Call of Duty Mobile smashes records with 100M downloads in 1st week

The mobile version of videogame franchise "Call of Duty" racked up 100 million downloads in its first week, industry site Sensor Tower said on Tuesday, dwarfing the debuts of previous smashes including "Fortnite" and "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds" (PUBG).

PUBG, Fortnite and Electronic Arts' "Apex Legends" scored 26.3 million, 22.5 million and 25 million respectively in their first week of release.

"This is by far the largest mobile game launch in history in terms of the player base that's been built in the first week," said Randy Nelson, head of mobile insights at Sensor Tower.

"Call of Duty: Mobile" was launched by its publisher Activision Blizzard Inc on Oct. 1 and Sensor Tower said the numbers reflected worldwide unique downloads across Apple's App Store and Google Play in the period since.

The smash hit is a "first-person-shooter game" that allows gamers to portray elite soldiers hunting down targets in different parts of the world.

The game's console-based editions have enjoyed a loyal following but the meteoric rise of free-to-play online games have forced companies to adapt and develop their games for the smaller screen.

"Call of Duty" was developed for mobile by Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd, which also has a stake in PUBG's Bluehole and Fortnite's Epic Games and is credited with popularizing the battle-royale format, where dozens of online players battle each other to death.

The United States was mobile edition's main draw, with 17% of the downloads in its launch week, followed by India, where PUBG has a strong foothold. Tencent is yet to launch the game in China.

Activision, which will launch the next console edition of "Call of Duty" on Oct. 25, has labeled 2019 a "transition year".

The company said in May it would cut 800 jobs and invest heavily to develop its key game franchises "Call of Duty", "Candy Crush", "Overwatch", "Warcraft", "Hearthstone" and "Diablo".

source: news.abs-cbn.com

China finally gets official PlayStations, minus some games

SHANGHAI - Japanese electronics giant Sony on Friday launched its PlayStation gaming console in China, where authorities impose strict controls on content, but some popular titles including "Grand Theft Auto" and "Call of Duty" were not available.

China last year authorised the domestic sale of game consoles through its first free-trade zone (FTZ) in Shanghai, ending a 2000 ban that authorities argued was aimed at protecting the country's youth.

The start of Sony's PlayStation 4 consoles, originally planned for January, makes it the second foreign company into the Chinese market after rival Microsoft, which launched its Xbox One in September.

Gaming consoles brought into mainland China through unofficial channels were already widely available online and at the country's many electronics markets.

At a Sony store in downtown Shanghai, around 50 people waited in line to enter by small groups and buy consoles, games and the hand-held PlayStation Vita.

"It's quite exciting that we can have this in China now," said Gu Chunhua, an engineer.

Sony is selling PlayStation 4 in China for 2,899 yuan ($471) and PlayStation Vita for 1,299 yuan ($211), said a store clerk.

But some customers showed disappointment over the small selection of games on offer initially.

"It is quite embarrassing that there are only a few titles available because of government censorship," Gu said.

Games must pass inspection by China's cultural authorities, according to FTZ rules, in line with government restrictions on content it deems to be obscene, violent or politically sensitive.

Only four PlayStation 4 titles were available at Sony's flagship Shanghai store on Friday: fantasy adventure "Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends", motorcycle racing game "Trials Fusion" and youth-oriented "Knack" and "Rayman Legends".

Analysts said a broader selection of games is the key to longer-term success in China's multi-billion-dollar market.

"Just having the console is only the first step, access to high-quality games remains the biggest driver for console sales," said Jack Chuang, associate partner at OC&C Strategy Consultants Greater China.

"For the average gamer, access to major titles with Chinese subtitles or dubbed in Mandarin will be vital," he said in a statement to media.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Battle lines drawn as Call of Duty goes on sale

SYDNEY -- Australian gamers Tuesday were among the world's first to get their hands on the latest installment of Call of Duty, as publisher Activision sought to boost the blockbuster franchise amid concerns about consumer fatigue.

While the video game has been one of the industry's bestsellers, with the 11-year-old series moving more than 100 million units and raking in billions of dollars in revenue, some analysts expect a drop-off in sales for this year's Advanced Warfare installment compared to 2013's Ghosts.

Activision Publishing is confident the newest title will continue to be its standard-bearer, and has brought in studio Sledgehammer Games and Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey to reload the franchise, which first launched in 2003.

"Three years ago we made some big decisions to invest in a three-year development cycle and to enlist Sledgehammer Games to be the first new lead studio for Call of Duty in a decade," Activision's chief executive Eric Hirshberg said in a statement.

"We believe that those decisions have paid off, resulting in a fantastic game."

EB Games, which is launching Call of Duty in Australia, said the latest installment was already the year's biggest pre-selling title.

"Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is off to a cracking start with tens of thousands of fans attending midnight and early morning launches at EB Games stores across the country," the firm's national brand manager Debra McGrath told AFP.

Parent company Activision Blizzard, a leading US video games publisher, in August reported a 8.22 percent rise in second-quarter net revenue to US$658 million from the previous year, driven by strong digital sales from games such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Diablo III: Reaper of Souls.

The games publisher is set to release its third-quarter results in the US later Tuesday.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Call of Duty' soldiers battle villain Kevin Spacey

SAN FRANCISCO -- The newest installment to blockbuster video game "Call of Duty" hits the streets on Tuesday, pitting soldiers of the future against a Machiavellian villain played by actor Kevin Spacey.

Activision Publishing set out to reload the multi-billion-dollar franchise, bringing in studio Sledgehammer Games to put its spin on the title and taking advantage of advanced capabilities in new-generation PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles.

"We've really approached this game differently," said Activision chief executive Eric Hirshberg. "We're shaking up the formula in several ways."

Sledgehammer modified mechanics of playing the military shooter game by adding "exoskeleton suits" that give characters super-soldier abilities.

A "riveting new story" was woven into the game, along with "an iconic new character" played by Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey.

Special gear was used to capture Spacey's movements, expressions and more to create a realistic virtual version of him playing the part of Jonathan Irons, a private military contractor intent on ruling the world.

"It's been a lot of fun working with the team to bring Jonathan Irons to life," the Academy Award-winning actor said in a release. "The technology is truly remarkable and unlike anything I've done before. I'm excited to see where this goes."

Spacey has been quoted saying "Call of Duty: Advance Warfare" is likely to become the first video game he ever plays.

Future soldiers

The game is set in the year 2054, when a private military corporation run by Spacey's character is the dominant power.

Players take on the roles of soldiers with advance combat abilities due to exoskeleton suits and other equipment.

"From the endless research and thousands of production designs, to our incredible focus on the narrative and amazing attention to detail - we're taking nothing for granted," said Sledgehammer co-founder and game director Glen Schofield.

"Call of Duty connects with the fans on such a deep level, and crafting a new vision for the next generation has been so inspiring for us."

Versions of "Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare" will be available at stores starting Tuesday priced at $60 each. Copies of the game have been tailored for the latest Sony and Microsoft consoles as well as for personal computers powered by Windows software.

Those who pre-ordered "Day Zero" editions get to start playing the game a day early, and enjoy some digital perks.

Activision promised players "a groundbreaking experience that's ripped-from-the-headlines-of-tomorrow."

Stories in the blockbuster "Call of Duty" military shooter franchise are inspired by historical events, according to Activision.

Dictator suit shot down
A California judge recently shot down a lawsuit filed by former Panama dictator Manuel Noriega after his likeness appeared in a "Call of Duty" video game.

State Judge William Fahey sided with video game publisher Activision Blizzard, dismissing a lawsuit that creators of the game had decried as "frivolous."

Activision had asked the judge in September to toss out the lawsuit on the grounds that giving a small part to a Noriega character in "Call of Duty: Black Ops II" was protected under the law as free speech.

The suit filed by Noriega two months earlier accused those behind the video game of exploiting his likeness without permission by making him a traitorous on-screen villain.

"This was an absurd lawsuit from the very beginning and we're gratified that in the end, a notorious criminal didn't win," said former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was part of the legal defense team.

Activision touted the ruling as a victory for "the 40 million dedicated members of our Call of Duty community."

Instalments of the game have featured Fidel Castro, John F. Kennedy, and Noriega.

Hordes of excited gamers descended on shops across the globe a year ago for the launch of the previous installment of the game, "Call of Duty: Ghosts."

"Every year the launch of 'Call of Duty' is more than just another product launch; it's a cultural event that draws millions of people together from all over the world," said Activision chief marketing officer Tim Ellis.

The franchise has moved more than 100 million units since the original version was released in late 2003.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com