Infinite Warfare

Infinite Warfare. It is a first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision, released worldwide in November 2016. The game is a primary entry in the long-running Call of Duty series, marking a significant shift in setting by moving the franchise's combat into a futuristic, interplanetary theater of war. Its narrative follows Nick Reyes, a pilot turned commander, as he leads a ragtag fleet against a hostile, militaristic settlement faction known as the Settlement Defense Front.

Gameplay

The core gameplay retains the fast-paced, kinetic feel characteristic of the Call of Duty franchise while introducing new mechanics suited to its science fiction setting. The single-player campaign features extensive space combat sequences, where players pilot the Jackal, a versatile fighter craft, in dogfights and assault missions against capital ships like the SDF Olympus Mons. On-foot combat is enhanced by a variety of futuristic loadouts, directed energy weapons, and advanced exoskeleton suits that allow for limited zero-gravity movement and the use of a grappling hook. The multiplayer mode builds upon the movement systems from Call of Duty: Black Ops III, featuring specialist characters with unique payload abilities, and is set across a variety of futuristic maps. A separate cooperative zombies mode, set in a 1980s-themed amusement park, offers a lighthearted contrast with its own unique power-up systems and cast of characters voiced by celebrities like Seth Green and Jay Pharoah.

Plot

The story is set in a future where Earth's resources are depleted, and humanity has established off-world colonies across the Solar System. The narrative begins with a devastating surprise attack on United Nations Space Alliance forces by the Settlement Defense Front, a brutal separatist military force from the colonies of Saturn and Jupiter led by the fanatical Admiral Salen Kotch. The player assumes the role of Captain Nick Reyes, a Tier 1 Special Operations pilot of the UNSA, who is forced to assume command of the warship Retribution following the death of its commanding officer. With a crew that includes his mentor Commander Omar and robotic assistant Ethan, Reyes leads a desperate campaign across locations like Geneva, the Moon, and the asteroid Vesta, aiming to dismantle the SDF's operations and confront Admiral Kotch at his stronghold on Venus. The plot explores themes of sacrifice and duty, culminating in a final assault on the SDF's flagship near Saturn.

Development

Development was led by Infinity Ward, with significant support from Raven Software for the zombies mode and Certain Affinity for multiplayer maps. The project was directed by Jacob Minkoff, who sought to create a cohesive, cinematic single-player experience inspired by classic war films and the vast scale of conflicts like those depicted in The Battle of Midway. The team utilized a heavily modified version of the IW engine to render large-scale space battles and intricate spacecraft interiors. Key creative influences included the works of science fiction authors and the visual language of real-world NASA programs, aiming for a grounded, "boots-on-the-deck" feel rather than pure fantasy. The score was composed by Sarah Schachner, who blended orchestral elements with synthetic sounds to match the game's tone.

Release

The game was officially announced in May 2016, with its reveal trailer premiering during a live event for Call of Duty: Black Ops III. It was released globally on November 4, 2016, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. Special editions, including the Legacy Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition, bundled the game with a remastered version of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. A closed beta test for the multiplayer component was held on PlayStation 4 in October 2016 before a wider open beta. The launch was accompanied by extensive marketing campaigns, including partnerships with Sony Interactive Entertainment for console exclusivity periods on DLC map packs.

Reception

Upon release, the game received a mixed to positive critical reception. Reviewers praised the ambitious single-player campaign, with particular acclaim for its space combat, the character of the robot Ethan, and the emotional weight of its narrative, with comparisons drawn to properties like Battlestar Galactica. The zombies mode was also widely commended for its creative setting and humor. However, the multiplayer component was often criticized for feeling iterative and failing to significantly innovate beyond the systems established in Call of Duty: Black Ops III. The game faced notable fan backlash prior to release, primarily directed at its futuristic setting, which was seen by some as a departure from the series' roots. Despite this, it was a commercial success, topping sales charts in regions like the United Kingdom and North America at launch, though some analysts noted it underperformed relative to previous entries in the franchise.

Category:Call of Duty games Category:2016 video games