Activision’s Eric Hirshberg bets that 40M Call of Duty fans will follow him to Xbox One (interview)

VB - Eric Hirshberg, the head of Activision Publishing, is sitting pretty with a Call of Duty franchise that generates $1 billion every year and has a loyal audience of 40 million. Yet he plans to take a big risk with a big bet. The company skipped the expected plan of making Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and decided to create a brand new version of the game dubbed Call of Duty: Ghosts. That game will debut on a number of platforms, including Microsoft’s just-announced Xbox One. The title, which will be out on Nov. 5, will feature exclusive downloadable content from Microsoft.

[Jek_Porkins]

Not gonna lie, the thought of playing COD on Xbox Lives dedicated servers had me happy, so happy I pre-ordered for the Xbox One, I love getting posters!

[Mr_Nuts]

Lets face it, you would of pre ordered a Xbox One even if they didn't offer COD and dedicated servers. Hope you enjoy your free poster :)

[TKCMuzzer]

Brilliant, dedicated servers, no more head shots from shooting people in the leg, no more quick scoping crap, no more over use aim assist, no more long range shotguns, no more split screening crap, no more shooting through 20 walls with a silencer attached, no more idiots boosting, no more throwing C4 200yds and so on. Dedicated servers or not, it wont make up for crap code and hold your hand game play.
If their going to change COD, they need to do it properly and make it....... what's the word......oh yeah skilful. Want people to use the sniper rifle, make them have to AIM with it............

Sorry, moan over....

This happened to me the other night, I'm the one supposedly getting shot....what a crock.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[JC_Denton]

You are everything that is wrong with America if you aren't trolling.

[Riderz1337]

You love getting posters for pre ordering a game? Your ass must be numb cause Activision just screwed you.

[Nocando]

where can you pre order?

[GraveLord]

There is no confirmation all games will use dedicated servers. It is likely only exclusives will use them.

[Jek_Porkins]

Nope, the Wired article goes in depth with Microsoft, they were there during the build process.

http://www.wired.com/gadget...

https://twitter.com/JamesSt...

What did you think 300,000 servers were for? I mean obviously other things as well. I'm actually surprised there isn't more media of this since it's such a game changer.

This should put to rest all the "Xbox Live is a ripoff" talk, don't ya think? :)

[DARK WITNESS]

playing on Dedicated servers is not a 100% guarantee that you will not get lag.

One of Cods biggest problems at the moment is it's network code. You can play it on lan and you will still get the same crap going on.

infact even if you watch some of the tournaments where they are playing on lan you can see issues with dying round corners, instakill etc so it's not as simple as servers will solve all our problems.

They may help, I would love it to be so, but I would not hold my breath on it.

[v0rt3x]

This is exactly the kind of thing gamers need to disprove.

[tuglu_pati]

its very sad but its the truth.

[BitbyDeath]

Most will likely just buy it on PS3 and 360.
They are casuals afterall.

[dedicatedtogamers]

I understand that there is a reputation that Call of Doggy only sells on the Xbox brand (probably because Microsoft pays for all the CoD commercials) but the numbers are only 60/40 in Microsoft's favor.

For this entire generation each CoD has sold about 10-12 million on PS3 and 12-15 million on 360.

[Jek_Porkins]

Yes, but what is $60x4 million? I think early content and dedicated servers might sway even more people who play COD to buy it on the Box. I know the number one complaint I have with COD games is the lag and crappy user based hosts.

[dedicatedtogamers]

I don't understand the question. Surely you mean "what is $60x10-12 million", right?

[Jek_Porkins]

No, you stated that the Xbox 360 versions of COD sell between 3-4 million more than the PS3 versions so it wasn't as big a gap. I stated that $60 x 4 million is worth it to Microsoft to keep the content exclusive, and now with dedicated servers on all Xbox games on Xbox One, it's going to probably push even more gamer's to the Xbox version.

[Ju]

BS. It'll sell on both consoles - but it probably won't sell consoles. I rather think performance will be the deciding factor - an we'll see which one is the smoother experience. And the gap with the latest installment is hardly what people want to make us believe - in fact it sold more on PS3 in the European markets. I'd think it's rather balanced. No matter what. With the new consoles we are getting a new deck of cards. And with it a low install base to begin with. We can jerk of @ the 1000s vs Millions it will sell on current gen by end of the year, then.

[Mr_Nuts]

They will follow, untill they realize what the hell they've done, slowly understand whats going on after they've bought it and then they'll either put up with it or if their friends do it aswell (we know how COD works as a social trend) will all move onto the PS4 to play it

If COD players move, Activision will and if Microsoft loose Activision and COD, well, game over man, game over.

[younglj01]

And their contact expires in 2015? I think?

Edit:If CoD:Ghost on Xbox One don't have the same affect as the 360 had on the CoD franchise last gen I will be surprise if they renew the contract thats all I'm saying.

[Jek_Porkins]

Contract was supposed to expire in 2012, looks like they resigned it!

[rainslacker]

They'll find out when they go to trade in the previous years copy for the next years copy and are told they can't. Then it will really hit them that they actually have to pay $60 for a COD game. Wonder if it will be as popular then.

[josephayal]

count on me

[KillrateOmega]

I really don't like admitting it, but he'll more than likely win this bet.

Because as much as the Xbox One may blow from a core gamer standpoint, it'll still be bought by casuals and loyal fanboys who are more than likely in love with CoD considering the demographic that CoD appeals to the most. And God knows that there is more of those guys than you can shake a stick at.

[YNWA96]

This is what Microsoft knows.

[kma2k]

Am i the only one who plays COD games for the campaign but has absolutely zero interest in the multiplayer part of the game?

[Double_O_Revan]

You know what? If all the Dudemanbros do migrate to play nothing but CoD, Madden & Gears, then the PS4 will actually be a peaceful place.

[DivineAssault]

even if i liked COD i wouldnt want that thing.. If PS4 ends up being cheaper too, its over cuz that kinect & all that other stuff most ppl wont use might be costy

[solar]

i hope so, stay away from the PC.

[BlackPhillip666]

Ah no i`am not and hopefully nobody else will either.You should never think any thing is for certain Eric Hirshberg
although to this point given the way all the sheep have followed on other cod games i suppose i can see why you are so forward in you`re thinking.

[Bonerboy]

Good christ man, I am so damned sick and tired of Call of Duty and MS slopping around naked together in a kiddie pool of KY. I'm ready to jam a pencil through my eye socket. Every CoD game case should be packed full of Zyklon B or cyanide gas pellets, anything, just so we can get rid of these "special slack-jawed, knuckle-dragging gamers" once and for all and be able to move on to something worthwhile. Pleeeeze oh if there is a god, please!

[BLow]

Ahhh, last time I checked the CoD franchise has sold over 1.5 to 2 million more on the 360. If this guys thinks that almost half of CoD players are going to jump ship then he's smoking some good shit. With all the crap that MS is trying to do, that number could change very easily. If Sony follows suit with all this crap(I really hope not), then next gen is going to be terrible for a lot of people. Lets "wait till E3"...hahaha.

Like I said before, whatever console that does this Always-on bullshit is a no buy from me. Why am I going to buy a product if I don't agree to what they are doing. By me giving them my money, that's like saying that what your doing is fine. Be smart with your wallets people and the companies will follow.

Yes, I know that this is the way that things are headed but this is not the right time for an ALWAYS-ON console. I'm sorry. People have to think outside "THE BUBBLE" and realize that everyone doesn't have, can afford, or have access to high speed internet. And just saying fuck it to the millions that don't is pretty messed up in my eyes. Just a thought....

[ceballos77mx]

If they want that many COD fans on Xbone they shouldn't release it on 360 or ps3 I doubt most of those fans will buy a console for that, and I really doubt most parents will shell 400-500 dls plus game to their kids if its not a holiday.