The main draw of game series like Battlefield and Call of Duty is, without a doubt, the games' multiplayer modes. So, it should come as no surprise that all the big parties like Activision, developer Infinity Ward, and Major League Gaming have announced the the second annual Call of Duty Championships.
The competition will bring in 32 teams from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia to compete in Los Angeles, California at the end of this March. To the winning team goes the lion's share of a cool million dollars.
"Last year's championship came down to the final minute of the final match with everyone holding their breath to see who would win. The skill, passion and energy brought by these teams and the crowd looking-on showed just what makes our community the best in the world," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, in a recent press release. "Call of Duty is more than a video game. It's a pastime shared by millions. It's exciting to play and fun to watch, and we can't wait to see what this year's event has in store."
Team Fariko Impact was the winner of last year's tournament, playing Call of Duty: Black Ops II on the Xbox 360, and winning $400,000 in all.
With a new Call of Duty title and Xbox console out now, things will be a little different. This tournament will be the first competitive CoD event played on the Xbox One in which prize money will be rewarded, and like last year, the whole thing will be streamed on Xbox Live and MLG.tv so everyone can watch.
The good news is that you won't need an Xbox One to qualify. That will be handled through online tournaments played on the Xbox 360. Live regional finals will take place in late February through early March in Australia, the U.K., and the U.S.
Further details on the 2014 Call of Duty Championship including full rules, regulations, maps, modes, prizing, etc. can be found here.
Call of Duty: Ghosts takes place in a near future following an attack from space that leaves Los Angeles virtually wiped out, and the United States' infrastructure devastated. Years later, the country is invaded by a new superpower, a conglomerate of South American nations calling itself the "Federation." What's left of America's special forces have come together to form the titular "Ghosts," and it's up to them to wage guerrilla warfare against the Federation in order to protect what remains of the United States, and drive the Federation out.
Beyond the campaign, the game's multiplayer mode, which promises a slew of different customization options for weapons, character camos, and more. Over 30 new weapons are included alongside old favorites like the UMP45 and the M4A1.
Despite not the best reviews ever for a Call of Duty game, Ghosts was a hit right out of the gate, and it looks like it'll be continuing on that path for the foreseeable future.
