To the surprise of absolutely no one in the universe, Activision confirmed in its quarterly financial report that a new Call of Duty title will be released at some point this year. Just what the game about isn’t known at the moment, but you can bet we’ll be hearing more soon.

In less surprising news, Activision also revealed that Blizzard is aiming set Diablo III loose into the world at some point in Q2 2012. This more or less falls in line with Blizzard’s previous projections, in which the company said it was shooting for an “early 2012″ release.

“Our extraordinary employees around the world are focused on making 2012 another great year for our audience and stakeholders,” Activision overlord Bobby Kotick said. “Blizzard Entertainment plans to have multiple highly-anticipated titles to release, including Diablo 3, and Activision Publishing expects to release a new Call of Duty game. In addition, Activision Publishing expects to continue to grow Call of Duty Elite and launch Skylanders Giants.”

Unfortunately, Activision Blizzard still didn’t provide a solid release date for Diablo III, but the fact that the company is shooting for a Q2 release–between April and June–shows that the game is nearing closer and closer to completion, which should be of at least some comfort to fans eager to get their hands on the final product.

If you can’t wait that long, Blizzard has recently been sending out more invites to the Diablo III beta, with a massive wave of 100,000 invites being sent out last week. The company says that more invites will be handed out in the future, so keep an eye on your email if you aren’t in the Diablo III beta already.

Activision: Diablo III coming Q2 2012, new Call of Duty this year is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you had plans to pick up Activision and Radical Entertainment’s Prototype 2 on the PC, you’ll unfortunately have to wait a little longer than everyone else.

Over on the game’s Facebook page, Activision recently posted that the game will be seeing a 3-month delay. It was originally scheduled to launch alongside the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions, which release on April 24, but now it’s been pushed back until around July 24.

No reason for the delay was given, but Activision said in the post that more details on the PC version, and hopefully some information on the delay, should be sent out “soon”.

In less disappointing news, Activision also announced the Prototype 2 RADNET Edition, which will be made available in limited quantities to those who pre-order the game. Should you choose to do so, Activision promises to hook you up with 55 pieces of new content spread out over several weeks, such as new events, new mutations, videos, and more.

“Radical Entertainment has always focused on bringing long lasting fun to its fans, and PROTOTYPE 2′s RADNET content is our way of rewarding the game’s most loyal supporters – the early adopters, the one’s who will replay it over and over again,” said Ken Rosman, Studio Head at Radical Entertainment. “We think this is great because we’re giving our fans hours of additional gameplay outside PROTOTYPE 2′s main narrative, and cool rewards – all delivered weekly following the game’s launch!”

You can find out more about Prototype 2‘s “RADNET” in the video below.

Prototype 2 PC delayed until July is a post from: The Inquisitr

A number of Call of Duty Elite subscribers have noticed that the recently-released maps, which are exclusive to Elite subscribers, are locked to only one profile on one console, and people aren’t happy about it.

As you may know if you’ve downloaded anything off of Xbox Live in the past, content is supposed to work for all users on the original Xbox 360 that the digital content was downloaded on. Apparently, that isn’t the case with Modern Warfare 3 DLC, according to reports from various users on the Call of Duty forums.

“I’m in the same boat – I’ve got Elite Subs and have downloaded the maps, only my son who shares the console cannot access them,” wrote forum user Lucas777. “In all previous COD releases, the map packs have been accessible to all profiles on that console. It’s not like both users can play the game at the same time.”

Strangely, when you go to download the two Modern Warfare 3 maps the terms state that the content can be shared, as previously mentioned, across all profiles on the Xbox 360 you downloaded it from. Whether or not this is accidental or working as intended is unclear.

We’ll let you know when Activision clarifies the situation.

via Joystiq

Modern Warfare 3 Elite maps locked to one profile is a post from: The Inquisitr

DLC for Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty titles previously were limited to map packs and map packs alone, but Activision announced today that a whopping 20 content packs are planned for release throughout the year, starting this month.

This time around, Modern Warfare 3 fans can expect a wide variety of DLC packs, such as your standard map packs, additional maps for the “Spec Ops” mode, and even extensions to Modern Warfare 3‘s singleplayer campaign.

“With the Call of Duty: MW3 Content Season for Call of Duty Elite we are delivering on our promise of more new content, more often, and with more variety than ever,” said Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg in a statement.

“With three studios collaborating on the first season, the breadth and depth of material on tap is truly extraordinary. It’s rare you can successfully execute both quantity and quality, but thanks to the expertise of our developers, the reach of Call of Duty Elite and the passion of our fans, we intend to deliver.”

The “season” of Modern Warfare 3 content kicks off on January 24 with the release of the game’s first map pack, which includes two new maps, Liberation and Plazza, available in both the multiplayer mode and in Modern Warfare 3‘s Spec Ops mode.

Activision says that each content drop, of which there will be 5 between January and March, will be made available to Call of Duty Elite subscribers on Xbox 360 first. Non-subscribers will, of course, have the option to pay for the DLC, and PC and PlayStation 3 users will get the content at a later date.

For more information on the first two maps, as well as the future of Modern Warfare 3 DLC, check out the video below.

Modern Warfare 3 getting nine months of DLC is a post from: The Inquisitr

You undoubtedly already saw this coming, but now we know when it will happen – Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling revealed today that the first round of Modern Warfare 3 DLC will arrive on Xbox 360 in January.

The DLC will also see a release on PC and PlayStation 3 but, as you may recall, Microsoft has a one-month exclusivity agreement with Activision for Call of Duty DLC, so those of you who play on either of those platforms will have to wait a month to grab the map pack.

So what new content are you going to be getting next month, you ask? Well, we don’t know. While Bowling was willing to reveal that the DLC is coming, Activision isn’t ready to talk about just what sort of DLC this actually is – is it a map pack, something else, or both?

Bowling did at least give us something to look at, providing a screenshot of one of the new maps in Modern Warfare 3‘s first DLC, as seen above. Considering that the release is only a month off, we won’t likely be waiting for long to find out more about the DLC.

Source: Activision (via Joystiq)

First Modern Warfare 3 DLC arriving on Xbox 360 next month is a post from: The Inquisitr

As I’m sure PC gamers recall, Activision and Beachhead had to hold off the release of the PC version of Call of Duty Elite due to concerns of security – or, to put it another way, to try to figure out how to make the system “fair” in light of the inevitable hacks.

Well, now it looks like Call of Duty Elite may not happen on PC at all – and even if it does happen, Activision currently has no idea when it would release, nor how they would be able to get around those concerns.

“We are working towards a universal Elite experience but we cannot guarantee if or when a version will be available for the PC,” Activision said in a tweet.

The concerns, as well as news of the “delay”, were first brought to light by way of Beachhead Studios’ Chacko Sonny earlier this month. He wrote on Activision community manager Dan Amrich’s blog:

“We’re as committed as ever to the PC, but the need to ensure a safe PC environment is greater than ever,” Sonny explained. “It’s really extensive. We need more time to get there, so Elite on PC will not launch on Day 1. We’re working our butts off to make it happen, but we won’t release it until we know that PC gamers can enjoy Elite as it’s meant to be.”

The service has been available on consoles since launch, but that hasn’t been without its own set of problems. Users were unable to access Call of Duty Elite at all during the first week, forcing Activision to offer an additional month for new and existing subscribers.

via Game Informer

Call of Duty Elite may not launch on PC after all is a post from: The Inquisitr

Activision announced today that Modern Warfare 3 managed to sell an astonishing 6.5 million units in the first 24 hours alone in the US and the UK. Bet you didn’t see that one coming.

To put that number into perspective for you, that means that Activision raked in roughly $400 million in the first 24 hours. In comparison, Call of Duty: Black Ops, which held the previous day-one sales record, made $360 million in its first day, and Modern Warfare 2 made $310 million in its first day.

“We believe the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the biggest entertainment launch of all time in any medium, and we achieved this record with sales from only two territories,” said Bobby Kotick, CEO, Activision Blizzard, Inc.

“Other than Call of Duty, there has never been another entertainment franchise that has set opening day records three years in a row. Life-to-date sales for the Call of Duty franchise exceed worldwide theatrical box office for “Star Wars” and “Lord of the Rings,” two of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time.”

Call of Duty titles may be losing steam for many core gamers, but that apparently isn’t slowing down sales one bit. Modern Warfare 3 marks the third consecutive year for growth in sales, and each of the past three releases has broken sales records across all entertainment mediums.

Modern Warfare 3 sells 6.5 million in 24 hours is a post from: The Inquisitr

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3‘s launch went off without a hitch across all platforms, but Activision’s new service, Call of Duty Elite, wasn’t so lucky.

Activision’s servers weren’t able to handle the absolutely massive amount of players testing out the service at once, resulting in the service being completely inaccessible to players ever since its launch earlier this week.

In an attempt to make good on the situation, Activision will be offering a thirty day extension for all Call of Duty Elite premium members. If you purchased (or received) a one-year membership, your subscription will now expire in thirteen months rather than twelve.

“And for our premium members who are Founders, know that granting your status and delivering your in-game benefits in MW3 is a priority,” Activision said in a statement. “Also, to ensure that every premium member receives their full money’s worth, we are immediately and automatically extending your membership to Call of Duty Elite by 30 days at no additional cost.”

If you didn’t take the plunge and become a Premium member, Activision is extending the same offer to you as well, provided you purchase a subscription within the month. If you do so, you’ll also be able to get yourself “Founder” status, which has been extended for thirty days in light of the complications.

“If you’re still considering becoming a premium member, we’re going to extend Founder eligibility until the end of the month,” the statement continues, “and you will also receive the additional 30 days of access.”

Source: Activision

Call of Duty Elite subscriptions getting an extra 30 days is a post from: The Inquisitr

It goes without saying that Call of Duty titles over the past several years have consistently been a sensation. Thousands upon thousands of gamers all across the world line up at their retailer of choice, sometimes hours in advance, just to be able to play the next iteration of Call of Duty as early as possible. Unsurprisingly, this was also the case for Modern Warfare 3.

Naturally, this means that just about every Call of Duty release, regardless of quality, is going to quite literally fly off the shelves of any retailer that sells it. Analysts are expecting that Modern Warfare 3 will handily beat Call of Duty: Black Ops‘ sales record, which sold an astounding 5.6 million in the US alone within a period of 24 hours.

If you need a little convincing that Modern Warfare 3 is or isn’t worth your time, however, you’re in luck. As of 2 AM this morning, a flood of reviews from the major gaming websites, and the reviews seem mostly positive, although there are a few complaints.

To see what critics are saying about Modern Warfare 3, you can check out a selection of reviews below, ordered from lowest score to highest.

Eurogamer – 8/10 (Read full review)

“That the single-player story brings the Modern Warfare saga to a fairly definitive end is, then, cause for celebration. Whatever next year’s entry brings, some measure of reinvention will be essential. For now, its exuberant blend of testicular bravado and blockbuster gloss ensures that Call of Duty retains its crown as the shooter genre’s biggest, boldest rollercoaster ride for at least one more year. “

GameSpot – 8.5/10 (Read full review)

“This is an exciting and rewarding game, but the series’ signature thrills have lost some of their luster. Modern Warfare 3 iterates rather than innovates, so the fun you have is familiar. Fortunately, it’s also utterly engrossing and immensely satisfying, giving fans another reason to rejoice in this busy shooter season.”

Joystiq – 4/5 (Read full review)

“Modern Warfare 3 is a great Call of Duty game, just as every other entry in the franchise is a great Call of Duty game. However, it shares more than quality with its predecessors – it, like its forefathers, leaves you waiting for something perfect.”

Destructoid – 9.5/10 (Read full review)

“While there are no major revelations or surprises, this is still a gorgeously produced package that gives military shooter fans exactly what they want. There’s a reason why Call of Duty is the most powerful videogame franchise of the modern era, and Modern Warfare 3 serves as a reminder — it’s just that damn good at what it does.”

Modern Warfare 3: Review Round-up is a post from: The Inquisitr

Modern Warfare 3 is just a few short hours away from release worldwide, and to get you pumped up for the release Activision put together a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 live action promotional video featuring Jonah Hill and Sam Worthington.

It doesn’t have any actual gameplay in it, but it does have Jonah Hill, Sam Worthington, guns, and explosions in scenes ripped straight from the game. Basically, it’s just like every other Modern Warfare 3 trailer released over the past several weeks, but live action. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, mind you.

If you needed something to get you in the mood for some Modern Warfare 3, check out the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 live action ‘The Vet and The n00b’ trailer below.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 releases tomorrow, November 8 worldwide on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. PC gamers can pre-load their copy on Steam right now.

New Modern Warfare 3 video shows a “n00b” the ropes [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is just around the corner, and with the launch of the highly anticipated FPS players will be able to try out Activision’s new stat-tracking and community service, Call of Duty Elite. Unless you play Call of Duty on PC, that is.

Beachhead Studio head Chacko Sonny, by way of community manager Dan Amrich’s blog, said that due to the PC platform being prone to exploits and hacks, Activision and Beachhead decided to hold back the launch of Call of Duty Elite on PC until they come up with a solution.

“We’re as committed as ever to the PC, but the need to ensure a safe PC environment is greater than ever,” Sonny explained. “It’s really extensive. We need more time to get there, so Elite on PC will not launch on Day 1. We’re working our butts off to make it happen, but we won’t release it until we know that PC gamers can enjoy Elite as it’s meant to be.”

The concern, Sonny went on to explain, is that certain nefarious players may be able to alter their stats, making the contests Activision will be running through Call of Duty Elite events potentially unfair.

“The issue here is that the PC is an insecure platform. Without a central, trusted resource for stats, a lot of our competition features become unfair. We can’t give away prizes when people can easily cheat their stats. Leaderboards are less fun when a lot of the users are there unfairly.”

Call of Duty Elite is still on track to launch on consoles day one with the release of Modern Warfare 3.

via VG247

Call of Duty Elite won’t launch on PC with Modern Warfare 3 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Last week we got to take a look at Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3‘s weapon proficiencies. Today, Activision released another Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer developer diary, but this time we get to take a look at two new modes.

The first one is “Kill Confirmed”, and it takes that Team Deathmatch gameplay Call of Duty is known for and adds an interesting twist to it. When you take out an enemy player, Infinity Ward explains in the video, the enemy will drop dog tags, which you’ll need to pick up to score some points for your team. If you wait too long, the enemy team can pick up their fallen comrade’s dog tags, denying you of extra points.

The next mode detailed in the video, “Team Defender”, is essentially a “Defend the Flag” mode. Rather than capturing a flag, the object is to defend your flag carrier and hold it for as long as possible. The longer you manage to keep your flag carrier alive, the more points you get.

You can check out both modes in action in the latest Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer dev diary below.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is due out in North America and Europe on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 8.

New Modern Warfare 3 video introduces two new multiplayer modes [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

In Activision’s latest developer diary for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Infinity Ward developers detail the FPS’ new weapon proficiency system and the new gadgets at your disposal in Modern Warfare 3.

The more you use a particular weapon, Infinity Ward explains, the better that weapon will be. You’ll be able to unlock additional upgrades for the weapons, including “breathing” for assault rifles, reduced recoil and so on. So if you’ve got a favorite weapon that you tend to stick to, you can keep improving it and optimizing it based on your strengths and weaknesses.

Lastly, we get to see a few of the new gadgets, including a neat turret that targets explosives such as frags or RPGs, making it easier for your team to hold down a point without being overwhelmed by explosives fire.

For more details on Modern Warfare 3‘s new weapon proficiency system and the new gadgets, see the latest developer diary below.

New Modern Warfare 3 video details weapon proficiencies, new gadgets is a post from: The Inquisitr

As you may recall, Activision and Infinity Ward announced at the Call of Duty XP event that killstreaks, as they existed in previous games, are being done away with in favor of a more balanced system.

To clarify the changes, Activision released a new video that explains just what this new “Strike Package” system is all about. As the video explains, the system is more or less similar to the old one, but it’s designed to reward all players, regardless of skill level.

Infinity Ward believes that the old killstreak system was too lopsided in that it rewarded the best players in any given match, and left those who weren’t doing so well in the dust without a way to catch up. With the new system, all players will have some means to catch up provided they’re completing objectives.

For example, with the Support Strike Package your points towards your next reward will persist even after death. Naturally, this means that most of the rewards will be support-oriented, but it will at least give players the sense that they’re contributing to the team.

That doesn’t mean that skilled players are left without anything new themselves, however. For them, there’s the new “Specialist” Strike Package which, instead of offering your typical rewards, grants you a new perk for every two kills you make.

You can hear more about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3‘s Strike Package system in the video below.

New Modern Warfare 3 video explains the Strike Package system is a post from: The Inquisitr

Activision has released another trailer for Prototype 2 today, and it’s actually.. pretty awesome.

It’s a cinematic trailer so it doesn’t feature any actual gameplay, but it does show off a number of abilities at James Heller’s disposable as he tears through the city in his quest to kill the series’ first protagonist, Alex Mercer.

In the video, we get to see Heller rough up – and by rough up, I mean brutally murder – a bunch of military types and a mutated baddy with some pretty brutal tricks.

The first game wasn’t exactly mindblowing by any stretch of the imagination, but it had a few things, namely the combat, that were more or less going in the right direction. I have to say, I have high hopes that developer Radical Entertainment can get it right in the sequel.

We’ll have to wait until April of next year to find out if Radical succeeded, but for now you can check out Prototype 2‘s latest singleplayer trailer below.

New Prototype 2 cinematic trailer shows James Heller doing what he does best is a post from: The Inquisitr

If for some reason you needed something to get you hyped up for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3‘s November 8 release, this latest trailer, ‘Redemption’, ought to do the trick and then some.

Just about every shot has someone being shot at, something blowing up, or a combination of the two. It’s intense, and does a really good job of setting the pace for the third title in the Modern Warfare trilogy.

If you have any interest in Modern Warfare 3 at all, do yourself a favor and check this ‘Redemption’ trailer out. You can do so directly below.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 releases on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 8 worldwide.

Modern Warfare 3 ‘Redemption’ trailer is intense, amazing [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

In the next issue of Game Informer, a new game in the Transformers series, dubbed Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, will be revealed, Activision announced today.

Next to nothing is known about the game at the moment, but it’s a safe bet that it’ll be coming to consoles, it’ll involve Transformers, and something not quite good will be happening to Cybertron.

Game Informers can expect one of two covers in the next couple of days; one cover features Optimus Prime kneeling over a pretty banged up Bubblebee, and the other shows Optimus Prime and Grimlock, who you may recognize as one of the Dinobots.

If you’d like to know more about Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, catch the next issue of Game Informer, due out in just a couple of days. For all of you Game Informer digital subscribers, you’ll be getting your issue on October 11.

In the meantime, you can check out the second cover below.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron announced, coming next year is a post from: The Inquisitr

Diablo fans have been holding onto hope that Diablo III would release this year, and apparently Blizzard was hoping for the same. Unfortunately for all of us, our hopes have been dashed.

Blizzard’s Mike Morhaime announced by way of the Battle.net website that Diablo III will not make its intended “late 2011″ release date. Instead, it’s now expected to release at some point in early 2012.

“With every game we make, the temptation is always very strong to launch as soon as possible,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder. “However, we didn’t put so many years of work into Diablo III to release a game that was almost ready.”

On the bright side, this means that the currently-ongoing Diablo III closed beta will be extended, which in turn likely means more opportunities to get in – and for those who already are in, even longer to play it.

“The beta test is going very well, and we look forward to making the most of the extra time we’re taking to deliver an experience that lives up to our vision for the game and the expectations of our players. Next year is going to be an incredibly busy one for Blizzard, and we hope an incredibly fun one for Blizzard gamers.”

Busy indeed. In addition to Diablo III, Blizzard’s still working hard at getting StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm ready in time for a 2012 release, and there’s even rumor that another World of Warcraft expansion is targeted for a 2012 release date.

Diablo III to release in early 2012 is a post from: The Inquisitr

As some of you may have noticed if you’ve checked your email recently, Blizzard has officially kicked off the Diablo III closed beta, with the first wave of invites being sent out yesterday.

If you didn’t get into the beta during the first wave of invites, don’t fret; as always, Blizzard will be rolling out additional waves of invites at an unspecified time. You’re not guaranteed to get in, but at least there’s a good chance you’ll get an invite at some point. Even if you don’t get invited by Blizzard, there’s always going to be giveaways.

According to the press release sent out by Blizzard, the beta will allow participants to sample half of the full game’s first act both alone or with companions over online co-op. The first half of the act climaxes in a battle against the Skeleton King, so you don’t have to worry about your sampling ending abruptly.

All five classes – barbarian, witch doctor, monk, wizard and demon hunter – will be available to players, along with a chance to try out the game’s crafting system, and a small helping of the game’s skill system. You’ll also be able to meet a couple of the game’s Artisans along the way.

“This closed beta test is an important milestone for us as we enter the final stages of development on Diablo III,” said Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime. “Our goal is to create the best action role-playing game experience to date, building on everything we’ve learned since the release of Diablo II and incorporating the powerful features of the new Battle.net platform. We hope players enjoy participating in the beta test and we look forward to hearing their feedback.”

Diablo III closed beta available now is a post from: The Inquisitr

If killing zombies on the same old environments is getting old and you’re looking for something to freshen things up again, you’ll be happy to know that Activision announced today that Call of Duty: Black Ops‘ ‘Rezurrection’ DLC will hit PC and PlayStation 3 on September 22.

The DLC, which is already available on Xbox 360, adds four classic zombie maps, Shi no Numa, Der Riese, Nacht der Untoten and Verruckt, in addition to an all-new map that takes place on the moon. Yeah, that’s right – you get to kill zombies on the freakin’ moon.

As one would expect, gameplay on the Moon map is quite a bit different, considering the incredibly low gravity and all. Beyond that, the gameplay is spiced up a bit more with the addition of “outrageous new weapons” and “high-tech gear”.

As with the case of all other DLC launches, Treyarch will be kicking off a Double XP weekend in celebration of the launch of the “Rezurrection” DLC on the PC and PlayStation 3, so players looking for a chance to get their Prestige on should take advantage of that.

Should you need a little something to get you hyped up for the DLC, check out this behind-the-scenes look at the development of the Rezurrection DLC directly, located directly below.

Call of Duty: Black Ops’ Rezurrection DLC invades PC, PlayStation 3 next week is a post from: The Inquisitr