We're looking for new writers to join us!

Content Collection 1 hits today

by: Nathaniel -
More On: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Content Collection 1 finally drops today on the Xbox 360.

In case you still don't know what Content Collection 1 contains, here's the breakdown:
 
  • Black Ice: This Special Ops mission plunges combatants deep into a frozen diamond mine via snowmobile in order to infiltrate a secret weapons plant and initiate the self-destruct sequence to take the facility offline for good.
  • Negotiator: India is the backdrop for a Special Ops hostage extraction, where gamers must execute flawless breach-and-clears and negotiate a maze of surface streets to ensure the safety of rescued civilians.
  • Liberation: Players take up positions in a militarized Central Park in the heart of NYC, a sprawling deathscape ripe for long-range sniper and LMG kills.
  • Piazza: An idyllic seaside village, an Italian getaway gone rogue, where blind corners and a complex warren of branching pathways pose danger at every turn.
  • Overwatch: A compact, sky-high battle arena set in a construction site atop a New York City office tower.
  • Black Box: Players seek tactical advantage in multi-level hillside homes overlooking a downed Air Force One, as a luxe SoCal neighborhood turns into a warzone.
That's four new multiplayer maps and two new Special Ops Mission.  And to make the release of Content Collection 1 even more memorable, NFL stars Ahmad Bradshaw of the Giants and Rob Gronkowski of the Patriots will face off, not on the gridiron, but on the virtual battlefield.  Each will captain a team made up of development studio members, online personalities, and fans in the ultimate battle for bragging rights.  You'll be able to review highlights right here.

Download it right now for 1,200 Microsoft Points ($14.99).  You don't have to be a premium member.  There's no word, other than "at a later date, on when Content Collection 1 will be available on other platforms.
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CALL OF DUTY®: MODERN WARFARE® LAUNCHES
A DLC BUNKER-BUSTER - LARGEST CONTENT COLLECTION
IN CALL OF DUTY® HISTORY DROPS TODAY ON XBOX LIVE®

Delivering On The "Not Just Maps Anymore" Promise Made Last Fall At Call Of Duty® XP, Content Collection #1 Offers Two New White-Knuckle Special Ops Missions In Addition To Four New, High-Octane Multiplayer Maps

Massive DLC Release Featuring Wide-Array Of Six Pieces Of Playable Content Delivers Great Value To Gamers With Most Content Ever For Call Of Duty

Football Superstars Ahmad Bradshaw And Rob Gronkowski Take Point In A Celebrity Call Of Duty Grudge Match To Kick-Off Groundbreaking Content Launch

Santa Monica, CA- March 20, 2012 - Hailed as "exhilarating" and a "standout" upon their debut days ago to Call of Duty® Elite Premium members, the new Special Ops Missions "Black Ice" and "Negotiator" are now poised for play for all Call of Duty® fans on Xbox LIVE® everywhere as they lead the biggest and deepest content offering in Call of Duty history with today's release of the Modern Warfare® 3 Collection Content #1. The content rich collection features the two new epic Special Ops missions and four new, adrenaline-fueled multiplayer maps, including "Black Box," already heralded in the media as "ingenious" and "awesome."

Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), announced today the availability of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Content Collection #1, the largest and most eagerly anticipated DLC release in franchise history. Fans of the world's most popular FPS were promised a wider variety of content at last fall's inaugural Call of Duty® XP fan celebration, and Content Collection #1 delivers. For the first time ever, two intense Special Ops missions, "Black Ice" and "Negotiator," are riding shotgun alongside four new multiplayer maps-Liberation, Piazza, Overwatch and Black Box. Collection #1 is available first on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 1,200 Microsoft Points, or $14.99. The Collection is open to all; a premium Call of Duty® Elite membership is not required. The DLC pack will be rolled out to other platforms at a later date.

"Call of Duty® MW3 Content Collection #1 is the biggest DLC pack ever for Call of Duty," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. "We're serious about delivering the best value to our fans and just as we promised last year, it's not just maps anymore. With six pieces of playable content, that's more content and bigger variety than we've ever been able to include before in a Call of Duty DLC for the same price."

Content Collection #1 sets the bar for variety, value and fan-service in the FPS DLC marketplace, featuring six fully-fledged Call of Duty experiences. The full loadout includes:
  • Black Ice: This Special Ops mission plunges combatants deep into a frozen diamond mine via snowmobile in order to infiltrate a secret weapons plant and initiate the self-destruct sequence to take the facility offline for good.
  • Negotiator: India is the backdrop for a Special Ops hostage extraction, where gamers must execute flawless breach-and-clears and negotiate a maze of surface streets to ensure the safety of rescued civilians.
  • Liberation: Players take up positions in a militarized Central Park in the heart of NYC, a sprawling deathscape ripe for long-range sniper and LMG kills.
  • Piazza: An idyllic seaside village, an Italian getaway gone rogue, where blind corners and a complex warren of branching pathways pose danger at every turn.
  • Overwatch: A compact, sky-high battle arena set in a construction site atop a New York City office tower.
  • Black Box: Players seek tactical advantage in multi-level hillside homes overlooking a downed Air Force One, as a luxe SoCal neighborhood turns into a warzone.
To celebrate the launch of Content Collection #1, Activision will be pitting football superstars Ahmad Bradshaw of the World Champion New York Giants and Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots against each other in a Grudge Match for ultimate bragging rights. Bradshaw and Gronkowski will captain teams featuring development studio members, online personalities and Modern Warfare 3 fans in an intense head-to-head battle. Gamers can review Grudge Match highlights on the Modern Warfare 3 Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/MW3.

Modern Warfare 3 Content Collection #1 is published by Activision and co-developed by Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is rated "M" (Mature) by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence and Strong Language. For more information on the Call of Duty: MW3 content drops, season of content, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Call of Duty Elite visit http://www.callofduty.com/mw3 and www.callofduty.com/elite.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Blizzard's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements under the heading "Company Outlook," are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.   Activision Blizzard generally uses words such as "outlook,""will," "could," "should," "would," "might," "to be," "plans," "believes," "may," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "estimate," "future," "plan," "positioned," "potential," "project," "remain," "scheduled," "set to," "subject to," "upcoming" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause Activision Blizzard's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, but are not limited to, sales levels of Activision Blizzard's titles, increasing concentration of titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the impact of the current macroeconomic environment and market conditions within the video game industry, Activision Blizzard's ability to predict consumer preferences, including interest in specific genres such as first-person action and massively multiplayer online games and preferences among competing hardware platforms, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, changing business models including digital and used games, competition, including from used games and other forms of entertainment, possible declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, adoption rate and availability of new hardware (including peripherals) and related software, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, litigation risks and associated costs, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, licensees, licensors, vendors, and third-party developers, including the ability to attract, retain and develop key personnel and developers that can create high quality "hit" titles, counterparty risks relating to customers, licensees, licensors and manufacturers, domestic and international economic, financial and political conditions and policies, foreign exchange rates and tax rates, and the identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities and potential challenges associated with geographic expansion, and the other factors identified in the risk factors section of Activision Blizzard's most recent annual report on Form 10-K.   The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and Activision Blizzard assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Although these forward-looking statements are believed to be true when made, they may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

# # #


ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY and MODERN WARFARE are registered trademarks and CALL OF DUTY MW3 is a trademark of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.

Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.