As its 2021 season season begins Thursday, the Call of Duty League is trying to stabilize itself after one of the most volatile inaugural years a sports league could possibly have.
What should have been a triumphant first season of a 12-team, city-based franchise league across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and France filled with fans from around the world celebrating the ubiquitous popularity of CoD with live weekly events in home arenas leading to the postseason changed abruptly and dramatically with the coronavirus pandemic. Live events were held in Minneapolis, London, Atlanta and Los Angeles, giving everyone a taste what could be.
“There really was the sense of anticipation and potential and just an energy that you really can’t replicate in an online environment,” said Johanna Faries, the Call of Duty League’s commissioner. But when we were also hit with the pandemic mid-stream and had to pivot so quickly in light of that, it added some additional surprises to that experience.”
The CoD League had to be nimble and agile with its teams, owners, players, fans, our vendors and vendors and be ready to tackle Covid-19 and find a new way to operate the league. After a few weeks the league was fully operational online, where the rest of the season played out.
Johanna Faries is focused on further growth and engagement for CDL in 2021 as it tweaks its online … [+] format. Photo by Richard Bord/Getty Images for Cannes Lions
Getty Images for Cannes Lions
Like last season, the league will begin year two with matches and tournaments contested remotely online and broadcast live on YouTube, where the league’s official channel has 1.17 million subscribers. Faries pointed to that subscriber and viewership count rising as the makeshift season progressed, peaking at 331,000 live views for the final series at the end of August when the Dallas Empire shockingly defeated the Atlanta FaZe to win the first championship. She said the group’s teamwork and resilience will make them stronger going into this new campaign after seeing how the league could still drive momentum during a pandemic.
“What we realized is we have the ability to still put on world class live competition even from a remote angle,” she said.
In some respects, Faries and her team at CoD parent company Activision Blizzard
ATVI
had to go back to esports’ roots in 2020, with the online space quite familiar for the league’s players and fans. After a few cases of connection and latency issues in league play last season, Faries said that considerable time was spent during the offseason to look at the league’s server count and location to try and optimize connectivity going forward.
“It’s to give players and teams the confidence to get out there and focus on what they need to focus on and make sure that they have the technological backing of a world class publisher,” she said. “Generally speaking, as we see our teams scrimmaging and practicing and gearing up for real match play, the feedback has been really good.”
While learning how to create top-notch events both physically and virtually is something she thinks will bode well for the future, the current plan is for the 2021 campaign to be fully online with a new regular season structure including all 12 teams competing each match week. This will also be the first season of 4V4 play, a PC-based league rather than console.
The regular season will be divided into five stages, with three regular season weeks leading up to what the league is calling a major tournament, the first of which will be held the weekend of March 1. Thursday’s opening match will feature the debut of the 100 Thieves brand in Cod League, with the L.A. Thieves taking over one of the two Los Angeles franchises from OpTic Gaming, which merged with the Chicago Huntsman to form OpTic Chicago.
Faries’ hope is that at least one of the major tournaments ending one of the five regular season stages can be played in person with fans in attendance.
“We know that there’s nothing more electrifying than being able to walk into a Call of Duty League venue and feel that type of energy,” she said. “But we’re not gonna do it until we feel it’s safe to do so. And I think we’ve really put our heart into making sure that even in a remote world, this is gonna feel pretty world class and deliver as much excitement to our viewers as possible.”
Getting a taste of those live events makes Faries and the league want to get back to them so badly. But at some point in the hopefully not-too-distant future, she hopes to combine the best of the online and offline experiences and put on world class events not just for those in person, but everyone sitting at home from around the world.
The key term for Faries and the league in year two will be growth. She feels the league is gaining momentum and would like to continue scaling subscriber count and online live viewership, especially around the five tentpole tournaments.
“We want to continue to see new brands enter the space, continue to deliver on blue chip partnerships, sponsorships,” Faries said. “We’ve been really successful in our nascent stage here with fashion collaborations and other design collaborations with some of the best of the best designers across the culture. We expect to see more of that.”
And with 100 million monthly Call of Duty players globally, to say there’s a significant untapped market to be fans of CoD League would be quite the understatement. A lot of the league’s focus of late has been trying to ride the wave of popularity seen with the new WarZone game and CoD going free to play and on mobile. So the league is trying to capitalize on that by rolling out viewership rewards, incentives and a pick’em league throughout the season for tuning in to the esports side of things rather than just playing the game.
Faries is excited about announcements yet to come not just for the league as it begins its second season, but how the esports conversation grow across the WarZone, mobile and multiplayer communities. If she can tap into just a fraction of the 100 million players who are CoD devotees around the world, the league has the potential to evolve from merely a passing curiosity into something vastly larger.
CHICAGO (AP) — United Airlines has struck a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to offer satellite-based Starlink WiFi service on flights within the next several years.
The airline said Friday the service will be free to passengers.
United said it will begin testing the service early next year and begin offering it on some flights by later in 2025.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
The announcement comes as airlines rush to offer more amenities as a way to stand out when passengers pick a carrier for a trip. United’s goal is to make sitting on a plane pretty much like being on the ground when it comes to browsing the internet, streaming entertainment and playing games.
“Everything you can do on the ground, you’ll soon be able to do on board a United plane at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the world,” CEO Scott Kirby said in announcing the deal.
The airline says Starlink will allow passengers to get internet access even over oceans and polar regions where traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals may be weak or missing.
Sony has made it easy for Canadian consumers to preorder the PlayStation 5 Pro in Canada directly from PlayStation’s official website. Here’s how:
Visit the Official Website: Go to direct.playstation.com and navigate to the PS5 Pro section once preorders go live on September 26, 2024.
Create or Log in to Your PlayStation Account: If you don’t have a PlayStation account, you will need to create one. Existing users can simply log in to proceed.
Place Your Preorder: Once logged in, follow the instructions to preorder your PS5 Pro. Ensure you have a valid payment method ready and double-check your shipping information for accuracy.
Preorder Through Major Canadian Retailers
While preordering directly from PlayStation is a popular option, you can also secure your PS5 Pro through trusted Canadian retailers. These retailers are expected to offer preorders on or after September 26:
Best Buy Canada
Walmart Canada
EB Games (GameStop)
Amazon Canada
The Source
Steps to Preorder via Canadian Retailers:
Visit Retailer Websites: Search for “PlayStation 5 Pro” on the website of your preferred retailer starting on September 26.
Create or Log in to Your Account: If you’re shopping online, having an account with the retailer can speed up the preorder process.
Preorder in Store: For those who prefer in-person shopping, check with local stores regarding availability and preorder policies.
3. Sign Up for Notifications
Many retailers and websites offer the option to sign up for notifications when the preorder goes live. If you’re worried about missing out due to high demand, this can be a useful option.
Visit Retailer Sites: Look for a “Notify Me” or “Email Alerts” option and enter your email to stay informed.
Use PlayStation Alerts: Sign up for notifications directly through Sony to be one of the first to know when preorders are available.
4. Prepare for High Demand
Preordering the PS5 Pro is expected to be competitive, with high demand likely to result in quick sellouts, just as with the initial release of the original PS5. To maximize your chances of securing a preorder:
Act Quickly: Be prepared to place your order as soon as preorders open. Timing is key, as stock can run out within minutes.
Double-Check Payment Information: Ensure your credit card or payment method is ready to go. Any delays during the checkout process could result in losing your spot.
Stay Informed: Monitor PlayStation and retailer websites for updates on restocks or additional preorder windows.
Final Thoughts
The PlayStation 5 Pro is set to take gaming to the next level with its enhanced performance, graphics, and new features. Canadian gamers should be ready to act fast when preorders open on September 26, 2024, to secure their console ahead of the holiday season. Whether you choose to preorder through PlayStation’s official website or your preferred retailer, following the steps outlined above will help ensure a smooth and successful preorder experience.
For more details on the PS5 Pro and to preorder, visit direct.playstation.com or stay tuned to updates from major Canadian retailers.
Since the PlayStation 5 (PS5) launched four years ago, PlayStation has continuously evolved to meet the demands of its players. Today, we are excited to announce the next step in this journey: the PlayStation 5 Pro. Designed for the most dedicated players and game creators, the PS5 Pro brings groundbreaking advancements in gaming hardware, raising the bar for what’s possible.
Key Features of the PS5 Pro
The PS5 Pro comes equipped with several key performance enhancements, addressing the requests of gamers for smoother, higher-quality graphics at a consistent 60 frames per second (FPS). The console’s standout features include:
Upgraded GPU: The PS5 Pro’s GPU boasts 67% more Compute Units than the current PS5, combined with 28% faster memory. This allows for up to 45% faster rendering speeds, ensuring a smoother gaming experience.
Advanced Ray Tracing: Ray tracing capabilities have been significantly enhanced, with reflections and refractions of light being processed at double or triple the speed of the current PS5, creating more dynamic visuals.
AI-Driven Upscaling: Introducing PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an AI-based upscaling technology that adds extraordinary detail to images, resulting in sharper image clarity.
Backward Compatibility & Game Boost: More than 8,500 PS4 games playable on PS5 Pro will benefit from PS5 Pro Game Boost, stabilizing or enhancing performance. PS4 games will also see improved resolution on select titles.
VRR & 8K Support: The PS5 Pro supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and 8K gaming for the ultimate visual experience, while also launching with the latest wireless technology, Wi-Fi 7, in supported regions.
Optimized Games & Patches
Game creators have quickly embraced the new technology that comes with the PS5 Pro. Many games will receive free updates to take full advantage of the console’s new features, labeled as PS5 Pro Enhanced. Some of the highly anticipated titles include:
Alan Wake 2
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
Demon’s Souls
Dragon’s Dogma 2
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Gran Turismo 7
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Horizon Forbidden West
These updates will allow players to experience their favorite games at a higher fidelity, taking full advantage of the console’s improved graphics and performance.
Design & Compatibility
Maintaining consistency within the PS5 family, the PS5 Pro retains the same height and width as the original PS5 model. Players will also have the option to add an Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive or swap console covers when available.
Additionally, the PS5 Pro is fully compatible with all existing PS5 accessories, including the PlayStation VR2, DualSense Edge, Pulse Elite, and Access controller. This ensures seamless integration into your current gaming setup.
Pricing & Availability
The PS5 Pro will be available starting November 7, 2024, at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of:
$699.99 USD
$949.99 CAD
£699.99 GBP
€799.99 EUR
¥119,980 JPY
Each PS5 Pro comes with a 2TB SSD, a DualSense wireless controller, and a copy of Astro’s Playroom pre-installed. Pre-orders begin on September 26, 2024, and the console will be available at participating retailers and directly from PlayStation via direct.playstation.com.
The launch of the PS5 Pro marks a new chapter in PlayStation’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge gaming experiences. Whether players choose the standard PS5 or the PS5 Pro, PlayStation aims to provide the best possible gaming experience for everyone.
Preorder your PS5 Pro and step into the next generation of gaming this holiday season.
