MikeMcD

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Since being announced earlier this week, there has continued to be some confusion (and outcry) over Call of Duty Elite. It's unclear what elements of the service you'll be paying for -- Activision isn't providing those details because much of it is tied into parts of Modern Warfare 3 it isn't ready to talk about -- but to help clear things up a bit, an FAQ has made its way onto the Web that explains how parts of it work, why it was announced now, and what will be free.
It's frequently reiterated in the FAQ that nothing you've come to expect from a Call of Duty title is being removed. That includes multiplayer: playing online is still free, and as the FAQ puts it (in bold, underlined text, no less), "Even haters can play for free."
Everyone, Elite subscriber or not, will be able to purchase downloadable content just as you've been able to in previous games. If you do opt to pay the as-of-yet unannounced monthly fee, you'll get all of the "playable game DLC" for Modern Warfare 3 free of charge. That includes any map packs, though it's unclear if the way that's phrased -- "playable game DLC" -- means there might be some sort of non-playable DLC that even Elite subscribers will have to pay for, or if it's simply a strangely-worded statement. (It could simply mean things like avatars and themes for PSN and Xbox Live.) Another feature already announced for subscribers is a Call of Duty-themed web series.

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