weapons) are fun but situational. The Handcannon is a power weapon spawn on maps: grab it if available.

For sniper-focused loadouts:

• Primary: LW3A1 Frostline
• Secondary: Pistol or Handcannon
• Lethal: Proximity mine (covers your flanks)
• Tactical: Vision pulse (reveals enemies through walls briefly)
• Perks: Cold Blooded (hides from killstreaks), Dead Silence (quieter footsteps), Hardline (faster killstreaks)

Perks And Equipment Recommendations

Perks in Infinite Warfare are divided into three categories. Tier 1 perks include:

• Lightweight, Faster movement and slide speed. Aggressive players pick this.
• Scavenger, Pick up ammo from killed enemies. Essential for extended engagements.
• Hardwired, Immunity to EMP and hacking. Good against scorestreaks that disable your HUD.

Tier 2 perks (most important for gun balance):

• Scavenger (repeats from Tier 1 in some loadout builds), Secondary ammo refill.
• Blast Shield, Reduces explosive damage. Crucial against grenade-heavy opponents.
• Tracker, Shows enemy footsteps as red marks. Underrated for map control.

Tier 3 perks:

• Hardline, Killstreaks cost one fewer kill. Rack up rewards faster.
• Dead Silence, Reduced footstep noise. Sneaky players love this.
• Copycat, Copy the last killstreak used against you. Situational but fun.

Equipment matters heavily. Grenades are versatile lethal options. Thermite is exceptional for denying areas. Semtex is a delayed-detonation explosive, bounces farther than grenades and sticks to surfaces. For tacticals:

• Flashbang, Disorients enemies temporarily. Stack these if you’re rushing.
• EMp Grenade, Disables enemy equipment and scorestreaks. Use against scorestreak-heavy teams.
• Vision Pulse, Reveals enemies through walls for a brief moment.

Build your loadout based on your playstyle. Aggressive rushers should prioritize movement speed and equipment that enables pushing. Defensive players benefit from tracker, blast shield, and proximity mines. Snipers need cold blooded and dead silence to avoid killstreaks and stay silent.

Advanced Multiplayer Strategies And Tips

Map Control And Positioning

Infinite Warfare maps are vertically dense. Jetpacks allow three-dimensional movement, don’t just move left and right: use vertical space. High ground is valuable but dangerous: holding rooftops makes you visible from multiple angles. Smart players use jetpacks to flank high-ground holders rather than challenging them directly.

Every map has dominant positions, areas where sightlines overlap, creating natural chokepoints. Control these positions and you control map flow. For example, on smaller maps, the center area spawns power weapons and offers quick rotations. Holding center for even 10 seconds can shift momentum heavily.

Spawn knowledge is critical. After kills, enemies spawn in predictable zones away from current action. Learn where spawns anchor on each map. If you wipe a team, they’ll respawn behind you in 5–10 seconds, reposition before they hunt you. Conversely, if you respawn, immediately move toward the action rather than spawning and running predictably.

Sound cues matter. Footsteps telegraph approaching enemies. Weapon fire reveals enemy positions. Killstreak sounds alert you to incoming threats. Listen carefully: audio is as important as visuals. Use Dead Silence to minimize your own audio signature.

Score-per-minute (SPM) correlates with map control. Elite players hold positions for 5–10 seconds, rack up kills, then rotate before enemy counter-attacks arrive. They don’t camp in one spot: they’re mobile and adaptive. Practice this rhythm, fight, relocate, fight again.

Specialist Abilities And Tactical Gameplay

Each player selects a specialist with a unique ability and payload. Specialists include:

• Synaptic, Overclocked ability (temporary boost speed and processing). Best for aggressive play.
• Phantom, Phasing (temporary invisibility). Excellent for flanking.
• Warfighter, Cluster strike (air support that damages and stuns). Utility-focused.
• Stryker, Gravity vortex (pulls enemies toward a point and damages). Area denial tool.
• Reaper, Overdrive (increased health and rapid fire). Perfect for 1v1 duels.

Abilities recharge on a timer (roughly 60–90 seconds depending on specialist and your actions). Use them strategically, not reflexively. If you’re flanking, activate invisibility right before rounding a corner. If you’re defending a position, use the gravity vortex to deter rushers.

Payloads unlock after earning kills and completing objectives. Payloads grant temporary weapons or abilities, EMp bursts, hacking devices, or powerful weapons. Earn payloads through consistent performance: they reward skilled gameplay.

Teamwork separates casual and competitive play. Communicate enemy positions to teammates. Stack abilities when pushing objectives: simultaneous invisibility from two players creates overwhelming pressure. In Search and Destroy, coordinate plants and defuses, one player plants the bomb while teammates defend. Callouts (“enemy at 2 o’clock”, “reloading”) transform chaos into structured play.

For ranked or competitive matches, watch replays of your deaths. Did you peek the wrong angle? Did you engage at bad range for your weapon? Did you miss map awareness? Each death teaches lessons. Elite players die less because they learn from mistakes immediately.

Zombies Mode Deep Dive

Survival Mechanics And Wave Progression

Infinite Warfare’s Zombies mode (titled “Zombies in Spaceland”) transports you to a retro-futuristic amusement park overrun by undead. The mode follows the classic formula: survive waves of increasingly difficult zombies, earn points, unlock weapons and perks, and activate mysterious Easter eggs.

Each wave introduces more zombies with higher health pools. Early waves (1–5) are forgiving: zombies move slowly and deal moderate damage. Waves 10+ become frantic, zombies sprint, hit harder, and approach from multiple angles. TTK (time-to-kill) increases dramatically as you progress: weapons that one-shot early on require multiple hits later.

Points are your currency. Earn them by killing zombies, repairing windows, or activating power-ups. Points purchase weapons from wall-mounted kiosks, revive downed teammates (costs 1,900 points), unlock doors (typically 750–1,500 points each), and activate perks. Money management is crucial, spend too much early and you’ll struggle to afford weapons later: spend too little and you’ll be under-equipped.

Perk machines scattered around the map grant temporary or permanent bonuses. Essential perks include:

• Juggernaut, Increased health pool (costs 2,500 points). Mandatory for progression past wave 15.
• Speed Cola, Faster reload and equipment use. Consistency-focused perk.
• Double Tap, Increased fire rate or bullets per shot. Weapon-dependent: some weapons benefit more than others.
• Stamin-Up, Faster movement and sprint duration. Mobility-focused.

Weapon acquisition follows a progression arc. Early waves use pistols and SMGs (quick kills, low point cost). Mid-waves employ assault rifles and LMGs (damage scaling). Late waves demand ray guns or heavy weapons that appear only in random drops or mystery boxes. The mystery box (costs 950 points per attempt) grants random weapons: it’s gambling but often necessary for late-wave survival.

Power-ups spawn periodically:

• Nuke, Kills all current zombies instantly. Safe gap to breathe.
• Max Ammo, Refills all weapons to full. Critical when you’re running dry.
• Carpenter, Instant window repairs and points. Useful early.
• Insta-Kill, All shots kill instantly for ~30 seconds. Abuse this for breathing room.

The key to surviving high waves is weapon rotation. Never rely on one gun. Carry at least two, one for tight quarters, one for range. As waves progress, rotate frequently to manage ammo. Many veteran Zombies players carry four weapons (via Gobblegums, special modifiers) and cycle between them.

Easter Eggs And Secret Strategies

Zombies in Spaceland features complex Easter eggs, hidden quest lines that unlock powerful rewards and story progression. The primary Easter egg spans the entire map and requires four players coordinating across multiple steps. Here’s a high-level breakdown (spoiler warning for those discovering organically):

Early Steps:

1. Activate four power-up stations (located in different map areas). Each requires interaction and zombie kills nearby.
2. Collect parts scattered around the map (typically found on surfaces or dropped from specific zombie types).
3. Build pack-a-punch weapons or craft temporary upgrades.

Mid-Game:

• Unlock the teleportation system connecting map areas. This requires keys or codes discovered through exploration.
• Activate alien interfaces (thematic to the Zombies universe). These grant temporary abilities or weapons.

Late-Game:

• Defeat a boss zombie or complete a ritualistic sequence.
• Unlock the ending cutscene or permanent map modifications.

Easter eggs are optional: you can survive indefinitely without them. But completing them grants bragging rights and understanding of the lore. They also unlock secret weapons and perks that make later waves more manageable.

For survival-focused strategies (ignoring Easter eggs):

Train Strategy, Gather zombies into a herd by running in circles and letting them follow. Once you have 15+ zombies trailing you, activate an Insta-Kill power-up and mow them down. This earns massive points and clears the wave efficiently.

Hold Positions, Camp a specific room with two exits. This limits zombie approach angles, making it easier to manage threats. Patrol windows and doors: don’t let zombies swarm from unexpected directions.

Melee-Heavy Play, Knives (and upgraded melee weapons) grant massive points per kill early on. Knife the first 20+ zombies to rack up currency, then purchase weapons. This accelerates your weapon progression significantly.

Power Weapon Rush, Some players hunt mystery box spawns aggressively, cycling through attempts until they land the ray gun or equivalent. This is high-risk (you might run out of points) but high-reward if successful.

Glitch Awareness, Infinite Warfare Zombies has a few exploitable glitches (frozen zombies, infinite-ammo exploits, etc.). While technically playable, they remove challenge and aren’t recommended for first playthroughs. Patches may eliminate them anyway, so don’t rely on glitches long-term.

Conclusion

Call of Duty Infinite Warfare on PS4 delivers a complete package for sci-fi FPS fans. The campaign offers a tight 6–8 hour narrative with memorable set pieces and strong character arcs. Multiplayer provides vertically-designed maps that reward positioning and specialist coordination, while Zombies mode scratches the survival itch for wave-based gameplay.

Success in any mode comes down to fundamentals: learn your weapon’s recoil pattern, control map positioning, and adapt to changing threats. Whether you’re chasing campaign completion, grinding multiplayer ranks, or pushing Zombies wave records, the strategies outlined above give you concrete tools to improve.

The game remains active on PS4, though matchmaking is slower than current-generation titles. If you’re returning after years away or experiencing it for the first time, expect a polished, fast-paced experience that holds up well against its peers. For more competitive guides and meta breakdowns, resources like The Loadout regularly update FPS weapon tier lists and tactical advice. Stay mobile, manage your ammo, and most importantly, have fun. That’s what gaming’s about.