Call of Duty Elite Beta Starts Now.
Call of Duty's online service, Call of Duty Elite, has opened up for beta testing today.
The invite only beta is available for the Xbox 360 on Call of Duty Black ops. Call of Duty Elite will be activated in phases for feature testing, with limited invitations rolling out in the coming weeks.
Call of Duty Elite is officially being released this fall, as an integral part of Activision's super hyped shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Around 2.8 million gamers who have already signed up to participate will now have the opportunity to connect, compete and improve the Call of Duty multiplayer experience.
Chacko Sonny, Studio Head of Beachhead Studio, says:
Call of Duty Elite is all about connecting our amazing fans around the globe in ways never before possible and we are excited to get their feedback so they can help us further develop, tune and test the service, as we head into our launch in November with Modern Warfare 3. A public beta with the massive Call of Duty community is the best way to generate the scale we need for end-to-end testing. While Call of Duty Elite will continue to evolve post-launch, we want to deliver the most polished, complete and rigorously tested service possible on day one. We’re looking to get as many participants in the beta as possible, so we ask that fans stay patient as we ramp up in the coming weeks.
The Press Release for the beta announcement claims Elite will "super charge the Call of Duty experience in three key ways":
Connect: Call of Duty Elite gives players unprecedented control over their multiplayer experience. This is a true social gaming platform. Players can compete against friends, gamers of similar skill levels or interests, join groups and clans, and play in organized competitions. They can also track the performance, progress and activity of their personal network, both in the game itself as well as via custom mobile apps for iPhone, iPad and Android smart phones, tablets and on the web.
Compete: Call of Duty Elite hosts events and competitions for players of all skill levels on a regular basis; both in-game and real-world prizes will be awarded across the Call of Duty player roster when the service goes live on 8th November.
Improve: Call of Duty Elite is ground zero for anyone who wants to improve their in-game skills. It dynamically tracks player statistics and performance down to the finest detail. It can show gamers how they compare to their friends or other players community-wide. The user-friendly tools and data will give gamers the insights they need to up their kill/death ratio in no time.
The beta will test selected features and functionality within Elite. At the moment these include stat tracking, the use of custom player groups, competitive events and video sharing.
When it launches fully, Call of Duty Elite claims it will offer it's fans an unrivalled experience by providing "always-on", universal communication between the service and the game:
Players will be able to access the service anywhere, anytime via mobile, tablet, web or inside the console game itself. As they do, they will see how Call of Duty Elite brings their Call of Duty experience to life like never before. Schedule a match with friends on the fly, change a weapon load-out or research a new gameplay strategy from your desk at work, the train ride home, or anywhere else, and have it ready and waiting for you in-game when you get home and play.
Members of Elite will also be offered exclusive, all-new entertainment programs, created by "top Hollywood talent" - made exclusivly for the Call of Duty community. No more details of this intriguing feature were announced in the Press Release, but promised more information would be coming soon. Premium members of Elite will also receive all DLC for the new Modern Warfare - including map packs and themed content.
Players will also be able to enjoy significant clan support, which will focus on competition. Players will be able to create fantasy football like leagues in Call of Duty, including anyone from close gaming friends, to brand new contacts.
Those who want to register for the Beta can do so here.
Let the great experiment begin!
