From the Press Release
Power changes everything starting today, as Call of Duty®: Advanced Warfare Day Zero Edition is now available worldwide. Eager fans lined up at midnight at thousands of retail locations around the globe to get access to the Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Day Zero Edition, available today. The new title from Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. [Nasdaq: ATVI], marks the first Call of Duty® game led by developer Sledgehammer Games and the first time for a three-year development cycle. Advanced Warfare also introduces the exoskeleton - the biggest core movement change in franchise history. With the power of the exo, players can boost jump, dodge, slam and more through a visceral and compelling new story; built from the ground up multiplayer experience; and a brand new cooperative mode for the complete entertainment package that only Call of Duty can deliver.
"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," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc. "We believe that those decisions have paid off, resulting in a fantastic game, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, which features a kickass story, an epic performance by Kevin Spacey, beautiful graphics and new core mechanics that make Advanced Warfare even more of an adrenaline rush than Call of Duty already was. And that's saying something."
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare envisions a powerful future, where both technology and tactics have evolved to create a ripped-from-the-headlines-of-tomorrow story. Kevin Spacey stars as Jonathan Irons - one of the most powerful men in the world - shaping this chilling vision of the future of war. Based on plausible technology and extensive research, the all-new story, conceived by the storytellers at Sledgehammer Games, introduces a world where private military corporations (PMCs) wield more might than national governments, and soldiers fight not for country but for profit; militaries for the highest bidder. These PMCs are outfitted with the latest in combat technology - the exoskeleton - empowering soldiers to overcome enemies with incredible and varied abilities, giving them a whole new way to traverse the battlefield. This is war like never before.
"Calling Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare a passion project is an understatement," said Glen Schofield, Co-Founder and Studio Head, Sledgehammer Games. "The studio's commitment to excellence has driven every decision made about the game, big and small, and has resulted in an unparalleled, packed-to-the-brim experience we're extremely proud of.
Michael Condrey, Co-Founder and Studio Head, Sledgehammer Games added: "This represents three years of the team's dedication to the most ambitious project of our careers. We're humbled by the chance to usher in a new era of Call of Duty for fans. From the rich, narrative-driven single player experience, to the transformational new movements and features of our multiplayer and co-op modes, we cannot wait to share the team's labor of love with fans."
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare also drops players into an adrenaline-filled multiplayer experience, allowing fans to take the exoskeleton and its array of special abilities online. A first for the franchise, the power of the exoskeleton introduces all-new ways to maneuver combat situations on the ground and in the air, alongside an arsenal of futuristic weapon technology that affords players more ways to take opponents on, all while maintaining the signature breakneck Call of Duty multiplayer feel. Fans have more options than ever when customizing their multiplayer soldier with the new Create-an-Operator system, featuring gear and appearance personalization from head to toe. Players and their tailor-made advanced soldiers will benefit from the all-new Supply Drop system, unlocking weapons, gear and cosmetic items through extended play. With 13 included maps out of the box and several new modes, Advanced Warfare is the complete multiplayer package.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare also debuts Exo-Survival, a 1-4-player, new cooperative experience. The new mode is a frenetic, cooperative battle to fight off waves of unrelenting exoskeleton-suited enemies in a struggle to stay alive. Players can upgrade their weapons, exo abilities, scorestreaks, perks and more as they try to survive. Communication, teamwork and positioning are crucial components for a successful strategy to handle the Exo-Survival swarm.
In addition to up to 24 hours of early access, the Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Day Zero Edition also gives players access to two custom in-game weapons, the AK-12G assault rifle and Crossbow-B2, a full day of double XP on November 3, and access to the Advanced Arsenal. The Advanced Arsenal consists of an in-game custom Bullet Brass exoskeleton and in-game custom EM1 Quantum weapon.
Also available today, is the Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Season Pass. The Season Pass lets gamers access four Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare DLC Map Packs to be released in 2015 at a bundled discount (discount based on a Season Pass suggested retail price of $49.99, and four individual DLC Map Packs at a suggested retail price of $15 each). With Season Pass, gamers get instant access to the Atlas Gorge Bonus Multiplayer Map, a re-envisioning of the fan favorite Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare® map. Pipeline. The DLC Map Packs will be available on the Xbox Live online entertainment network from Microsoft first and pricing and release dates may vary by platform.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, is developed by Sledgehammer Games specifically for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 and PC, and is available via direct digital download. A current gen version for Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system is developed by High Moon Studios. The title is rated M for Mature with Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence and Strong Language.
The Xbox One Limited Edition Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Console Bundle, available from Microsoft at a suggested retail price of $499, features a 1TB hard drive, custom console, custom controller and Limited Edition exoskeleton, plus a digital copy of the Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Day Zero Edition.
To learn more, visit the official Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare website.