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E3 2011: Call of Duty: Elite beta begins July 14

Tom Magrino
By Tom Magrino

Activision opening invite-only testing window for military shooter's new online platform next month; GameStop's Modern Warfare 3 preorders tracking ahead of Black Ops.

LOS ANGELES--Activision plans to roll out Call of Duty's new online platform, Elite, alongside Modern Warfare 3 this November. But before Elite deploys, Activision has plans to put the service through boot camp.

Elite will be reporting to boot camp on July 14.

Elite will be reporting to boot camp on July 14.

As part of the Electronic Entertainment Expo today, Activision said that it will hold an invitation-only beta test for Call of Duty: Elite. The beta period is expected to begin on July 14, and gamers will be able to access it through their copies of Call of Duty: Black Ops. Those interested in participating in the beta program can sign up through the service's website.

Activision also noted that in the five days since Call of Duty: Elite was announced, more than 1 million gamers have registered to participate in its beta. The service itself incorporates both free and premium features aimed at enhancing Call of Duty's online multiplayer experience. More details can be found in GameSpot's previous coverage.

Elite wasn't the only Call of Duty-related update issued today. According to GameStop senior VP Bob McKenzie, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 preorders are tracking ahead of those for Black Ops, which was itself the most preordered game in the specialty retailer's history.

"Last year, Call of Duty: Black Ops became the most preordered title in our history," McKenzie said. "Already, this year, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is significantly ahead of that pace."

Following the massive success that was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the Treyarch-developed Black Ops currently holds the title for biggest entertainment launch in history. Released in November, the game's sales topped $650 million in its first five days of availability.

Tom Magrino
By Tom Magrino

Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.

43 Comments

  • et89

    Posted Jul 12, 2011 6:09 pm GMT

    Too bad they don't have beta testing for the actual games...

  • PoKeZeMuNKyZ

    Posted Jul 1, 2011 2:57 am GMT

    Not. Worth. It.

  • smoke1125

    Posted Jun 27, 2011 3:49 am GMT

    ppl open your eyes every1 keeps talking about how there not paying for the cod elte...The service itself incorporates both ((FREE)) and premium. so stop complaining about paying for it you dont have to

  • chuckytiffany

    Posted Jun 9, 2011 1:28 am GMT

    But mw2 map packs cost 15 dollars and they sucked balls compared to black ops map packs. BTW how are those days over?

  • wars45

    Posted Jun 8, 2011 12:52 am GMT

    loved mw 2 getin mw 3 but wont pay for this and allso the days wher i pay 9.99 for a few maps are gone

  • bcoolrob

    Posted Jun 7, 2011 8:36 pm GMT

    Gay video

  • darkgroudon

    Posted Jun 7, 2011 8:15 pm GMT

    I would like to retract my last statement... didnt get to see the whole thing.

  • darkgroudon

    Posted Jun 7, 2011 8:11 pm GMT

    that video sucked.

  • chyng85

    Posted Jun 7, 2011 1:56 am GMT

    Love this game~

  • xxxxTRISTAMxxxx

    Posted Jun 7, 2011 12:11 am GMT

    After watching BF3 and Ghost Recon...MW3 looks like a joke. One tricky pony which some gamers will be pay monthly for...good luck with that!

  • taino1128

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 8:51 pm GMT

    @another_drew
    I wasn't defending Activision or CoD at all. I was laughing at the fact that everybody seems to be bashing MW3 and praisng BF3, yet MW3 is still managing to set pre-order records. And where are you getting this idea that CoD is the only online game I've played? I've played BFBC2, SOCOM, Killzone, Ghost Recon, and plenty of other online games. I'm the one acting like some kind of topdog? What do you think that you're doing leaving comments trying to diss me out?

  • another_drew

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 8:35 pm GMT

    @taino1128 No I don't everyone who plays that game in that category. Just fanboys like you who defend Acti. because they own CoD. Face it little man, CoD is crap, has been since MW2. You obviously have no idea how great the game once was, otherwise you would see this for what it is. CoD isn't even one of the best FPS' out there any more. It's just one that knows how to get more players (I.E. the ease of MW2 compared to CoD4 and WaW. It's not even an interesting game to play anymore. There's no thrill to simply running blindly into a gunfight spamming grenades and the melee button. It's so copy and pasted from one title to the next. Play something with a little more tact. You'll find that those players actually have some form of intellect. Go ahead give Socom or GRAW a try you'll never look back. As for you BC2 statement. Really jumping that bandwagon too eh? Trust me BC2 is nowhere near the quality of BF2 or BC1. Stop acting like you're some kind of topdog, honestly you have no idea. Oh, and I qualify big boys as those who won't buy into something simply because it has CoD or Acti. written on package. Here's to crossing your fingers, hoping, and praying that Respawn will give us players what expect out of them in terms of a quality FPS.

  • BARBECUEDBABIES

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 7:19 pm GMT

    @another_drew agreed although the game is good at what it does the people playing are childish, takes away the whole tactical part of the game because of children shouting incoherently, bring on BF3 i say

  • taino1128

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 6:26 pm GMT

    @another_drew
    So what is your definition of a "big boy?" Somebody who plays BF? I actually used top play BFBC2 and there are plenty of those annoying little kids and teens on that game. And you said that most CoD fans are ignorant tweens. So, you just put everybody in a negative category because they play a game that's more popular. You're not being ignorant?

  • another_drew

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 5:41 pm GMT

    @taino1128 you forget most of the CoD freaks are a bunch of ignorant tweens. Sadly teenagers these days do no know what makes a game truly good. After all these newbs jumped the bandwagon and picked up MW2, Acti. had their cash for future titles pretty much in the bank. like Cowboy-Bebop said. Let the big boys play BF3. From the sound of things, you my friend are not one of those "big boys."

  • INewIRave

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 4:17 pm GMT

    Elite as if there is anything elite about it.

  • taino1128

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 4:15 pm GMT

    LOL. MW3's preorders are ahead of Black Ops. So much for nobody getting MW3 and everyone buying BF3.

  • Cowboy-Bebop

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 4:07 pm GMT

    Only an idiot would order this crap. I guess it would be all those who loved the arcade no skill MW2. Oh well, let them play this so the big boys can play BF3.

  • superokamifan21

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 3:30 pm GMT

    Play for campaign but boycott the multiplayer.

  • Ein001

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 3:23 pm GMT

    Who is preordering MW3...I don't get it. Have you people not played the slop that is BO? I loved MW2, but IW is gone, wait for legit reviews (ie non-payed for gamespot reviews) before you even consider buying this...