Treyarch
Latest
The entire 'Black Ops 3' campaign will be unlocked from the start
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 developer Treyarch is embracing the Netflix way of doing business. When the game launches for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on November 6th, its entire campaign will be available to play, director Jason Blundell tells Eurogamer. You'll be able to play the final chapter first and work backward, or pretend you're a time-traveler with a broken teleporter and play every section out of order. Or you can play it the retro way: Chronologically, unlocking new weapons and plot points as you go.
There goes the neighborhood: 'Black Ops 3' brings back Nuk3town
Activision announced on Monday that Nuk3town, the single most popular map in the Call of Duty franchise's entire history, will be available on CoD: Black Ops 3. Anybody that pre-orders BO3 for the PS4, XBone or PC will receive a download code that unlocks the legendary map when the game hits store shelves on November 6th. Nuk3town made its debut back in the first Black Ops game and returned as Nuk3town 2025 for BO2.
'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.
'Call of Duty: Black Ops 3' multiplayer beta starts August 19th
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 doesn't drop until November, but you won't have to wait nearly so long to find out whether or not its online play lives up to the hype. Activision and Treyarch have revealed that the sci-fi shooter's multiplayer beta kicks off August 19th if you've pre-ordered the PlayStation 4 version, and August 26th on Xbox One. You'll only have five days to play in either case, but it should give you a feel for the player classes and new gameplay mechanics (such as momentum-based movement) before you get your full copy. It's not certain just which maps and game modes will find their way into the beta, but you'll likely find out before the test starts.
'Call of Duty: Black Ops 3' is fast, frantic and adds a co-op campaign
Developer Treyarch has a good record of keeping things fresh in Call of Duty. The company started working on the franchise back in 2005. With World at War it added zombies; Black Ops went to Vietnam; Black Ops 2 traversed time and added branching narratives. For its next installment, Treyarch is, once again, trying something new. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (set to arrive November 6th on PC, Xbox One and PS4) brings campaign co-op back to the franchise. The entire campaign will be playable co-operatively by up to four players online (or two players locally). The addition of up to three campaign players meant building bigger combat arenas, better AI and adding social features for showing off medals and achievements.
Buckle up for 'Call of Duty: Black Ops 3'
This year's Call of Duty is likely to be Black Ops 3, as hinted at in a fresh teaser trailer titled "#backinblack." Well, either it hints at Black Ops 3 or Activision is trying really, really hard to throw the entire world off its scent. Treyarch, the studio that created the Black Ops franchise within Call of Duty, is in charge of the 2015 game, so it was already likely that we'd see a third this year. Activision plans to reveal the new Call of Duty on April 26, and you bet we'll have all of the juicy details then. Watch the new teaser below.
See Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare's XS1 Goliath in action here
Activision and developer Sledgehammer Games bring to mind Respawn's Titanfall with the XS1 Goliath, a powerful suit of armor awaiting skilled players in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare's multiplayer component. We've got some exclusive footage of the Goliath in action above. Players earn access to the Goliath via scorestreaks and other accomplishments while jetpacking around Advanced Warfare's multiplayer arenas. As was the case with Titanfall's Titans, players must mark an outdoor, unobstructed spot on the battlefield before dropping a Goliath capsule and wreaking armor-plated havoc. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare premieres in November for the Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PS4, and PC platforms. [Video: Activision]
Nearly two years later, Black Ops 2 map arrives on Wii U
Great news for dedicated Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 players on the Wii U: you're getting new DLC! Bad news: It might taste a little stale, as it's DLC that's almost two years old. "Nuketown 2025," a free downloadable map from Black Ops 2, has reached Nintendo's console a mere year and (not quite) nine months since the game's release. IGN reports that the map is included in the latest title update, as is an icon for the Zombies mode map, "Die Rise." It is noted, however, that although Die Rise appears on the game's menu, it is not playable. As for Nuketown, well ... better late than never, Wii guess. [Image: Activision]
Activision reveals Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare special editions
Activision today unveiled a lineup of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare collector's editions, putting an array of bonus-bundled physical and digital packages up for pre-order at its official website. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare's Atlas Limited Edition ($79.99) includes a retail copy of the game packed in a SteelBook case, the Welcome to Atlas: Advanced Soldier Manual, the bonus multiplayer map Atlas Gorge, and the Atlas Digital Content Pack, which features themed character exoskeletons and weapons. The Atlus Pro Edition ($119.99, shown above) includes all Limited Edition content along with an Advanced Warfare Season Pass that will digitally deliver four multiplayer map packs to players throughout next year. Also up for pre-order is the Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Atlas Digital Pro Edition ($99.99), which includes all Pro Edition content, minus the retail edition's physical goodies. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare will hit the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PS4, and PC platforms on November 4. [Image: Activision]
Former Panama dictator Manuel Noriega is suing Activision for putting him in Call of Duty
The studios behind the Call of Duty series may have garnered some extra sales by putting real people into their over-the-top shooters, but it looks like that strategy could land them in court. Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega has sued the games' publisher, Activision, for using his likeness in Call of Duty: Black Ops II without his permission. He argues that he's entitled to damages because his presence both violated his publicity rights and helped "heighten realism," leading to added profits that should have been his.
Call of Duty now takes three years to make, three studios keep it annual
Activision has announced a new three-year development cycle for upcoming Call of Duty games, starting with this year's release. This move, which will still see individual Call of Duty games coming out annually, cements Sledgehammer Games as one of Activision's primary Call of Duty developers alongside Infinity Ward and Treyarch, which are respectively responsible for Call of Duty: Ghosts and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Each studio's game will take three years to develop, staggered for release on an annualized schedule. "This will give our designers more time to envision and innovate for each title. Simultaneously, it will give our content creators more focus on DLC and micro-DLC which, as you know, have become large and high-margin opportunities and significant engagement drivers," Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg said during an annual earnings call today. "Finally, we'll give our teams more time to polish, helping ensure we deliver the best possible experience to our fans – each and every time." Hirshberg went on to say that Activision "needed a third studio capable of delivering the level of excellence required for the West's biggest interactive entertainment franchise" and that Sledgehammer Games fits the bill. "They demonstrated their skill on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and on their past highly-rated games." This year's Call of Duty game has yet to be officially announced. Sledgehammer's last game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, launched in late 2011 and was well-received by critics. [Image: Activision]
Call of Duty: Ghosts patched on Wii U, GamePad Scoreboard introduced
Treyarch has released an update for the Wii U version of Call of Duty: Ghosts adding a platform-exclusive Scoreboard feature and smoothing out a long list of multiplayer issues. Post-update, the Wii U version of Call of Duty: Ghosts now features a GamePad Scoreboard panel, letting players sneak a quick glance at their multiplayer stats mid-battle. The Scoreboard also lets players mute annoying opponents easily using the GamePad's touchscreen. The latest patch additionally improves texture resolution during certain Campaign mode missions and fixes numerous multiplayer bugs, spawn issues, and lobby-related crashes. The full list of improvements is after the break below.
Clans get an upgrade, new app for Call of Duty: Ghosts
Clans in Call of Duty: Ghosts are no longer separated by platform, so your clan can span Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3 and PC, Activision says. No matter which platform your friends are competing on – granted it's not Wii U – you can all enjoy the additional Clan XP that yields exclusive unlocks for the whole clan as you play together. Early registration for clans is open right now. If you're in an existing clan in another Call of Duty game, your leader can now transfer over to Ghosts – or you can wait until the game launches and manage your clan in-game. There will also be clan-versus-clan playlists for multiplayer. A new free app for clans will aim to make communication and "rallying up" for play sessions easier. The app features a Clan Wars metagame where, depending on which game types you're playing in multiplayer, you'll battle other Ghosts clans in a war of sorts over territory. Placing in the top three of Clan Wars will then yield additional rewards to your clan, both in the app and in the game. Finally, we've got the minimum system requirements for PC after the break, but first clear up some space on your hard drive. You're going to need it.
Black Ops 2 personalization packs 25% off, proceeds to help veterans
Activision, Treyarch and Microsoft have partnered to help veterans find jobs via the Call of Duty Endowment non-profit organization and a sale on Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 personalization packs. From October 8-14, players can download personalization packs, which offer a calling card, weapon skin and three targeting reticles, from the Xbox Marketplace for 25 percent off. All profits generated during this sale will go toward the Call of Duty Endowment. "With this drive, we continue to pledge our support to the Call of Duty Endowment in support of veterans, and really appreciate everyone in our community who contributes to this great cause and gives back," Mark Lamia, Studio Head of Treyarch, said in a press release regarding the event.
Call of Duty: Ghosts gets the squad together in new multiplayer modes
Call of Duty: Ghosts will introduce a new type of hybrid AI-and-human multiplayer experience called Squads. First, a player forms their own Squad, a group of soldiers with varying perks and load-outs designed to support a certain play style. This squad then levels up and progresses as the player unlocks XP throughout the various Squad-centric multiplayer modes. All of the XP earned in each of these Squad modes can then carry over to the multiplayer experience proper. Call of Duty: Ghosts launches on Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U and PC on November 5. PS4 and Xbox One installments will be available during those respective console launches.
PSA: Black Ops 2 Apocalypse DLC out on PS3, PC today
Apocalypse, the final downloadable content pack for Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, hits the PlayStation 3 and PC platforms today, ending its month-long exclusive engagement on the Xbox 360. The Apocalypse pack reunites the team from Call of Duty: World at War's inaugural Zombies map for its new Origins mode, which pits players against the undead masses in World War I-era France. The DLC also adds four new multiplayer maps: Pod, Frost, Takeoff, and Dig, the latter of which is a remake of the classic Courtyard map from Call of Duty: World at War. Apocalypse is available as part of Black Ops 2's Season Pass, and is priced separately at $14.99.
Black Ops 2 Uprising maps are free for Xbox, double XP for all this weekend
Ahead of the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2's next DLC pack on PC and PS3 this coming week, Treyarch is offering double XP in online matches this weekend on all consoles. What's more, Xbox 360 players will have access to a free trial of the game's Uprising DLC for the weekend. Uprising offers players four maps: Magma, Encore, Vertigo and Studio, as well as the Mob of the Dead zombies map set in Alcatraz. The DLC first launched in April for Xbox 360, later arriving in May for PS3 and PC, and is normally priced at $14.99.
Black Ops 2 Apocalypse DLC coming to PC and PS3 Sept. 26
Activision announced that the final round of downloadable Season Pass content for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will launch for the PlayStation 3 and PC platforms later this month. The Apocalypse DLC pack premiered for the Xbox 360 version of Black Ops 2 last month, adding the Pod, Frost, Dig, and Takeoff multiplayer maps. The pack also introduces Origins, a World War I-era mode that stars the heroes from Call of Duty: World at War's first Zombies map. Black Ops 2's Apocalypse DLC will hit the PlayStation 3 and PC on September 26. The pack will be released as a free download for Season Pass buyers, and is priced separately at $14.99.
Dig into Black Ops 2 'Apocalypse' DLC in this gameplay video
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 gets one last DLC pack, dubbed "Apocalypse," tomorrow. Within it players find four new multiplayer maps and one new excursion into Zombies mode with "Origins."
Call of Duty: Ghosts multiplayer trailer and screens materialize
Activision gave us our first look at Call of Duty: Ghosts multiplayer earlier today in a livestream presentation. If you missed it, you can at least catch up with the reveal trailer above, and check out some fresh screens in our gallery.
