Why Activision won’t miss E3: Call of Duty XP fan event returns September 2

Activision announced today that it will hold its second-ever Call of Duty XP fan event on September 2 and September 3. The event will include the finals for the Call of Duty World League, an esports event with more than $2 million in prizes.

This will be the second time that the company has held a major Call of Duty fan event, and the last one was in 2011. This explains in part why Activision Blizzard dropped its booth at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the big game trade show in Los Angeles next week. XP will clearly cost millions of dollars. You could think of it like the PAX fan event, but all about Call of Duty.

Sony will be a partner on the Call of Duty XP 2016 event, where Activision will offer fans the first hands-on play of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered multiplayer. The multi-day experience will include Call of Duty-themed events such as the franchise’s first VR experience, exhibits, developer panels, and a surprise musical guest. (Kanye West performed in 2011). Tickets go on sale on June 11 at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Prices range from $50 to $200. It will be at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

Activision will also unveil new downloadable content for Call of Duty: Black Ops III at the event. Among the entertaining activities will be Nuketown paintball (this activity was a blast in 2011) and Zombies laser tag — where fans can fight each other in arenas. There will be more than 500 game stations for fans to play.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare launches on November 4.

The festivities will center around something that didn’t happen in 2011: the Call of Duty World League Championship, the culmination of the inaugural season of the Call of Duty World League (CWL). Thirty-two of the top teams worldwide will compete for the $2 million in prizes.

Fans can watch the excitement unfold on the Live Event Viewer in Black Ops III on PlayStation 4, MLG.tv on the web and mobile devices, and at www.callofduty.com.

“Call of Duty XP is going to be the biggest Call of Duty fan celebration in history,” said Eric Hirshberg, the CEO of Activision Publishing, in a statement. “The best Call of Duty players in the world will be front and center trying to win the first Call of Duty World League Championship at what is sure to be our biggest Esports event ever. Plus, fans will be able to see and play more hands-on content and reveals in one place than we’ve ever had, from Infinite Warfare, to Modern Warfare Remastered to Black Ops III DLC. Plus, there will be an off-the-charts list of Call of Duty inspired activities that you can’t experience anywhere else.”

“As a presenting partner of the Call of Duty World League, it’s been exciting to watch these talented teams compete and we’re looking forward to the culmination of the tournament during the Call of Duty Championship. We’re also thrilled to be bringing PlayStation VR to the amazing lineup of event activities, where fans will experience the thrill of piloting their own Jackal fighter jet,” said Adam Boyes, the vice president of publisher relations at Sony Interactive Entertainment America, in a statement. “We’re proud to partner with Activision and Call of Duty on the return of this historic fan celebration and this can’t miss Call of Duty community gathering.”