Activision has discussed a subscription service around Call of Duty for years, but it's finally coming together this year with Call of Duty Elite. The initial response wasn't great, to say the least. People, perhaps rightfully, feared Activision would lock formerly free content behind a paywall.

Activision kept saying that wouldn't happen. This weekend at Call of Duty XP, a massive fan event held in Los Angeles, the publisher seemed to to have mostly made good on that promise.

Call of Duty Elite will set you back $49.99 a year, $10 less than a (new) Xbox Live Gold subscription. Purchasing all of the DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops--four map packs at $15 each--would have cost you $60. In that sense, Activision's offering players a cheaper deal, they just need to pay up front. This is being called the "premium membership."

The free version of Call of Duty Elite features stat tracking ala Bungie.net, integration with Facebook, clan support and applications for your mobile devices.

The company said the DLC "season" for Modern Warfare 3 will be nine months long, with monthly DLC made available for premium members. Additionally, premium members gain access to daily competitions for both in-game and real-world prizes, a round-the-clock competition calendar, up to 24 minutes of recordable HD video and access to Call of Duty TV.

Call of Duty TV will feature original video content related to--you guessed it--Call of Duty. Ridley Scott Associates (yes, that Ridley Scott) is working on Friday Night Fights, where rivals fight it out, while actors Will Arnett and Jason Bateman collaborate for a program called n00b Tube. There's another one slated, Cocked Hammers, that we don't have any details about yet.

I don't usually end stories with a question, but are you going to signing up?

Activision has discussed a subscription service around Call of Duty for years, but it's finally coming together this year with Call of Duty Elite. The initial response wasn't great, to say the least. People, perhaps rightfully, feared Activision would lock formerly free content behind a paywall.

Activision kept saying that wouldn't happen. This weekend at Call of Duty XP, a massive fan event held in Los Angeles, the publisher seemed to to have mostly made good on that promise.

Call of Duty Elite will set you back $49.99 a year, $10 less than a (new) Xbox Live Gold subscription. Purchasing all of the DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops--four map packs at $15 each--would have cost you $60. In that sense, Activision's offering players a cheaper deal, they just need to pay up front. This is being called the "premium membership."

The free version of Call of Duty Elite features stat tracking ala Bungie.net, integration with Facebook, clan support and applications for your mobile devices.

The company said the DLC "season" for Modern Warfare 3 will be nine months long, with monthly DLC made available for premium members. Additionally, premium members gain access to daily competitions for both in-game and real-world prizes, a round-the-clock competition calendar, up to 24 minutes of recordable HD video and access to Call of Duty TV.

Call of Duty TV will feature original video content related to--you guessed it--Call of Duty. Ridley Scott Associates (yes, that Ridley Scott) is working on Friday Night Fights, where rivals fight it out, while actors Will Arnett and Jason Bateman collaborate for a program called n00b Tube. There's another one slated, Cocked Hammers, that we don't have any details about yet.

I don't usually end stories with a question, but are you going to signing up?

Couple of typos in the phrase, "mind of a a deal." I'm guessing you meant kind of a deal. I am super helpful.

It's OK, I guess, if you're buying all the DLC. I'm not.

That does sound like mind of a a deal.

I might sign up.

@jonesrm said:

That does sound like mind of a a deal.

My thoughts exactly.

It sounds like a pretty decent deal since I end up buying the map packs anyway - people complain, but I give them credit for trying to make the offering appealing rather than just another way to be restrictive about DLC.

This is my favorite mind of a deal there is.

"I don't usually end stories with a question, but are you going to signing up?"

The BE's are vanishing! This is proof, people!

You're mind of a a deal.

I keep having trouble moving on from that typo, I'm sorry.

Hey, the M key is very close to the K you guys.

I like Call of Duty probably more than the average person but I still don't feel like paying a subscription for it.

Co-cops and mind deals. Having a bad day, Patrick?

"it's actually mind of a a deal." Patrick smoking too much crack rock, that crazy fool!

This fucking age of endless DLC needs to end. Sweet deal my ass.

Just keep some of the maps out of the final release, churn out a helmet or jacket for your character every month, and somehow, Activision manages to squeeze 110$ out of everyone for a single game, only to pull the exact same shit next year.

This is getting out of hand.

I signed up today and got my first first post. It's mind of a a big deal.

Oh fuck off activision you greedy bastards...

@Frenden said:

I signed up today and got my first first post. It's mind of a a big deal.

LMAO. Looks like Patric didn't have his coffee today.

Seems like a a great deal for someone who is really into these games. Even though I'm looking forward to it I probably won't ever be *that* in to it and still likely stop playing long before the final map packs come out. But for the dudes still spending a ton of time playing Black Ops right now, they should really get in on this.

This fucking age of endless DLC needs to end. Sweet deal my ass.

Just keep some of the maps out of the final release, churn out a helmet or jacket for your character every month, and somehow, Activision manages to squeeze 110$ out of everyone for a single game, only to pull the exact same shit next year.

This is getting out of hand.

Patrick needs a nap

Paying 110$ for a video game instead o 120$ doesn't sound like that of a good deal to me (especially when I can pay 60$ or less).

I have a few friends for whom CoD is the beginning and the end of all online multiplayer. I can see them getting it. I usually get pulled into buying the DLC by proxy as they're the only group of non-randoms I regularly play with. I think I'm going to sit the pricey DLC out this time around.

@Buckfitches said:

This fucking age of endless DLC needs to end. Sweet deal my ass.

Just keep some of the maps out of the final release, churn out a helmet or jacket for your character every month, and somehow, Activision manages to squeeze 110$ out of everyone for a single game, only to pull the exact same shit next year.

This is getting out of hand.

With the way they put out DLC for games like this they are doing more then holding back maps from release. I am not a huge fan of COD and have never bought a map pack, but if they are going to put out as many maps as they did for blackops then they are putting in a lot of work, and giving the players a great value.

There is a time to bitch about shitty DLC, but this isn't one of them.

This is completely unappealing. The COD series is dead to me. Also, the GB team need to pay to send Patrick back to school for English Fundamentals 101. :P

Cool, I guess for the fans. But seeing how I don't really care much for this I'll let it pass. I do, however, want to see Friday Night Fights. Gob and Micheal Bluth commentating on matches. BETTER BE FUNNY!

I don't like grammar nazis but maybe nobody would have to deal with them if Patrick proof-read his articles twice?

I'm just gonna play the standard multiplayer until I get tired of it. Locking myself up to one game like this isn't something I want to do. I played well over 100 hours of MW2 and never bought any of the DLC and I will probably do the same with this.

speaking as someone who has prestiged in blops has bought 2 of the 3 mp map packs got the 4th free because i bought the prestige edtion this whole deal sounds like bullshit, why? because when blops 2 comes out another 50 when MW4 comes the year after that another 50, so ever 9-12 months activision who isn't going to change the game what so ever is hoping we all spend 60 on the game and 50 for a new membership every year. and we all know coming from activision they will recycle maps and call them new and say thats a value. and what their offering does not sound that great, why? because of the exclusive deal with MS that all DLC comes out first on 360 so all there DCL is already subsidized my the MS deal so they are i suspect at minimum doubling there profits on what it costs to produce this DLC. if we could go back in time to the end of CoD 4 and waiting for MW2 and they announced this i think it would have sounded much more appealing but now it just doesn't sound like a great deal at all, hell Epic is selling their season pass stuff for 30 a year.

" The initial response wasn't great, to say the least. People, perhaps rightfully, feared Activision would lock formerly free content behind a paywall. " 
 
what formerly free content? since when has Activision given anything away for free, especially COD related?

I ain't buying this garbage, but I'm sure a lot of parents are for their whiney little acne brats though. Call it "Madden Warfare Three".  Not to mention xbox live are going to let the kids glitch the shit out of this like they do every version. I'm betting there will be top tier in the first 3 days. I just wish people would stop hyping this, it's really starting to get sad. I need a browser add on for anti MW3 Spam.

@Lucien_Lachance:

@Tophat666:

Wait, NoobToob is coming back?

@SSully said:

@Buckfitches said:

This fucking age of endless DLC needs to end. Sweet deal my ass.

Just keep some of the maps out of the final release, churn out a helmet or jacket for your character every month, and somehow, Activision manages to squeeze 110$ out of everyone for a single game, only to pull the exact same shit next year.

This is getting out of hand.

With the way they put out DLC for games like this they are doing more then holding back maps from release. I am not a huge fan of COD and have never bought a map pack, but if they are going to put out as many maps as they did for blackops then they are putting in a lot of work, and giving the players a great value.

There is a time to bitch about shitty DLC, but this isn't one of them.

So what? Let me pull the TF2 card. Valve released not only new maps but new gamemodes new weapons and a ton of vanity items ... for free. They do manage to get some extra money out of gamers but nothing they sell you is locked ... you can get anything that matters (gameplay value) for free if you invest time.

There is some kind of DLC that justifys being paid for (Borderlands) but maps in a mulitplayer shooter are not something you should have to pay for ... thats something the publishers should give to you just to gain customer loyalty.

So to play CoD on 360 with Elite, you're looking at $60 for the game, ~$60 for Xbox Live Gold and $50 for this Elite service. Grand total to play CoD yearly? $170.

Good god.

@SSully: I still remember the backlash when they announced the 10$ map pack for COD4 on Xbox 360, it was overpriced, it was outrageously little content, the PC got all the maps for free, etc, etc. Endless bickering from fans.

How times have changed. Suddenly a 15$ map pack is standard fare, and yearly shooters are getting 50$ subscription fees.

Sorry, maybe I'm just fearful of where gaming is headed.

I don't like something therefore it is bad.

Hate this DLC subscription trend.

Now paying only $60 to buy a new game sends the message "You're only getting part of the experience."

Plus, there's no check on the quality of the add-on... they have your money up front.

while actors Will Arnett and Jason Bateman collaborate for a program called n00b Tube.

The obligatory reminder that if you don't like it, don't buy it. Don't pitch a bitch fit and say you aren't going to but then actually do. Don't give them your money. That's the *only* way you're ever going to get anywhere. And if you're like me, as seemingly one of the only people who sticks to this principle, it means you miss out on some stuff. Luckily it's mostly stuff that doesn't matter.

Man, this sounds like a bad thing. Sure, it's a savings, but that's like saying buying Duke Nukem Forever used for 35 dollars instead of 40 dollars new is a savings.

Well if you're already buying all the DLC this isn't so bad.

The pandering in these articles always astounds me. Congrats. Though, you could have gone with "All the cool people know Modern Warfare sux, but I'm trying to write a newz scoop here so don't hate me for trying to sound impartial" as a title.

No.

Instead of saying that it costs $10 less than a new XBL subscription, you might have better said that it costs $10 less than a new game. And there is also my answer to the ending question as there are just too many good games coming out each year and I'd rather invest time and money into a new game. Then again, I will most likely not qualify for the target audience anyway. I did buy one map pack ever for the call of duty series and simply found out that I played it 3-4 times and then moved on. Map packs just add not enough for me in terms of value (in contrast to i.e. RPG DLC which adds story, characters with a new environment).

@MisuseOfLasers said:

@Buckfitches said:

This fucking age of endless DLC needs to end. Sweet deal my ass.

Just keep some of the maps out of the final release, churn out a helmet or jacket for your character every month, and somehow, Activision manages to squeeze 110$ out of everyone for a single game, only to pull the exact same shit next year.

This is getting out of hand.

Yes, how dare Activision forcefully squeeze all that money out of people. It's not like they're buying it willingly or anything. Nope, Activision is surely forcing it upon them. Shame, Activision. SHAME.

I'm a fan of this response. Hate Activision all you want; they make stuff people want to spend their money on.

while actors Will Arnett and Jason Bateman collaborate for a program called n00b Tube.

It's not a terrible deal, it's just Activision re-branding the whole DLC Season Pass thing.

@Buckfitches: I remember as well because I was one of the people bitching. I mainly play my shooters and multilpayer games on PC so I never get map packs. I can honestly tell you the only map pack I bought for a PC game was one of the ones for BF2, and it was a horrible decision. I don't like the way it works, but the way Microsoft and Sony run their systems the idea of free maps just isn't possible on consoles. So if they are going to put out 5 new maps per pack for 10 or 15 bucks I think it is worth it if you are dedicated to the game.

@2HeadedNinja: As I said to Buck above the practice isn't exactly right, but I can justify the price if they provide sufficient content in the packs. Companies like valve and other PC devs get away with free maps because they don't have much of an option. PC games are very open, if valve tried to charge for maps then they would lose players or dedicated servers would find the best maps the community has made and put those in rotation. On consoles this just isn't possible, and most likely never will. Microsoft and Sony's systems are very closed, more so microsoft, so basically the only way to get players new content is to charge money. Valve was FORCED to charge money for L4D dlc on the 360. They wanted to put out the content for free, like on PC, but as I said consoles are very specific about how things are done. I am not saying its right, but its how it is and I think the value of this pass is justified compared to other practices on consoles.