According to Wedbush Securities video game industry analyst Michael Pachter, you will be paying to play Call of Duty games in the future.
Yesterday, along with the dismantling on the Guitar Hero franchise, Activision announced the establishment of Project Beachhead, a studio focused on "on the delivery, digitally, of new, innovative Call of Duty content and services" that will "enable tens of millions of players around the world to continue to enjoy the experience that Call of Duty offers." While Activision didn't go into practical detail about what that will mean for gamers, Pachter says it all adds up to pay-for-play CoD.
"Project Beachhead absolutely is charging for multiplayer," Pachter said. "I'm certain to my core."
"Activision said they are working on 'value added, premium content that is exclusive,'" Pachter said. "How do you exclude people unless you do it on the basis of whether they pay or not? What are you going to have a bouncer in front of the club where you play the content? The only way it's exclusive is if it excludes non-paying members," Pachter added.
When asked how a pay-for-it Call of Duty game would work, Pachter offered this:
"The exclusive content could be pay as you go, or monthly. Let's say Project Beachhead comes up with 'Call of Duty Universe,' and it launches with Modern Warfare 3 and they say 'if you join here's all the exclusive content and exclusive weapons and we'll charge you a dollar a piece.' Or If they say, 'for $5 a month you get unlimited weapons and all the map packs we bring out for Modern Warfare in perpetuity,' a lot of people will say, 'I'm going to buy three map packs for 15 dollars anyway, so for $60 a year, I'm getting all the unlimited weapons and achievements,' so they could do that. I don't know if that's what they're going to choose to do. I'd say $5 a month is reasonable, though."
Pachter is watching for people to switch consoles if one "side" starts charging and the other remains free. "What will be interesting is to see if it spurs PS3 sales when people switch over," Pachter said.
So what do you guys think? Would you be willing to pay extra for Call of Duty content? Or would you feel more like you're being nickled and dimed to death if you have to pay for both Xbox Live and for Call of Duty?
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cardinalsfan1122
i don't think activision is that stupid I think they may introduce a new online only Call of Duty that you pay to play but the game itself cost nothing, like some MMO's out now. But if you buy the full game on PC or console like we have it will be a single player and multiplayer experience for only the price of the disk.
Gyrorobo
And thus begins the "fall" of duty...
Chipsthe1st
ITS OVER FOR COD!!! Black Ops IS the last of the best. I promise that.
That, or everyone flocks back to Mw2 while it's still free.
I swear, if this is the case, sales are done. I knew Failvision was gonna focus on CoD from here on out, but this is really a bombshell. But if I see ANY thing getting the official monthly price tag, it will be the Ps3 gamers.
And don't start with thumbs down. I'm also a Ps3 gamer. Any way it goes, though, I'm pretty much through with Fall of Poo.
Chipsthe1st
ITS OVER FOR COD!!! Black Ops IS the last of the best. I promise that.
That, or everyone flocks back to Mw2 while it's still free.
I swear, if this is the case, sales are done. I knew Failvision was gonna focus on CoD from here on out, but this is really a bombshell. But if I see ANY thing getting the official monthly price tag, it will be the Ps3 gamers.
And don't start with thumbs down. I'm also a Ps3 gamer. Any way it goes, though, I'm pretty much through with Fall of Poo.
silver6kraid
And so begins the fall of Duty. I knew this day would come, and trust me, when people have to pay for Call of Duty, it will be the end of it. Not immediately, but eventually people will find something better to play that won't charge them. Activision once again proves that they are more than willing to milk a franchise for all it is worth, then destroy it when it stops making money for them.
DeadSet281
WOW, I know im not buying this crap
Victory1140
Charging for multiplayer? Count me out, Are they trying to turn this into World of Call of Duty? I think Activision has enough of my money. The only way I would even CONSIDER it is if the map packs were free. Knowing Activision though, there is no way that is going to happen.
Aerindel_Prime
LOL, thats what I say.
EVA zero
I would feel "nickled and dimed"! If this is correct, I wouldn't play the next CoD. I actually still enjoy the series, and I was looking forward to Modern Warfare 3.
xbigxdavex
that will be the fall of duty. someone elses game will take the top spot then. mark my words.
gibcell
yeah im not paying for that
Muscley_Arms
id feel nickel and dimed cuz their already getting $15 for just 4 maps, five if they include a zombie map like BO does MW3 on the other hand prob wont have anything worth while like that, seems pointless to me. what ever makes them happy tho. personally thatll give me even more reason to stop playing call of duty.
Bifflet
haha that sucks a lot.
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