Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is a first-person shooter that moves its campaign and multiplayer into a technologised near-future warfare world. Its defining feature is exoskeletons, which give soldiers extra mobility and thereby lift combat to a more vertical level. Alongside the story, competitive matches and a co-operative survival mode are part of the base game.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare was released on Nov 4, 2014. The so-called Day Zero Edition gave pre-orderers early access already on Nov 3. The regular release date applies to the versions on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Advanced Warfare was released natively for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. The versions for the consoles of that generation were developed separately or technically adapted. A separate release for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S is not among the original five versions. The PC version is distributed through Steam, among others.

The exoskeleton changes the pace: soldiers jump higher, change position faster and attack from unexpected angles. In combat, the additional movement is not just an effect but decides how players use cover, rooftops and open paths. Weapons and technical aids complement regular firefights.

Four large expansion packs extend the game: Havoc, Ascendance, Supremacy and Reckoning. They add new maps for multiplayer matches and further episodes of the co-op mode Exo Zombies. The undead also move with the agility of Exo technology. Separate bonus packs and cosmetic content are not equivalent to these extensive expansions.

For the original PC version, Activision lists at least an Intel Core i3-530 or AMD Phenom II X4 810, 6 GB memory and a GeForce GTS 450 or Radeon HD 5870. DirectX 11, 64-bit Windows and about 55 GB of storage are required. For the recommended specs, Activision lists among others a Core i5-2500K, 8 GB RAM and a GeForce GTX 760.

The story is set in a future where private military companies take on tasks that states can no longer handle alone. Soldier Jack Mitchell, after a severe personal setback, ends up in the orbit of Atlas Corporation. Its head Jonathan Irons is played by Kevin Spacey. The story links military operations with the power ambitions of an internationally operating corporation.

In multiplayer, the fast Exo movement and customizable equipment meet the series' familiar team and objective modes. The “Pick 13” system distributes points across weapons, attachments, extras and other equipment. Players who invest many points in one weapon give up options elsewhere. Class building thus remains part of tactical preparation.

Exo Survival is a co-operative wave mode for up to four players. The group defends itself against increasingly difficult enemies, including soldiers and technical weapons. Because the enemies grow steadily stronger, players must coordinate movement, fields of fire and the supply of equipment. The mode should be distinguished from the later Exo Zombies content.

Exo Zombies adds a standalone co-op horror mode to the classic firefights. Undead with Exo abilities can attack quickly and cover greater distances. The story is spread across the game's large map packs. Players who want to play all episodes need the corresponding additional content.

The PC version offers extensive graphics options and requires a broadband connection for online services. The older console versions are standalone releases for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, not PS4 or Xbox One versions via backward compatibility. Available languages and local online features depend on the respective platform and store version.