Today's Activision Blizzard first quarter 2011 financial results call came and went without specific mention of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, but talk surrounding Beachheads buzzword-powered online digital platform indicates it will play a strong role in the next Call of Duty game.
Earlier this year Activision revealed that a new internal studio called Beachhead was working on an integrated online platform for the Call of Duty franchise, providing a "best in class online community" with services that would "supercharge the series like never before".
In today's call, Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg and Activision CEO Bobby Kotick used more of the same language in describing the new platform. They spoke of console integrating, connectivity, and exclusive content. They even talked monetization.
"We haven't released the details of the business model for Beachhead," said Hirshberg. "It is the response to the passion people have for the game, the amount that people want to engage one another in a connected way. We want to create an experience that was amplifying enough... to be able to be monetized."
Kotick followed up the monetization by stressing there would also be "A lot of new capabilities and services provided free of charge to our customers."
As for when we'll get to see this elusive Beachhead platform in action, Hirshberg said it would be "an integral part to the innovation signature of the Call of Duty game this year."
The Call of Duty game this year? Why must we dance this dance? We all know it's coming. Out with it, already!