Call of Duty Elite – All the details!

Posted May 31, 2011 by Lewis Denby in News.

Today (or last night, if you’re The Wall Street Journal), Activision have announced Call of Duty Elite, a new service which will launch alongside Modern Warfare 3 this November. We’ve got all the details. Do you want them? Of course you want them. Here they are.

What is it?

Elite is a new online service that sets out to significantly enhance the franchise’s multiplayer experience and deliver “a new level of social engagement that will unite more than 30 million players worldwide.” Wow! As well as tracking game data, the service will offer exclusive entertainment programming created specifically for the Call of Duty community.

The service will be available via a bunch of different platforms, including web browsers, mobile devices, through game consoles and within the game interface itself. The idea is that players can access Elite at any time they want, by any means they see fit.

According to Activision, the service will benefit players in three (count ‘em!) key ways, which are:

• Connect: Call of Duty Elite gives players unprecedented control over their multiplayer experience, transforming it into a true social network. Players can compete against friends, players of similar skill levels and players with similar interests, join groups, join clans, and play in organized tournaments. They can also track the performance, progress and activity of their entire network, both in the game itself, as well as through mobile and web interfaces.  Elite will be an “always on” way for players to connect with the Call of Duty community.

• Compete: Call of Duty Elite establishes the most exciting, competitive environment in a multiplayer game.  Players will have available a constant stream of events and competitions, tiered to group them with those with similar abilities. Both in-game and real-world prizes will be rewarded to all skill levels.

• Improve: Call of Duty Elite is like having a personal online coach. It provides players with a dynamic strategy guide that tracks their statistics and performances down to the most minute details.  It can show gamers how they stack up against their friends or others in the community. Tools and information are provided so players can learn and up their game.

So that’s cool.

How much will it cost?

Well, that depends. Many key features will be available free of charge. Others – such as entertainment services and new game content – will be available for a $9.99 monthly subscription fee.

According to Activision, Elite offers better value for money than any of its competition. It’s “less than the cost of any comparable online entertainment service currently in the market,” says the company.

But I want some quotes!

Fair enough. It’s convenient that Activision’s Eric Hirshberg has been all over the statements today.

“The average Call of Duty player spends 58 minutes per day playing multiplayer. That is more than the average Facebook user spends per day on Facebook. And yet, right now, there are very few tools to unite and super charge that social community,” says the Activision CEO.

“Whether it’s allowing you to connect with your friends, or people of a similar skill level, people who live in your city, people who share your favorite passions, join competitive clans or social groups, or upload, view and comment on the incredible mass of player-generated content, or watch and comment on exclusive created content, Call of Duty Elite will give people more ways to connect with fellow players than ever before. Elite will also allow players of every level to improve their game with an intuitive suite of tools, and compete in tournaments for both real and virtual prizes.”

What else? Well, it’s catered to everyone, he says.

“Call of Duty Elite has been tailored for Call of Duty’s diverse base of players — hardcore gamers, casual weekend warriors and even beginners — and additional features will be revealed when we premiere Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer later this summer.

“Over seven million gamers play Call of Duty online each day logging hundreds of hours of multiplayer per player per year. Of course, the out of the box Call of Duty multiplayer experience that gamers have come to love and expect will continue as is. However, for those players looking for more, Call of Duty Elite will supercharge their experience.”

Tagged as Activision, Call of Duty Elite, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3