Call of Duty is a first person shooter juggernaut, and excitement for this year's Advanced Warfare is reaching fever pitch. The first game in the series to be produced on a three-year development cycle rather than two, expectations are high that it will be more action-packed, fast-paced and above all, more fun to play than any of the previousiterations, thanks to some radical new game mechanics and a shift from the present day into the near future.
With major changes from the established Call of Duty norm, there's a huge amount of information to go over - so much so that there's no way we could fit it on to a single page. That's why we've split up this article to go over new game mechanics, multiplayer maps and modes, campaign plot spoilers and those all-important bundle deals in serious detail. If you can't wait to get your hands on Advanced Warfare, make sure to read on and find out everything you need to know ahead of launch.
RELEASE DATE
The Call of Duty series has religiously stuck to an early November release cycle for the past seven years, so it was always a good bet that Advanced Warfare would follow suit. It will be going on sale on the 4th of November around the world, on multiple platforms and in a range of different special editions.
DAY ZERO EDITION
Anyone that puts in a pre-order for Advanced Warfare, or has already done so on any platform, will get an automatic free upgrade to the Day Zero edition of the game. Day Zero means exactly that; players will get a whole twenty four hours to experience the new Call of Duty before anyone else, a day earlier than the official release date. If you order online, you should get it delivered on the 3rd of November, and shops will let you pick up your copy a day early - but only if you've pre-ordered.
The Day Zero edition also includes bonus double XP throughout the 24 hours of extra play time, along with two bonus custom weapons and the already announced Advanced Arsenal pre-order bundle, which includes a gold EXO suit and golden beam gun.
PLATFORM AVAILABILITY
Sledgehammer Games is developing Advanced Warfare as a "next-gen first title", meaning it was developed primarily for the Xbox One and PS4 rather than previous generation Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It will still be available on older consoles, however, just with downgraded graphics; the port will be handled by High Moon studios. Naturally you'll also be able to pick up a copy on PC.
Activision is keen on selling their games to as big a user base as possible. 2010's Call of Duty Black Ops was released on the Nintendo Wii, for example, while last year's Call of Duty Ghosts was available for the Wii U. However, it seems Nintendo is out of luck this time around. The Amazon pre-order page shows versions of the game for PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, but Wii U doesn't feature.
ATLAS EDITION
If you're sometihng of a collector, you'll want to pick up the Atlas Edition version of the game. It will arrive in a steelbook case, complete with Atlas calling card, Welcome to Atlas advanced soldier manual, copy of the game soundtrack, two bonus custom weapons, a bonus EXO suit and helmet, and a download code for the Atlas Gorge bonus multiplayer map. You'll also earn the Advanced Arsenal pre-order bonuses, including the gold EXO suit and golden beam gun, five in-game supply drops, a player emblem and single player EXO upgrade token. The Atlas Edition is available from Amazon for £59, but only on PS4 and Xbox One - you won't be able to get it on previous generation consoles or PC.
BUNDLES
Microsoft has paid big bucks to make the Xbox One the launch console for Advanced Warfare, meaning all advertising you see for the game will point you towards Microsoft's big black box rather than Sony's PS4. That includes releasing a special Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare console bundle, which includes a copy of the game, Call of Duty-themed console and controller, and a larger 1TB hard disk – making it the only Xbox One available with greater than 500GB of storage. It is set to cost £430 and will go on sale alongside the game on the 4th of November.
Considering other Xbox bundles cost considerably less, you'd have to be a very big Call of Duty fan, or have massive storage needs, in order to choose this over the cheaper FIFA 15 bundle or Sunset Overdrive bundle – unless you plan on using the Xbox One TV Tuner. This device will let you record Freeview HD TV to the internal hard disk via the Xbox One's Unified Guide, but with no support to date for external drives, a bigger internal disc will be a huge boon for those who also want to use their Xbox One as a PVR.
Given the game's title, it should come as no surprise that Advanced Warfare is turning the franchise's slow shuffle towards the 21st century into a sprint, focusing on future warfare technology in 2054 including exo-skeletons, hover bikes and energy weapons, and a world where private military corporations have more control over the armed forces than the government.
The man at the centre of this home grown conflict is Jonathan Irons, the maniacal owner of the Atlas defence contracting corporation hell bent on the idea that his firm can help war-torn nations back to health through military might. Played by a fully motion-captured Kevin Spacey, fresh from his excellent form in Netlix' House of Cards, Irons dominated the original reveal trailer and will be a major influence throughout the campaign.
"These countries don't have the most basic building blocks to support a democracy," the character spouts over scenes of conflict and war. "People don't want freedom. They want boundaries, rules, protection. People need a leader that can give them both the support and the constraints to keep chaos at bay. You give them that, and they'll follow."
After a terrorist organisation known as the KVA carries out the world's first global terrorist attack, simultaneously destroying the nuclear reactors of developed countries around the globe, private military corporations (PMCs) were forced to step in and defend the public when the military and government infrastructure failed. As the result, they have become the dominant armed forces for countless nations and represent the first line of defence.
Unlike previous Call of Duty games, the campaign will be seen from the viewpoint of just one character. Players will control Jack Mitchell, a former US Marine who lost his left arm during a battle with the KVA, right after he joins Irons' Atlas Corporation. However, after being ordered to perform clandestine operations around the world for the highest bidder, Irons' personal war over the United States' ineffectiveness as the promoter of democracy all over the world will see Mitchell changing allegiance and fighting for what's right, not what pays the bills.
There won't be any branching storylines in Advanced Warfare. This means there'll be no choices to make or moral decisions to mull over; you'll be heading on a linear path with no way of changing the outcome.
TECHNOLOGY, VEHICLES AND WEAPONS
The Call of Duty series is renowned for having a serious gun fetish, and Advanced Warfare is no different. Despite the near future setting, most of the currently revealed weapons appear to be based on traditional assault rifles, shotguns, SMGs and snipers that fire bullets. However, the new directed energy beam weapons swap out lead for plasma, letting you fire for as long as you have charge in your batteries. With no need to reload, you just have to keep heat levels low in order to lay down a continuous burst of fire and keep your enemies at bay.
Grenades with various modes including "Frag", "Smart" and "Contact" will also be available. In Smart mode, they home in on hostiles and are propelled towards them through the air, dispatching them quickly and easily. It looks as though "Contact" grenades will blow up as soon as they touch a surface, be it concrete or flesh, and you'll also be able to use EMP grenades to temporarily disable enemy equipment.
In terms of vehicles, hover bikes, walking tanks, drop ships and armies of drones are all present, with some seriously spectacular-looking aerial battles teasing the traditional large scale CoD set-pieces we've become used to. There's even a cheeky shot of a battle tank firing twin railguns, which feels exactly like Command and Conquer's Mammoth tanks. The drone armies look particularly menacing, with hundreds of tiny, insect-like machines prompting soldiers to run for cover.
As you might expect for a game that radically shakes up the traditional Call of Duty formula, Advanced Warfare will also introduce several radically new game modes for players to put their newfound skills to the test. Series veterans shouldn't worry, though, as many of their old favourites will also be making a return.
MOMENTUM
Little was said about Momentum during the initial multiplayer reveal event, with the developer preferring to wait until the Tokyo Game Show to provide further details. An updated and tweaked version of the War gametype seen in previous Call of Duty games like World at War, it's a tug-of-war variant of Domination where teams must capture enemy control points in order, rather than as a free-for-all.
Capturing the point at the centre of a map will open up the point one step closer to the enemy's base. Once you reach the base, its game over. It looks set to be one of the most frenetic and fast-paced Call of Duty game types yet, and we can't wait to try it out.
UPLINK
A sped-up combination of capture the flag and the Sabotage game mode from the original Modern Warfare, Uplink sees a neutral satellite link dropped into the middle of the map, with both teams having to rush to claim it. The first to take control must deliver it to their base, scoring a single point for throwing it into the uplink or two points for EXO jumping into it.
The catch is that the satellite carrier can't fire their weapon, making them defenceless if left alone against the enemy. Their only options are to run, or throw the satellite towards the other team, forcing them to catch it and drop their gun in the process - letting you shoot them while they are defenceless. It's essentially Bombing Run from Unreal Tournament 2004, which was a huge amount of fun, so we can't wait to see how it plays in the Call of Duty universe.
RETURNING MODES
The new game types seemingly encourage team play and are designed to appeal to eSports fans, but Call of Duty traditionalists will have plenty to look forward to as well. Team Deathmatch, Kill Confirmed, Domination and Search and Destroy are all set to make a comeback, along with Capture the Flag – the first time in a while the mode has been available in a COD game. Also making the cut is Hardpoint, the headquarters-style game type that proved popular with Black Ops 2 players.
Anyone worried that this could mean Advanced Warfare feels a little too similar to previous entries in the series should remember that EXO suit movement and special abilities will completely transform how each game type is played. We're eager to give them all a try and see if Sledgehammer has managed to shake up the formula.
To date, Sledgehammer Games has been secretive over what maps to expect from Advanced Warfare, drip-feeding news to eager gamers, but we've already got a fair bit of information on the first four confirmed maps. We know that they will all feature more verticality, letting you get out of difficult situations and reach high vantage points using your EXO suit, and each map will include unique map score streaks which change the match for the team or individual doing well.
Biolab
This chemical facility appears to be the most conventional map revealed so far. Medium-sized interior environments and a snowy exterior seems to show a balance between tight combat and middle-distance combat. Moving chemical canisters act as mobile cover if you can use them effectively, while holes in the roof allow players to jump straight out of the interior if things are getting too hot to handle.
Riot
Based in a damaged Baghdad prison, this map's centrepiece is the exercise yard, where combat looks chaotic and frenetic. This map also has a unique score streak reward: A guard tower in the middle of the map, equipped with multiple laser pointers, can be activated to target all enemy soldiers entering the kill zone. It effectively works as a highly accurate UAV-style killstreak, but only if you get to the control room and flip the switch.
Ascend
A night time map with plenty of high walls and areas with multiple layers to them, Ascend takes place in the wrecked remains of a space elevator programme that's now home to a rather menacing looking turret. Once activated, it should be avoided at all costs, as it has the potential to mince anyone caught in the Crossfire.
Defender
The final map shown off at the initial multiplayer reveal takes place in an underground bunker and surrounding area, just underneath the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. A tsunami will eventually pour in from the bay, flooding the lower portions of the map and changing its dynamics.
Soldiers are able to swim, so perhaps he who dares to doggy paddle will be rewarded with some sneaky kills, but those using their EXO suit's Hover ability will likely have fun shooting fish in a barrel as they float on by.
Atlas Gorge
Although there hasn't been any official gameplay video yet, there is one more map already confirmed for Advanced Warfare. Atlas Gorge is a remake of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare's Pipeline map, which should give series veterans a rough idea what to expect in terms of layout. However, we're anticipating that EXO suits will add a lot more verticality to proceedings this time around.
Atlas Gorge will be a download-only map exclusive to certain special editions of the game, so won't arrive on the disc. We're also a little disappointed Sledgehammer games didn't pick one of COD4's other fantastic maps, like Strike, Crash, Backlot or Crossfire.
Advanced Warfare is a major departure for the Call of Duty series, moving the action into the near future and equipping its soldiers with technologically turbo-charged EXO suits which give you powerful perks, manoeuvres and attacks. It's a lot to take in when you first step foot on the virtual battlefield, so make sure you go in prepared with our EXO suit primer.
MOVEMENT
Depending on the type of EXO suit you have equipped, you'll either be able to take more punishment and dish out more damage, or move faster than your adversaries. Regardless of your suit choice, all players will be able to perform the basics of EXO movement.
Boost lets you jump higher and speed laterally along flat surface, shortening the distance between you, your foes and your objectives and increasing the importance of vertical movement. Dodge is particularly useful for avoiding ganger, letting you quickly scoot sideways when in combat to avoid gunfire or to dodge slower moving projectiles like rockets. Finally, Dash lets you change direction in mid-air, similar to a double jump. The gameplay footage released so far only appears to show one Dash movement per jump, but it should still be a useful way of changing your course mid-jump, or see a higher priority target from your elevated position.
ATTACKS
You aren't completely defenceless when you're in the air. As well as having full control over your primary weapon, you can also use the leather slam manoeuvre to smash into the ground at high speed. If any enemies are within your range, you will hone in on them similar to the Commando Pro perk found in previous Call of Duty games. On the ground, Slide will speed up your movement and avoid horizontal gunfire, before coming to a stop in a crouched position.
PERKS
Just as you'll be able to customise your soldier's equipment and weaponry, you'll also be able to tweak the setup of your EXO suit with perks and abilities. Hover will extend the length of time you can stay airborne when jumping and boosting across the map, potentially letting you reach further platforms in fewer jumps. Stealthy players will appreciate Cloak, which makes you invisible for a brief period, while bullet sponges can use Shield to negate damage for a limited time. EXO Overcharge temporarily increases the length of time you can use your equipped ability for.
Offensive upgrades include the EXO Launcher, a wrist-mounted weapon that can be used to fire a variety of explosives towards your enemies including grenades and EMPs. Conversely, you can use EXO Trophy defensively to push away incoming projectiles – as long as you're quick enough. With a well-timed blast you can fling back an approaching grenade back at its thrower.
Little is known about the two remaining upgrades, EXO Stim and EXO Ping. Both were spotted during the initial multiplayer reveal event, but weren't shown in action. We're guessing that Stim will act as a health boost, restoring you to full health instantly after taking damage, while Ping could be some kind of navigation assist for finding hidden enemies.
Ever since the original Modern Warfare introduced the concept of persistent character classes to multiplayer shooters, the Call of Duty series hasn't looked back, and Advanced Warfare is no different. The Pick13 system is based on the Pick10 system first seen in Black Ops 2, which proved very popular with fans, except now every single weapon, attachment and perk costs a single point.
The extra three points can now be put towards scorestreaks for the first time, meaning players have the choice of three, two, one or no scorestreaks whatsoever to suit their particular play style. You'll be able to choose from a primary weapon with attachments, secondary weapon with attachments, three perks, EXO launcher and abilities, and up to three score streaks. If you can't decide, or want a bit of randomness in your multiplayer matches, you'll be able to use wildcards that change every time you play instead.
For the first time in the series, you'll even be able to customise scorestreaks themselves. Rather than just choose from a pre-defined list of UAVs, attack drones and care packages, you'll be able to customise them to suit your personal tastes. Now, turret guns can be turned into rocket launchers, or made mobile with the ability to rip off the barrel and take on the move.
There will also be the option for co-op scorestreaks, where one player earns it and a second jumps in for the ride. The reveal trailer showed a Warbird helicopter, where one player (having earned the unlock) fires the turret gun and a second player fires a rocket launcher from the back seat.
With so many weapon customisation possibilities and the new directed energy weapon class, you'll want to try out your creations as soon as possible. That will be possible in the Virtual Firing Range, which can be jumped in to from the create-a-class menu or between matches. It will give you an immediate feel for new weapon sights or optics, attachments, bullet spread and the general feel of a new gun, before you try it out for real on the battlefield.
It won't just be your loadout open to customisation, either; you'll be able to completely customise your character's appearance, from the facial features to the helmets, vest kits, boots and your EXO suit. This Create an Operator mode should mean that every player has a unique look, that can be shared and shown off in the redesigned virtual lobby system.
When playing multiplayer games, rather than simply staring at a static menu between rounds, you'll be able to see your player avatar along with everyone else in the game, with details showing player customisation, Pick13 setups and scorestreak loadouts.
Unlocking new gear for your character will happen slowly over time through XP progression, but you'll also be able to get unique or rare patterns, designs or equipment with the new Supply Drop system. Supply drops will be earned through the amount of time spent in game, completing daily challenges and generally playing well, unlocking either upgraded wepaons, character gear or one-time use reinforcement abilities.
Weapon loot modifies the base statistics of the standard weapons, making them fire faster or have less recoil, so are very desirable, while Reinforcement cards temporarily unlock perks, abilities or scorestreaks once per use. Essentially it's the Call of Duty version of Titanfall's Burn Cards, and will unlock as either Enlisted (basic) Professional (rare) or Elite (ultra-rare) items. Looking at it from a sceptical point of view, this system seems ripe for monetisation and micro-transactions, so we'll just have to wait and see what Activision has in mind.
