Advertisement

'Call of Duty: Black Ops 3' looks like 'Dota 2' with new features

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is banking big on eSports with a handful of new, updated and returning features that make the professional game stand out from everyday matches. Arena, for example, replaces Black Ops 2's League Play as an online ranking system where players compete to reach the top division. CODcaster Mode returns, allowing spectators to commentate over the top of live matches and control some of the visual cues of the game. That's all fine and dandy, but Black Ops 3's real eSports meat comes in the form of Specialist Draft and the "Ban and Protect" systems, which serve to make the professional game play out more like massively successful pro games League of Legends or Dota 2.

Specialist Draft assigns a specific role and power-up path to each player, allowing them to gain new abilities and weapons throughout the match -- but there can only be one of each Specialist weapon or ability per team, so players are encouraged to pick the path that plays to their individual strengths. Meanwhile, Bans and Protects allow each team to remove or ensure the inclusion of certain items in every match. This adds a strategic layer to the game before the shooting even begins.

"There's no doubt that this is the most significant change to how Call of Duty eSports will be played over the coming years," Treyarch Studio Director David Vonderhaar says.