"You'll never have to pay to play COD"

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 20 July, 2010

Promises Activision.

The combined forces of publisher Activision and developers Infinity Ward and Treyarch have told gamers that they will never have to pay extra to play Call of Duty online.

Statements from all three parties were released yesterday following the appearance of a video that suggested a "membership" was required to play Call of Duty on Xbox Live.

Activision's Dan Amrich called the contents of the video a "glitch".

"Since you can access a Live subscription renewal from within the Modern Warfare 2 game interface, it appears some data got jammed between two parts of Live. It's not a secret portal to some nefarious plot to charge people for COD multiplayer - and there are no plans to do that," he wrote on his blog.

Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling said on Twitter: "For the record, nobody has to pay to play COD or MW2 multiplayer, nor will they."

Bowling added on his blog: "To be clear: There is not, and will never be, additional fees required to subscribe and play Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer. The video above seems to show a user on what appears to be the Xbox Live Gold Membership renewal page via the Marketplace in the guide, but while in-game in Modern Warfare 2 (which is in error). It does not however, prove a pay-to-play subscription model is in the works for Modern Warfare 2, because no such plan exists for this or any other Call of Duty (including the upcoming Black Ops).

"That said, feel free to cease freaking out."

Treyarch's Josh Olin weighed in, again on Twitter: "No, you will not have to 'Pay to Play' #CODBlackOps Multiplayer either. Rumour -> Squashed."

And finally, this statement to IGN from Activision: "Reports of a subscription membership in Modern Warfare 2 are not true. Activision has no plans to charge gamers to play Call of Duty multiplayer."

The debunked video followed a prediction from analyst Michael Pachter that Activision will charge gamers to play Call of Duty online by the end of the year.

Indeed only last month Activision CEO Bobby Kotick said that if he could do one thing, he would make Call of Duty "an online subscription service" as soon as tomorrow.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (51) Latest comment 6 months ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • saintedd #1 2 years ago

    Never trust Activision, they will do anything to rip us off.

  • rayscoota #2 2 years ago

    So all's fine till next week then?

  • Stifler #3 2 years ago

    "To be clear: There is not, and will never be, additional fees required to subscribe and play Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer"

    Aha!, but what about newer titles ;) I'm a little past caring now, I haven't even booted it up since BFBC2 tbh so even if they do charge it makes no difference to me as I won't be playing.

  • levitate #4 2 years ago

    Activision is the devil. Sadly, there not's a crucifix big enough to drive them away.

  • Fab4 #5 2 years ago

    So, a renaming of CoD is on the cards then? ;)

  • wizlon #6 2 years ago

    You'll never have to pay to play... until we decide you have to.

  • wayne040576 #7 2 years ago

    But I wanted to pay :(

  • canoot #8 2 years ago

    "we have no plans to raise vat" oops.

  • sonicyoda #9 2 years ago

    I didn't think everyone was reacting to the video. I thought the reaction was to what Bobby said. However, it was nice to see all three parties cover his cock-up without even mentioning him.

    Activision's new slogan should be 'Ohhhh come ooooon! We're still good! David Crane made Pitfall, remember?'
    Edited by 1 at 20/07/10 @ 08:48

  • NewbieZilla #10 2 years ago

    Renaming the article on the agenda? It represents what the story is on about. Not very well, though.

  • Pwnsweet #11 2 years ago

    never huh? we'll see...

  • PYF #12 2 years ago

    All this hubris should prove to Activision that despite what the head honcho might believe, NOBODY wants to pay a subscription to play COD online.

    Seriously, when he said people were gagging for a subs-based COD, I coulda slapped him.

    Really, I coulda.

  • beastmaster #13 2 years ago

    Of course Activision want people to pay. All this shit is to do with releasing a statement of intent and seeing what the reaction is & if they could get away with it.

    Now they know.
    Edited by 1 at 20/07/10 @ 08:56

  • solidSnake04 #14 2 years ago

    hmm by the looks of it Bobby is gonna fire the few IW survivors plus Treyarch as a bonus. Thats clearly insubordination right ?

  • Doctor_What #15 2 years ago

    Does this mean we could also say 'Play-to-play confirmed for Modern Warfare 3'?

  • TeaFiend #16 2 years ago

    Close reading says for COD or MW2. What about future ones?

  • Lotos8ter #17 2 years ago

    Seems to be a very mixed message and "no plans" does NOT mean "won't happen"
    My gut feeling is that Black Ops or that new studios' COD game will have a subscription based part of online play - probably starting slowly with online tournaments, pay to play for prizes. Then we'll see it drip down until you have to pay for anything but a basic deathmatch or something.

  • ZuluHero #18 2 years ago

    Maybe Activision's board of directors should keep a tighter rein on their CEO's mouth then...

  • iamian #19 2 years ago

    because no such plan exists

    No such plans. Discussions, some ideas, a couple of focus groups, a PR and marketing strategy team - sure. But no plans.

  • itsfuzzy #20 2 years ago

    Like most people have picked up, the devil is in the detail

    "To be clear: There is not, and will never be, additional fees required to subscribe and play Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer"

    So they are most likely planning on a pay to play for future games. These people seem like snakes, they think they can play on words and fool people.

  • rudedudejude #21 2 years ago

    haha love the panic and complaining from peeps from media scare stories, it's almost like the daily mail readers.

    WTF THEY WANT TO CHARGE TO PLAY AND MUSLIMS GET A DISCOUNT BAN THIS SICK FILTH.

  • paulf #22 2 years ago

    but you will for black ops

  • Sanxo #23 2 years ago

    Lies and misdirection. The cat is out of the bag now - they will have a sub for new titles. It's up to the poor sodding consumer to give them a clear signal that this is not acceptable.

    Oh wait, that didn't work last time did it?

  • carlitoswagon #24 2 years ago

    x million people paying for game, special edition, special special edition with free rambo headband, dlc maps, old cod4 maps.....

    People are paying already.

  • geeza2020 #25 2 years ago

    More corporate lies and bullshit coming out of activision. It must be another day in the life of a gamer!

  • chrisjm #26 2 years ago

    'so our subscription idea was disliked, lets raise the RRP to £69.99!'

  • Spunkweazle #27 2 years ago

    does this mean i can get my money back for the "Map Packs" i had to buy so i could get a game

  • t8yman #28 2 years ago

    I can see them having a "veterans club" where you pay for membership, and get the map packs well early, and also beta test new maps etc. or they will in some way hobble the MP game for non vet members - removing gametypes etc.

    Something like $5 a month, which doesnt sound much when you say it quickly, but it all adds up...

  • JBlokeUK #29 2 years ago

    Still very happy with my copy of Modern Warfare 2 currently on ebay...

  • SilverInfinity #30 2 years ago

    Activision nothing you say has any substance any more...where would you be without the "older" generation who purchased Pitfall and all the other games for the Atari 2600.

    Hmmm they can't charge me for playing that!

  • irve77 #31 2 years ago

    so MW2 will not be charged .. MW3 however ....

  • metalangel #32 2 years ago

    So long as people have to pay a Live sub you haven't a hope in hell of getting them to pay even more just for one game.

    Activision and EA think they're special cases. Activision wants subs for each game, EA wants 'online passes' and the right to switch off servers (thus rendering the game unplayable) whenever they like. Fuck the both of them.

  • Amblin #33 2 years ago

    rofl. There will be no requirement to pay to play MW2 or CoD. mmm well that doesn't go as far as saying you won't pay for MW3 etc.

    Pointless statment clouding the reality that in the not to distant future Acti blizz will monetize the online side of their games using the realid platform as a base. It would be good competition for the likes of steam etc.

    Watch this space folks, wont be long now. 1-2 years tops and you'll all be paying for xbox live and a sub to actiblizz.

    This isn't neccessarily an issue if there's real additional features worth paying for....

    Edited by 1 at 20/07/10 @ 10:27

  • Andreas2402 #34 2 years ago

    Oh yeah, and Bobby Kotick is someone who "loves" videogames, right Activision? And Russia is smaller than Scotland..

  • davisorle #35 2 years ago

    "That said, feel free to cease freaking out."

    Lots of style and experienced, responsible man to clear things up for a company. If I were a Kamikazee or however the heck u spell that :p id vote for u just to track and bomb u easier :) Yes I mean you should keep ur mouth shut and let someone that knows how to respond to crowds, audience and consumers. Just my 2 cents.

    Well anyhow. I still am not liking activision as much as I enjoy a couple of their recent games. Thank Kotick for it.

  • Dylbot #36 2 years ago

    But I was clamouring and everything.

  • SilentNinja92 #37 2 years ago

    Not suprising. I mean no other shooters on consoles have done it it'd ruin the game.

    Maybe one day a sybscription service for an online only OD game will exist. But it'll have to be something worth it like constant updates, challenges, clan support etc.

  • Lionheart #38 2 years ago

    How arrogant are these people. If people had to pay for COD they wouldn't play...simple.

  • Andreas2402 #39 2 years ago

    I play one hour of Call of Duty per month and YOU pay ME 15 bucks. Because, you know, I have xbox live and 60 per cent of all games exist only because of me. Oh wait.. I realized it's nonsense, don't pay me *cough*
    Edited by 1 at 20/07/10 @ 11:28

  • sjmlondon #40 2 years ago

    Doesn't it conflict with exactly why we pay for Xbox Live?
    Can't see Microsoft being over the moon about this.

    Paying Activision additional subs to play COD online. F off!
    Edited by 1 at 20/07/10 @ 11:50

  • t8yman #41 2 years ago

    I'm amazed that so many people are convinced that people won't pay. they will.

    the extortionate map packs didnt exactly struggle with sales did they?

    as distasteful as we all find the concept - we all know they will do it, and we all know people will pay.

  • LondonSquare82 #42 2 years ago

    Given that CoD: Black Ops is in Development and due out this year I doubt you'll have to pay to play online for this version. It's the next one that worries me... and the (inevitable) ones after that.

    Or they'll perhaps move to a micro-transaction model where you go to a virtual shop in the game and a character who looks a bit like Bobby Kotick makes you pay £1 for every clip of ammo you use. You want grenades? That'll be £5 please.

  • Alf-Life #43 2 years ago

    Just been playing Alien Swarm on Steam. For free. FREE!

    :)

  • Fab4 #44 2 years ago

    They probably won't dress it up as 'paying to play'. Like most gangsters they'll say you are paying them to stop others from stopping you playing...for your own protection ;)

  • evilrobot #45 2 years ago

    "You'll never have to pay to play COD"....................Yeah i know i won't, because i'm not buying anymore of your shit. Charge away.

  • VibratingDonkey #46 2 years ago

    Kotick has talked about it for some time now, so it will happen eventually.

    What I would take from these PR statements is confirmation that rather than remove access to what people have come to expect (that'll come later, once enough people are hooked), the subscription will pay for a service on top of what already exists. More advanced stat tracking, character models, skins, taunts, callsigns, icons, ability to rank up higher, upload short replays/screenshots, whatever, early access/discounts on map packs etc. That type of stuff.

  • afghan_jones #47 2 years ago

    Whats the betting that Acti's 10 year contract with Bungie for a new IP will be a subs based FPS MMO lite with social networking and pay to play features....

  • DeltaBravoNiner #48 2 years ago

    "You'll never have to pay to play a COD Title!"

    In other news our next Game, Duty Calls - Operation Black is in the pipeline...

  • JensonJet #49 2 years ago

    "You'll never have to pay to play" ...is this an invitation to pirate their game?

    Sadly I don't game on a PC or else I would geniunely and public admit that I will never give Activision any of my money again... well I can sort of say that as I will never buy a game from them new, and would certainly never pay for DLC.

  • Acrid #50 2 years ago

    I knew I wouldn't anyway, how's this news?

  • berkowitzjonathan05 #51 6 months ago

    it is annoying even here, but, as a CoD player, I don't want to pay for play. Jonathan Berkowitz