Viva la revolution! Activision plans to make the Call of Duty: Elite premium service free to all Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 players, including new features like multiplayer broadcasting and stat-tracking for the game's Zombies mode. There's a sting in the tail, however, and that sting is thusly: all Black Ops 2 DLC will be sold separately.
Where Modern Warfare 3's DLC offerings were dribbled out as monthly content "drops", free to Premium Eliters, Black Ops 2's four currently known DLC packs will be sold the old-fashioned way, at 1200 MP a pop. You'll get the whole lot at a discount when you pick up a Season Pass.
"We have been able to turn Call of Duty launches into such cultural events, that they draw more and more of buyers forward into the launch window. Modern Warfare 3's tail was still incredibly strong. That said, keeping our player community more united is definitely one of our goals with this change in approach."
Activision hopes to make Elite freely available alongside all future Call of Duty titles, Hirshberg added. "That's the plan, but of course, a year ago our plan was to offer a subscription service. So sometimes you need to change in response to the marketplace and also in response to your community. But right now, we're confident that this is the best thing for our business and for our players."
Is it?
12 comments so far...
hujiki on 16 Oct '12 said:
Pretty cool that its free, I regretted spending money on MW3 elite, i was expecting really cool items for Multiplayer but all we got were Missions, Maps and Modes. What about guns? We never get guns and after a few prestiges the old guns get boring and repetitive. For example, Not being a Battlefield 3 fanboy or anything but they have way more guns and each time they release DLC, you dont only get maps, You get Modes, Maps, Assignments, Guns so by far they are giving more. Their is hope for Black Ops 2, If i was the lead manager i will release so much stuff for each DLC pack, E.g.
Pack 1 -
4 x Multiplayer Maps
2 x Zombie Maps
1 x Campaign Mission Story Add On
2 x Game Mode Multiplayer
2 x Game Mode Zombies
5 x Guns and New Equipment Multiplayer
2 x Guns and New Equipment Zombies
All for 1200MSP
Is That to much?? I bet no one will complain..
FishyGinger on 16 Oct '12 said:
Why would they do that though when enough people buy 4 maps and 1 zombie map for 1200. Why would activision put in any extra effort?
hujiki on 16 Oct '12 said:
I understand where you are coming from but they are being overtaken by other similar games, Ive played every COD ever made and being a loyal fan i would respect the fact that its time for them to raise the bars again and show other Gaming developers how it's done, They lost a lot of core fans because of MW3, they promised and promised but nothing was delivered. The hard core fan boys will all ways pay for DLC even if it was 1200 MSP for 2 maps; My argument is clearly that they need to change there ways before they become part of history. I know for a fact that the e.g. i gave will never happen but then again they need to do something big with DLC; DICE's director said in a interview he was impressed with the way MW3 did DLC but then they came out with BF3 premium, that just blew them out the water.
I will buy Black Ops 2 and so will many Millions but i just feel that they are loosing their edge and as fans who support and built the community. Well lets not get a little to ahead of ourselves and see what they do with Black Ops 2 DLC..
FishyGinger on 16 Oct '12 said:
Oh I know they should do that just can't see the suits agreeing to it. Which is a shame. I loved the first one, united offence was a top quality add on but since 4 they've just been slacking and simply because they can.
It is beneficial though I guess, other developers will hopefully try and seize the opportunity to do better.
bamozzy on 17 Oct '12 said:
I don't see how they can charge for 'Elite' as it really isn't worth paying for!!! The only benefit with MW3 was the drip fed monthly DLC and even that often left me very disappointed - especially when they didn't give us any FULL MP Maps!! I am sure Activision know that Elite would not have the same number of subscribers after the mess they made of it with MW3 and the disappointment of the fans so this is probably the only way to try and resurrect 'Elite' and repair its reputation!
I wouldn't complain about that pack but you know some will find something to complain about. I would like to see new weapons (I really thought MW3 would give us some - at least I thought we would get ALL MP content and not the crap co-op missions that last a few minutes!) I know some people complain about that in BF3 - usually those that don't buy the packs - but they do say it separates the community and creates a split between those that have these weapons and those that don't. Its not like they are specific to the expansion packs only.
Either way I think I prefer this set up to the way MW3 went about things. I know Black Ops 2 will be offering a season pass for the DLC and unless you get them earlier, I think I may just buy them Separately - That way I can at least see if I think they are worth buying beforehand. I would NEVER have bought the penultimate MW3 pack (all co-op missions and Chaos) and probably wouldn't have bought the pack that had Oasis as it only had the one full MP map too so I would have saved money on MW3!
hujiki on 17 Oct '12 said:
I totally agree mate, Still have high hopes for Black Ops 2.. Lets wait and see...
bamozzy on 17 Oct '12 said:
Personally, from what I have seen of Black Ops 2, I think it will be the best ever Call of Duty title so far. It is looking good (visually) and I like the ideas of the MP class set up. Perks affect players only and attachments improve weapons etc, as well as the emphasis moved to Objective based playing. It will make those campers and slayers have to work a lot harder for the score streaks and those of us who play the objective will benefit more from playing that way!
The Campaign sounds very interesting too. I love the idea of the Strike Force missions that can be won or lost which affects the storyline and the opportunity to play these how I choose - from an overwatch position, ANY soldier or drone or any combination of these!
Zombies also looks very interesting. More Game Modes, More Zombies and More players too.
In fact ALL aspects of this are looking very good and can't wait to play it in November (pre-ordered the Hardened Edition to get all the Nuketown Maps) My hardest decision will be what to play first - Campaign, Multi-player or Zombies?
FishyGinger on 17 Oct '12 said:
The zombies mode has me intrigued certainly. As far as the campaign though, still doesn't look anywhere as good as the first or second games.
bamozzy on 17 Oct '12 said:
Call of Duty 1 & 2??
I never played those and started with CoD4. For me its the non-linear concept, strike force missions, decisions that can affect the outcome, branching storyline etc that makes Black Ops 2 campaign very interesting. All previous CoD games have followed a set formula, which I have enjoyed but don't really offer much incentive to replay - especially if you have found all intel, got all challenges/achievements etc. I can see Black Ops 2 campaign taking a lot longer to see all the options/missions/story lines etc.
Although I enjoy the Campaigns, I spend more time on the MP (and Zombies) so I would buy this just for those aspects. Even if the campaign remained Linear I would still buy this. However with the new formula, I am really looking forward to playing the campaign too.
FishyGinger on 17 Oct '12 said:
Yeah the originals. Was less about a few 'cool' characters and more about the war as a whole which I really liked. Multiple paths are always a good thing, has been done in other games and I'd imagine a lot better too but it does add something. Not interested in the mp but zombies....I don't know why I like it. Such a simple mode but split screen it's great.
fracturedrich on 17 Oct '12 said:
ive loved all mw cod but no way was i paying for elite for the first time i got rid of mw and ive enjoyed bf3 all year instead i hope blops 2 is better
bamozzy on 18 Oct '12 said:
I must say I really enjoy the Zombie mode too - especially Black Ops with all the Easter Eggs, music etc. I have spent many hours playing online and split screen (Online too!). My biggest criticism is the Host Migration and lobby closures that can take ages to actually get a game! Hope this is sorted out!
The Zombie mode we all know is certainly something I am looking forward to in Black Ops 2 - I hope that the Easter Eggs are not so obscure as in Black Ops - How any normal person could do these WITHOUT looking it up is beyond me! I am also interested to try out the new game modes too.
As far as I am concerned, BO2's Campaign is the most interesting campaign for many years. CoD has always been about the MP for me but the Campaigns have also been OK, enjoyable and something to do when I don't fancy online play. Because of all the changes they are bringing, this has raised my excitement for this aspect.
I know you are not interested in the MP but from my perspective the changes they are trying to implement sound very good. I am an objective based player so the changes should suit my gamestyle. Treyarch also seem to be tackling the issue of 'Campers' (although I see more campers in BF3 - there it is tactical).
After MW3 I must admit I was beginning to lose some interest in CoD, However BO2 has certainly grabbed my attention. Had BO2 been similar to the original BO, I don't think I would have bothered pre-ordering. It seems that Treyarch have raised the bar on what a Call of Duty title should be and it will be interesting to see how Infinity Ward etc follow this with next years title - BUT I won't hold my breath!!