In a Q&A with Activision social media manager Dan Amrich, Beachhead Studio Head Chacko Sonny cites data security as the reason for the delay. Without a central server hub to store statistics, many of Elite’s competition features will become unfair, he says. Beachhead Studio, a division of Activision Blizzard, is in charge of creating Call of Duty Elite and has been working on it for two years.
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Call of Duty Elite is a new online service designed to enhance the franchises’ multiplayer experience through stat tracking, organized tournaments, additional game content and more. Some of its features will be free of charge, while others will be offered through a premium membership. PC users, though, will be able to use the service for no cost once it launches. “Elite for PC will be about access to your own stats, or those of your friends. Basically establishing a circle of trust,” said Beachhead Studios’ Product Director Noah Heller. “And because it will have some reduced functionality, it will be free for everyone.”