Update: Expect to learn a lot more tomorrow with an NDA lifting, but one detail that's been clarified by Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling is that Elite is a free service, and that certain, undetermined aspects of it will cost money.
Original Story:This year's Call of Duty title, Modern Warfare 3, will bring with it an optional, monthly subscription service that the franchise will carry into future titles. Such a thing was rumored after a survey inquired about the possibility in 2009. Activision denied that Modern Warfare 2 or Black Ops would see a subscription, but CEO Bobby Kotick did admit last year he'd like to see CoD as an "an online subscription service." Sure enough, he's getting his wish with Call of Duty Elite.
The Wall Street Journal brings word of Elite, which will provide content beyond what you'd expect to be on the game disc, including more of the map packs that have been so successful. Elite will also offer functionality similar to that of stock-trading websites that allow players to track in-depth statistics. Another feature mentioned was a social networking service of sorts that allows players to find similar players to join up with, which will be free for everyone to use. A "digital platform" was announced earlier this year as coming from Activision's Beachhead studio which Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter theorized could be a subscription service.
Pricing has not been determined at this time -- or is simply not being announced -- but is expected to be less than that of what the WSJ says are "comparable online-entertainment services," citing Netflix's $7.99 per month fee as an example.
Bobby Kotick said that these features and the accompanying customer service would be impossible without charging players. He said, "This is an enormous investment," also claiming he doesn't think players will respond negatively because Elite will not give players any sort of edge in multiplayer.
The fee could end up helping Sony, as its online service doesn't charge for online play. Microsoft, on the other hand, charges for Xbox Live, and some gamers may be unwilling to stomach subscriptions to both Live and Elite. Microsoft's saving grace is that Elite is optional -- Call of Duty multiplayer will remain free to play -- and the fact that the recent attack and subsequent downtime PSN suffered could make some prospective customers wary of going with PS3 over 360.
Modern Warfare 3 will be facing some extremely stiff competition later this year in the form of Battlefield 3. Electronic Arts has made it clear it wants to take down Call of Duty with Battlefield, and developer DICE has always been known to give away a good deal of free content for the Battlefield games. That's sure to end up being a marketing tool EA will take advantage of -- I can see the "Battlefield 3: Giving you the content you expect without any extra fees" campaign now -- whether or not Elite's content is legitimately more than what could otherwise be offered.
Sony's Rob Dyer said of the news that he's "very confident" that more of these services will be coming from other publishers in Activision's wake. That isn't an especially reassuring notion for those who are hoping that monthly subscriptions are contained to MMOs and Call of Duty. "There's money to be made there," he said.
With E3 set to take place next week, expect to learn a lot more about Elite very soon.
[Image courtesy of WSJ.]
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