The pre-release of Activision's "innovative new digital community platform, built expressly for the 30-million strong Call of Duty fanbase" has begun.



So far, over 2.8 million Call of Duty gamers have already registered to participate in the beta test. According to the firm, the beta will be activated in "phases for feature testing, with limited invitations rolling out in the coming weeks."


"Call of Duty Elite is all about connecting our amazing fans around the globe in ways never before possible and we are excited to get their feedback so they can help us further develop, tune and test the service, as we head into our launch in November with Modern Warfare 3," says Chacko Sonny, Studio Head, Beachhead Studio. "A public beta with the massive Call of Duty community is the best way to generate the scale we need for end-to-end testing. While Call of Duty Elite will continue to evolve post-launch, we want to deliver the most polished, complete and rigorously tested service possible on day one. We're looking to get as many participants in the beta as possible, so we ask that fans stay patient as we ramp up in the coming weeks."


Announced earlier this year, Call of Duty Elite is designed in three key ways:


Connect: Call of Duty Elite gives players unprecedented control over their multiplayer experience. This is a true social gaming platform. Players can compete against friends, gamers of similar skill levels or interests, join groups and clans, and play in organized competitions. They can also track the performance, progress and activity of their personal network, both in the game itself as well as via custom mobile apps for iPhone, iPad and Android smart phones, tablets and on the web.
Compete: Call of Duty Elite hosts events and competitions for players of all skill levels on a regular basis; both in-game and real-world prizes will be awarded across the Call of Duty Elite player roster when the service goes live on November 8th.
Improve: Call of Duty Elite is ground zero for anyone who wants to improve their in-game skills. It dynamically tracks player statistics and performance down to the finest detail. It can show gamers how they compare to their friends or other players community-wide. The user-friendly tools and data will give gamers the insights they need to up their kill/death ratio in no time.


The beta trial will test select features and functionality of the community platform, including stat tracking, the use of custom player groups, competitive events and video sharing. It is now available on Xbox 360 and Xbox Live through Call of Duty: Black Ops.