‘Call of Duty’ soldiers battle villain Spacey
SAN FRANCISCO: The newest installment to blockbuster video game “Call of Duty” hits the streets on Tuesday, pitting soldiers of the future against a Machiavellian villain played by actor Kevin Spacey.
Activision Publishing set out to reload the multi-billion-dollar franchise, bringing in studio Sledgehammer Games to put its spin on the title and taking advantage of advanced capabilities in new-generation PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles.
“We’ve really approached this game differently,” said Activision chief executive Eric Hirshberg.
“We’re shaking up the formula in several ways.”
Sledgehammer modified mechanics of playing the military shooter game by adding “exoskeleton suits” that give characters super-soldier abilities.
A “riveting new story” was woven into the game, along with “an iconic new character” played by Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey.
Special gear was used to capture Spacey’s movements, expressions and more to create a realistic virtual version of him playing the part of Jonathan Irons, a private military contractor intent on ruling the world.
“It’s been a lot of fun working with the team to bring Jonathan Irons to life,” the Academy Awardwinning actor said in a release.
“The technology is truly remarkable and unlike anything I’ve done before. I’m excited to see where this goes.”
Spacey has been quoted saying “Call of Duty: Advance Warfare” is likely to become the first video game he ever plays.
The game is set in the year 2054, when a private military corporation run by Spacey’s character is the dominant power.
Players take on the roles of soldiers with advance combat abilities due to exoskeleton suits and other equipment.
“From the endless research and thousands of production designs, to our incredible focus on the narrative and amazing attention to detail — we’re taking nothing for granted,” said Sledgehammer co-founder and game director Glen Schofield.