Call of Duty: Ghosts - Multiplayer Event Recap

The aspect of the game world in Ghosts will be illustrated by a focus on a new feature called Dynamic Maps, where the field of battle can change dramatically as the round progresses. Players will need to not only know the map layout, but also what the map and the environment can do, and use it to their advantage. The game runs on a new engine that helps bring all these technological elements to life. A re-worked audio system adds dynamism to the experience, with improved chatter and location-based sound effects that differentiate how a weapon might sound when fired indoors vs outdoors. Player movement and animation systems have been updated for better mantling over objects without a reduction of speed. Knee slides, contextual lean, and more will affect how the game feels and controls.

Players can now take Call of Duty: Ghosts on the go, utilizing their Call of Duty account, gained through the registration to Call of Duty Elite. The new Call of Duty App will give players a second screen mobile and tablet function. Created by Beachhead Studio in collaboration with Infinity Ward, the app offers popular features from Call of Duty Elite, plus grants the ability to edit your entire squad pre-match, and have one touch access to change loadouts for their next spawn while in match, as well as view and share after-action results on social media. The account will also be instrumental for brining your stats into the next generation –as players who buy Ghosts on Xbox One or PlayStation 4 will be able to start where they left off on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.

The game will also heavily invest into the eSports scene. The Call of Duty Championship sponsored by Xbox will return in 2014. Additionally, Call of Duty: Ghosts will be the exclusive first person action and flagship title on the Major League Gaming (MLG) Pro Circuit in 2014. To that end, Call of Duty: Ghosts features a deeper level of Clan support and in-game integration. Players will be able to join, create, and manage a Clan from in-game or from the Call of Duty App. There will be in-game Clan rewards, as well as Clan vs. Clan playlists. Clan Wars will be a large ongoing experience on the app that is tied directly to Call of Duty: Ghosts multiplayer. In this metagame, players can contribute to the Clan War mission and compete against other Clans for additional XP and exclusive in-game content. Clans will also be able to exist cross-generation, so players on Xbox 360 and Xbox One will be able to be in the same clan, and the same can be said for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.

Also revealed was the Ghosts DLC Season Pass. Four map packs will be released over time, and a season pass will be available for $49.99/4000 MSp, or individually for $14.99/1200 MSp. Included in the Season Pass is the Ghosts Team Leader Pack with a multiplayer character modeled from one of the characters from Ghosts' single player campaign, along with additional bonus digital content. While the DLC Map Packs will be available starting in 2014, the Ghosts Team Leader Pack and other Season Pass bonus content activates immediately upon game release. As announced, the Season Pass will be valid for both current and next-gen versions of the game, should the players upgrade.

The event concluded with several professional Call of Duty players and a collection of U.S. Marines taking the stage for a live exhibition match with commentary. Activision also revealed that fans can continue to support the Call of Duty Endowment, a non-profit organization that funds efforts to place veterans into high quality jobs, with the purchase of limited edition dog tags for $4.99; 100% of the profits will go toward the Endowment and its mission.

Going into the next generation, it is obvious that Activision wants to keep momentum for its huge shooter franchise going. It was really with the Xbox 360 generation that the series took off, but with the new consoles on the horizon, Activision must fend off the competition as it looks to establish a strong foothold in the shooter niche once again. Look for Call of Duty: Ghosts to launch on November 5, 2013 for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. Versions of the game on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 will hit alongside the launch of those consoles.

*Disclaimer: Activision has covered travel costs for New Game Network to attend this event*