Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

"Call of Duty®: Infinite Warfare returns to the roots of the franchise with large-scale war and a focus on cinematic, immersive military storytelling. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare will take players on an unforgettable journey as they engage in battles from Earth to beyond our atmosphere against a relentless, enemy faction that threatens our very way of life. It's grand scale war with memorable characters, stunning new environments, and hallmark Call of Duty action. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare delivers something for every Call of Duty fan with three unique game modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies."

- Official Description

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (also known as COD: IW and IW7 internally) is a first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows. Leaked advertisements for the game were initially found in late April 2016, days prior to the official trailer, which was unveiled on May 2nd, 2016. The game was released on November 4th, 2016. Infinite Warfare is the thirteenth game in the Call of Duty franchise and Infinity Ward's first to be developed in a three-year development cycle.

Set just before a devastating attack on earth, you play as Captain Nick Reyes, a Tier 1 Special Operations pilot, as you must lead the remaining coalition forces against a relentless enemy, while trying to overcome the deadly, extreme environments of space.

It is the fourth and latest game in the Modern Warfare timeline, following Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

It is the first Call of Duty game since Call of Duty 2 not to be released on seventh generation consoles. The game, on select bundles known as the Legacy Edition, comes with a remastered verison of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, known as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered.

Overview
Infinite Warfare takes place in a future where Earth's resources have nearly been depleted, forcing governments and businesses to seek them elsewhere in the solar system. While the major powers of the world squabble over control, space trade and travel are governed by the United Nations Space Alliance. At the start of the game, the starship fleets of the world have gathered in Geneva for the annual Fleet Week Parade, a peace initiative sponsored by the Solar Associated Treaty Organization. The event is cut short after a surprise attack by the Settlement Defense Front, a group of off-world insurgents bent on controlling the solar system. A sleeper cell hijacks Earth's planetary defense system and turns it on the parade, annihilating the majority of the UNSA fleet instantly. Simultaneously, a ground attack is made to take out the world's leaders and other attendees.

Players take control of Lieutenant Nick Reyes, who, after repelling the ground attack, is given command of Retribution.

Gameplay
The campaign is divided between core story missions which are progressed through linearly, as well as optional side missions. These missions provide weapons and assets, while also serving as a means to flesh out supporting characters. Three distinct modes of combat feature, and a player may encounter all three within the same mission. The first is standard infantry combat, which composes the bulk of gameplay. The other two are vehicular space combat, and "on foot" zero gravity combat.

The game will not feature co-op play in its campaign, but it will feature a Zombies mode as the co-op gameplay mode.

After completing the campaign on any difficulty, you unlock Specialist mode.

SPECIALIST MODE

This mode is unlocked after beating the game on any difficulty. It is intensely realistic and not for the faint of heart. YOLO MODE
 * You can only heal with Nano Shots, there is no health regeneration in this mode.
 * Helmets are your only protection from headshots. They will take permanent damage and will need to be replaced.
 * Both Nano Shots and helmets take up equipment slots, so remember to equip them in your loadout on the Retribution before each level.
 * Master the lean from behind cover mechanic, which will be critical for your survival. Approach the edge of cover while standing or crouching, and aim down sights when you see a chevron appear on the side of your crosshairs. You will auto-pop from behind cover as you ADS.
 * If you get shot in the legs, it will impact your movement. If you get shot in either arm, it will impact your ability to use equipment or aim down sights. Note: Your weapon can be shot out of your hands.

This mode is unlocked after beating the game on Specialist, and you only live once. If you die, you will start all the way back at the beginning of the entire game.

Plot
In the future, a United Nations Space Alliance special forces team is sent to a secret UNSA weapons research facility on Europa to investigate a attack by the Settlement Defense Front and recover a prototype weapon before initiating the facility's self destruct. The team is able to destroy the facility, but fails to recover the weapon and are captured by the SDF, where they are subsequently executed by one of the SDF's main commanders, Admiral Salen Kotch.

On Earth, Lieutenant Nick Reyes warns Admiral Fredrick Raines that the SDF attack is tantamount to a declaration of war and that the UNSA should be preparing a counterattack. However, Admiral Raines explains that the UNSA's leaders do not want to escalate the situation, especially during the Fleet Week celebrations where the entire UNSA fleet gathers at Geneva. During the celebrations, he links up with his wingman Nora Salter as well as his new robotic subordinate E3N "Ethan". Suddenly, the UNSA's AATIS defense cannons begin to open fire on the UNSA fleet, decimating many ships as an SDF assault force invades Geneva. Reyes manages to fight his way to the AATIS control tower, where he manages to shut down the AATIS cannons and apprehend Akeel Min Riah, the SDF spy responsible for sabotaging them. Reyes then accompanies the surviving UNSA ships into orbit where they destroy the attacking SDF fleet. The SDF's flagship, the Olympus Mons, suddenly arrives and destroys more UNSA ships before it is forced to retreat, leaving only two operational UNSA ships: the carrier Retribution and the destroyer Tigris.

Upon landing on the Retribution, Reyes learns that both the ship's captain and the executive officer were killed in battle, leaving him as the highest ranking officer of the ship and its de facto captain. Admiral Raines promotes Reyes to commander and then tasks him retaking the cargo port on the Moon from the SDF. After successfully liberating the Moon, Reyes is given the mission to delay the SDF for as long as possible until the UNSA can rebuild its fleet. Eventually, Reyes manages to destroy a strategic refueling tower on Titan, crippling the SDF's fuel supply. He is then sent to investigate a disturbance at an asteroid mining station near Mercury, only to find it was a diversion while the SDF destroys the Tigris, leaving the Retribution as the sole remaining UNSA ship. Learning that Riah is carrying a beacon meant to signal the main SDF fleet to invade Earth, Reyes devises a plan to use the beacon to lure the SDF fleet right into the still operational AATIS guns. Unfortunately, the plan goes awry when Riah escapes, destroys the AATIS guns, and kills himself to trigger the beacon. The main SDF arrives and the Olympus Mons destroys UNSA headquarters, killing Admiral Raines.

With no other options, Reyes decides to use the opportunity to board and commandeer the Olympus Mons. He manages to battle his way to the bridge and kill Admiral Kotch. He then has the Olympus Mons travel back to Mars, where he intends to use the ship to destroy the SDF's orbital shipyard and cripple their fleet in return. While the Olympus Mons and Retribution manage to destroy many SDF ships, the Olympus Mons suffers too much damage to use its weapons so Reyes orders it to ram the shipyard. Unfortunately, the Retribution also suffers damage and drifts into Olympus Mons flight path, forcing Reyes to order the ship to divert. Both warships crash onto the surface of Mars with the shipyard still intact.

Realizing that there's no way for them to get back to Earth alive, Reyes rallies the survivors of the Retribution crew and leads them on one final, desperate assault on the shipyard. Most of the surviving crew are killed in the fighting, but Salter manages to commandeer an SDF destroyer. However, its weapons are disabled and the mooring clamps are locked. Ethan sacrifices himself to destroy the moorings while Reyes activates the destroyer's weapons and orders Salter to destroy the station, despite him being on it. Salter reluctantly opens fire, ejecting Reyes into space. His last sight is seeing the SDF shipyard explode before he is killed by flying shrapnel.

Some time later, the UNSA honors Reyes and the Retribution crew's heroic sacrifice, stating that their destruction of the SDF shipyard was a decisive victory. Salter, who is one of the four survivors from the Retribution, passes by a war memorial listing the names of all of the UNSA soldiers who died in the conflict.

During the credits, the posthumous recorded messages of some of the deceased Retribution crew may be heard.

Combat Rigs
Combat Rigs are customizable armor suits designed to enhance and withstand battles on land and in space. Each of the six Combat Rigs available in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare allows you to choose one of three payload abilities and one of three traits.

Payloads are abilities that must be activated during a match. Payloads can offer offensive abilities such as unique weapons, defensive abilities such as armor enhancements, or abilities that are simply functional such speed bursts. Earn score in a match to fill the payload meter. Once the meter is filled, you can activate and use your payload ability.

Traits are mainly passive abilities that do not require activation or a meter to be filled. Traits are similar to Perks in that they offer a variety or abilities or bonuses that can be chosen based on your playstyle or game mode preference. They can also be used to further enhance a particular loadout. For example, if you run with Lethals and Tacticals, you might choose a trait that drops equipment-replenishing ammo boxes after non-explosive kills. The six Combat Rigs are meant to offer to different playstyles.

Warfighter: Combat style:  Mobile mid-range

''Assault rig outfitted for operating in a variety of situations. Its versatility suits most game modes.''

Merc: Combat style:  Heavy infantry

''Focused on heavy defense and suppressive fire to deliver max damage and clear enemy threats. Optimized for direct assault gameplay.''

Synaptic: Combat style:  Close-quarters combat

''C6 remote-operated drone optimized for speed and close-quarters combat. Tailored for a short-ranged, aggressive playstyle.''

FTL: Combat style:  Assassin

''Prototype rig equipped with cutting edge stealth military technology to gain combat advantage in combat. Mobility-based abilities ideal for objective game modes.''

Stryker: Combat style:  Tactical support

''Equipped with gear for enemy suppression and tactical combat support. Especially useful with equipment-based loadouts in game modes with capture points.''

Phantom: Combat style:  Marksman

''Specializes in concealment and long-ranged engagements. Perfect for snipers and stealth-based play styles. ''

Gamemodes
These game modes are divided in-game by 5 separate playlists: Featured, Standard, Hardcore, Special, and Competive.

Infinity Ward plans to update the playlists regularly, taking out certain game modes and putting new ones in frequently. An example of this is them taking out Capture the Flag, and adding in Reinforce. The plan is to put these more, unknown and new game modes in the Featured section to give them attention to player who might have never heard of these game modes before. The full-scale plan is for them to have variety.

The only gamemodes that have yet to be added to the public rotation as of 12/3/2016 are Grind, Search and Rescue, and Drop Zone.

There is a setting for certain game modes in custom games to allow a Cranked timer to appear.

All of the game modes are available in custom games.

Mission Teams
Mission Teams is a new leveling system in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. In Mission Teams, you choose specific team-based missions to complete in Public Multiplayer matches. Complete these missions, and you will earn extra XP toward your Mission Teams rank.

Ranking up each Mission Team will give you rewards from that Mission Team, including Calling Cards, Camos, Emblems, unique Combat Rig customizations, and specific Prototype Weapons that are only available from the team you select.

When you begin playing, only the JTF Wolverines Mission Team can be chosen, with three other teams locked. Leveling up your Player Rank unlocks new Mission Teams and new missions.

Teams:
 * JTF Wolverines
 * Orion Initiative
 * Sabre Team Seven
 * Wraith

Beta
The Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare  Beta was available for players who pre-ordered the game early. The beta was opened to PlayStation 4 on 10/14/16 and lasted until 10/17/16. The beta was open to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on 10/21/16 and lasted until 10/24/16

Five maps were available in the Beta. The maps included  Throwback ,  Frost  and  Frontier, while  Precinct  and  Terminal  were added at later dates.

Zombies
Infinite Warfare Zombies mode is the tertiary gamemode of the game.

Gameplay
This gameplay is very much like the Treyarch's Zombies mode, with similar perks, power-ups, utilities, and weapons. The perks are eaten rather than drank, there are different bosses, the power-ups have similar names, some traps are now free to use, and the map areas are much more interactive.

Maps

 * Zombies in Spaceland

Legacy Edition
The Legacy Edition is available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Windows for $79.99 USD or $129.99 AUD. It includes:
 * The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered game.
 * Terminal bonus map.
 * The game.
 * Zombies in Spaceland Pack.
 * The code to the multiplayer beta. (Discontinued)

Digital Deluxe Edition
The Digital Deluxe Edition is available for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 for $100.00 USD or $149 AUD. It includes:
 * The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered game.
 * Terminal bonus map.
 * The game.
 * The Season Pass for Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare.
 * Zombies in Spaceland Pack.
 * The code to the multiplayer beta. (Discontinued)

Legacy Pro Edition
The Legacy Pro Edition is available for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 for $119.99 USD or $169.99 AUD. It Includes: The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered game will include 10 multiplayer maps and the full campaign for all three editions. All three versions include the free Terminal bonus map as well.
 * The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered game.
 * Terminal bonus map.
 * The game.
 * The Season Pass for Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare.
 * Steelbook Case.
 * A code for the Zombies in Spaceland Pack.
 * A code for the Bullethawk Pack.
 * The code to the multiplayer beta. (Discontinued)
 * The code for the official Infinite Warfare soundtrack.

Criticism
See also - Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Criticism

Trivia

 * On June 9th, 2016, the box art for Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare was changed.
 * The box art depicts two soldiers wielding assault rifles, whereas the previous one depicted a single soldier holding a space helmet and an assault rifle, with a Raven behind him.
 * At the end credits it says "No robots were harmed in the making of this game". This is a callback to previous Infinity Ward games that ended with "No cows were harmed in the making of this game".
 * Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare shares the same release date November 4th with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, two years later.
 * It is revealed through an easter egg that Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare takes place in the Modern Warfare timeline.