Any discussion on the possibility of monetising Call of Duty's online multiplayer component has typically met with a collective wail of indignation from fans and detractors alike. It's not hard to see why – the thought of paying for something that has previously been available for free is hardly anything to get excited about.
Activision, therefore, was at great pains last week in its pre-E3 reveal to stress that Call of Duty Elite takes nothing away from the free-to-play component currently enjoyed by millions of gamers worldwide.
Essentially, Elite is a worldwide hub designed to allow matchmaking and statistics comparisons with the entire Call of Duty Black Ops and Modern Warfare 3 install base. Players will have the ability to review extensive post-match information, compare weapon statistics, receive tactical video tutorials, compete in competitions to win prizes, and create their own in-game video collections. Elite will be widely accessible on a number of platforms: web browsers, game consoles, within the game interface itself, and even mobile devices.