14 DAY TRIAL // Activision confirms that it's overhauling the eSports efforts surrounding its upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 first-person shooter. The large publisher is creating a Call of Duty World League, which is composed of Pro and Challenge (amateur) divisions. Across LAN events, a total sum of $3 million (€2.67 million) can be won by fans of the game.
The world of eSports is growing by leaps and bounds, and while big titles like Dota 2 or League of Legends, not to mention StarCraft 2 or Hearthstone, are reigning supreme, Activision is willing to invest a lot of money to turn Call of Duty into a successful competitive experience.
While the franchise can't really live up to the current benchmark in shooter eSports, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Activision is taking a more hands-on approach with the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 3.
The Call of Duty World League unites many divisions and competitions
According to the official website, Black Ops 3 is set to host the Call of Duty World League, a special eSports group that's composed of a Pro Division and a Challenge Division.
The Pro one, as the name suggests, is host to professional Call of Duty teams and is composed of two seasons that spawn North America, Europe, and Australia. The first season kicks off in January of 2016 and each ends with a regional LAN championship.
Amateur teams can compete in LAN events as part of the Challenge Division, and they'll also get a chance to win chunks of the $3 million (€2.67 million) total prize pool offered by Activision across the whole Call of Duty World League.
The major league is set to conclude with the Call of Duty Championship, which moves from its usual spring time slot to the fall of 2016. Activision promises more interesting developments, news, and other surprises for fans in the near future.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 rolls out on November 3 on PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360.