As the saying goes, you’ve got to pay to play. In a surprise move this morning Activision Blizzard Inc. revealed plans to launch a paid service dubbed Call of Duty Elite. The new service will launch in tandem with the November release of Modern Warfare 3 and looks to put our allegiance to the franchise to the ultimate test — our bank accounts. Will you pay the online multiplayer tax for Call of Duty Elite?
There’s no denying Activision Blizzard Inc.’s ability to churn out unprecedented revenue from its monthly subscriptions to World of Warcraft. In a move which seems to mimic the MMO craze, Call of Duty Elite was born. The cost, while still unconfirmed, is rumored to be in the neighborhood of $7.99 (£4.84) per month — a price that matches a monthly Netflix subscription.
The $7.99 (£4.84) per month fee provides extra content not offered on game discs sold in stores, including downloadable map packs with new levels. In addition, there will be ‘Call of Duty’ player tools, reportedly modeled on those from stock-trading websites, to analyze your gaming performance for maps and weapons.
With Call of Duty: Black Ops riding high as the best-selling video game of 2010, Modern Warfare 3 looks destined to repeat. At E3 next month, Activision is expected to outline, in detail, Call of Duty Elite and most importantly – the cost. The question remains – will you pay to play?
Coming Soon | via Wall Street Journal | TBD
