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Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare: here's everything you need to know about multiplayer

Activision showed off the multiplayer portion of its latest Call of Duty game during Call of Duty XP today. And now we have all the gory details for you.

Cover image for YouTube video

Above, you will find a multiplayer overview trailer which gives a quick rundown of the information you will see below. Images show the multiplayer maps and the different Combat Rigs players can use.

The multiplayer portion of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare allows users to customize the way they way they play, more so than previous iterations. Everything including weapons, equipment, lethals and tacticals have been "built around all play styles," with various combination options.

Players can also optimize combat rigs with high-tech equipment and prototype weapons. There are six Rigs, which are combat suits worn during multiplayer matches: Warfighter, Merc, FTL, Stryker, Phantom and Synaptic.

These were designed to be a cornerstone to the player's loadout with selectable attributes. Each Rig lets the player choose different Payloads and Traits before heading into battle.

Payloads can be more powerful weapons or abilities and Traits are either persistent, overcharged enhancements, or abilities which are refilled every few seconds. Both are used in combination and unique to each Rig and and play style associated with it.

Players select one Payload and one Trait to bring into each battle. Different Rigs will be unlocked as they level up in multiplayer. Eac one has a head, body, and cosmetic variations.

Here's more information on each Rig per Activision.

call_of_duty_infinite_warfare_mp_rig_warfighter

Warfighter

Designed for mid-range, assault style players. It provides fast kills, the ability to get quickly to an objective, and helps with offensive.

PAYLOADS

  • Claw: rapid fire spread-shot weapon with ricochet ballistic rounds, designed to take out the enemy in front and around blind corners. Aim down sights for more focused damage.
  • Combat Focus: gain double streak points for a limited time.
  • Overdrive: grants a temporary speed surge.

TRAITS

  • Ping: kills and assists by activating a sonar ping at the enemy’s death location, revealing nearby hostile to teammates. Enemies killed by teammates after being pinged will provide bonus scores.
  • Persistence: scorestreaks no longer reset when death occurs, but take higher point values to attain. Players can only earn each of their scorestreaks once per match.
  • Resupply: resupply lethals and tacticals by picking up scavenger bags after successful kills with bullet weapons.

call_of_duty_infinite_warfare_mp_rig_merc

Merc

Focused on heavy defense and suppressive fire. Best for a more defensive-minded player who loves to pack around big weapons which deliver max damage and designed to clear enemy threats quickly.

PAYLOADS

  • Steel Dragon: heavy beam based weapon with multi-target tracking.
  • Bull Charge: equips the player with an armored riot shield to penetrate enemy defenses, or quickly take out opponents.
  • Reactive Armor: high-voltage armor system vaporizes incoming small arms fire.

TRAITS

  • Man-At-Arms: Rog augmentations allow for carrying heavier loads with minimal effort. Start with maximum ammo capacity and weapons don’t impact movement.
  • Infusion: regenerates health faster after taking damage.
  • Shockwave: press a button in midair to activate a devastating slam.

call_of_duty_infinite_warfare_mp_rig_flt

FTL

A prototype battle Rig which utilizes current technology to ensure combat advantage. Best for the player who's more of a run-and-gunner and who wants to get up close and personal with the enemy.

PAYLOADS

  • Eraser: a compact experimental energy-based handgun that evaporates enemies.
  • FTL Jump: a localized FTL burst which moves the player a short distance forward.
  • Phase Shift: phases the player into another dimension, avoiding damage. Other phased players can still engage.

TRAITS

  • Power Slide: enhanced sliding capability that increases speed, distance and allows the player to ADS while sliding. Also has a greatly diminishing boost cost.
  • Supercharge: killing enemies will drop cooldown packs which help the team boost their super meters.
  • Perception: receive HUD notifications when enemies off-screen are looking in the player's direction.

call_of_duty_infinite_warfare_mp_rig_stryker

Stryker

Equipped with gear for enemy suppression and squad support. The tactical team-focused player should use this Rig on the battlefield.

PAYLOADS

  • Gravity Vortex Gun: Prototype launcher that fire a slow-moving projectile which distorts gravity, pulling in and damaging enemies.
  • Micro Turret: compact multi-surface deployable turret.
  • Centurion: destroys enemy projectiles and applies a powerful electromagnetic field.

TRAITS

  • Trophy Drone: will destroy one incoming lethal grenade and then recharge.
  • Relay: placed equipment will alert the player when enemy targets are in sight.
  • Hardened: placed equipment and drones have increased health and can also persist through the player's death.

call_of_duty_infinite_warfare_mp_rig_phantom

Phantom

Specializes in concealment and long-range engagements. The stealth oriented sniper should employ this Rig in combat.

PAYLOADS

  • Ballista EM3: highly accurate electromagnetic projectile launcher with increased penetration capability, to take out the enemy and pin them to the wall.
  • Pulsar : advanced EM sensor allows the player to visualize enemy positions.
  • Active Camo: renders the player almost invisible.

TRAITS

  • Marked Target :damaging enemies will mark them for death, preventing health regeneration for five seconds. Marked enemies that are killed by teammates will award you with a bonus score.
  • Heightened Senses: while in ADS with sniper rifles, gain increased audio from nearby enemies. Warning blips will also tell the player if enemies are nearby.
  • Rearguard: spawn in with a back shield that protects against attacks from behind. While the shield is active, melee attacks from anywhere but the front are negated.

call_of_duty_infinite_warfare_mp_rig_synaptic

Synaptic

A C6 Class remote operated drone, it is optimized for speed and close quarters combat. Best for the player who favors melee and SMG-ranged combat.

PAYLOADS

  • Equalizer: dual integrated machine guns with built-in suppressors for close quarters combat.
  • Reaper: switches to rapid melee combat mode.
  • Rewind: rewinds the player's position and replenishes health and ammunition.

TRAITS

Combat Burst:  after each kill, gain a brief boost to movement speed.
Rushdown: faster recharging jump pack that also damages enemies directly within the jump pack blast.
Propulsion: press a button to quickly dash in any horizontal direction.

call_of_duty_infinite_warfare_e3_2016_Black_Sky_Salter__Ethan

That's quite a bit of information to take in, isn't it? But there's more.

The multiplayer portion of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare also introduces weapon crafting for both primary and secondary. These weapons can be crafted using Salvage currency earned during each multiplayer match.

There's a bit more on crafting below along with information on maps (Breakout and Frost are the images), equipment, scorestreaks, and mission teams - again, straight from Activision.

COD Infinite Warfare_MP_Frost 3_WM

Weapons and Crafting

The weapons lineup consists of Primary and  Secondary weapons with modern design elements and aesthetics, as well as new weapons that provide all-new functionality for the player. Weapons will be a combination of familiar ballistic, melee, energy, and Prototype weapons, with all the attachments players can use  to personalize to their style.

There will be hundreds of weapons to acquire while playing. Players can use Salvage, the crafting currency earned during a match, to craft unique Prototype Weapons that come with special cosmetic and functional benefits called “Gun Perks.” Gun Perks alter the functionality of Prototype Weapons and make them uniquely suited for various play styles.

COD Infinite Warfare_MP_Frost 2_WM

Equipment

Plausible tech also allows for new tactical and lethal equipment that can change the battle. One example is the Seeker Grenade, which will attach itself to its victims before detonation.

In addition, the Black Hole Grenade creates a vortex that will expose and envelop your enemies. The expanded stable of tacticals and lethals featured in Infinite Warfare also brings equipment back into the Pick 10 equation in a unique, meaningful way.

COD Infinite Warfare_MP_Frost 1_WM

Scorestreaks

There will be a mix of returning and all-new scorestreaks that will reward players for a wide range of actions, including kills, assists and points capped. Both hardcore and new players will welcome the return of classic scorestreaks, like the UAV and Counter UAV.

In addition there's new combat options like summoning the dreaded R-C8. This heavily armored robot can watch the player's back via sentry mode, or players can jack into its feed and manually lay waste to even the toughest competition.

COD Infinite Warfare_MP_Breakout 2_WM

Maps

Multiplayer maps feature never-before-seen environments emphasizing front-line engagements. Lanes and wallruns are designed to encourage combat engagements, while rewarding flank opportunities. By utilizing player-focused level design, the maps will complement a wide range of strategic approaches all while driving the frenetic action.

Fields of battle span the vast expanse of the solar system, from sprawling cityscape of Japan and the funneled corridors of a giant space station, to the drilling facilities of a rogue asteroid and the caves of Titan.

COD Infinite Warfare_MP_Breakout 1_WM

Mission Teams

Players will also have the opportunity to level up by joining Mission Teams and earn more exclusive rewards and content. With four unique mission teams, players choose their team based on what type and caliber of player they are, and what they want to go after and earn.

Each team has its own unique personality, challenges, and very own commander that will help guide, and in some cases, push the player to go after the objective and complete those challenges. By completing tiered team missions, players can unlock additional XP and unique items such as team specific cosmetic items, special gear, and more.

call of duty infinite warfare

Whew! Hopefully that covers everything for you. With Call of Duty XP going on this weekend, expect more coverage to come on the latest shooter in the franchise. Matt was able to try the multiplayer out recently, and you can read his thoughts on it too. Something about being a space solider turning into a robot dog. Awesome.

You also have the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare multiplayer beta to look forward to on October 14 - first  if you are a PlayStation 4 owner an pre-order the game. Nothing further was mentioned, but  Activision promised further details would be announced at another time.

The first look at Infinite Warfare’s multiplayer was revealed prior to the info drop you see above. If you missed it, just hit the link, there.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare will be released on November 4 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

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Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

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Stephany Nunneley-Jackson

News Editor

Stephany is VG247’s News Editor, with 22 years experience (with 15 of them at VG247). With a brain that lacks adhesive ducks, the ill-tempered, chaotic neutral fembot does her best to bring you the most interesting gaming news. She is also unofficially the site’s Lord of the Rings/Elder Scrolls Editor.

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