Contrary to some distorted opinions, the beta periods for most games these days isn’t just as a wayward marketing tool. While they do exist to create hype and hubbub around games, their primary function is to help stress test network, and also take player feedback in to consideration for tuning the game. This is especially important for games that almost hinge entirely on their multiplayer – like Call of Duty.
While many were impressed with the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare beta, others were less so – and Infinity Ward has taken all of that feedback to make both small and sweeping changes to the game in the week before its general release.
Said Infinity Ward on the game’s Reddit:
“Over the last two weekends, players from all over the world played in one of the most important testing periods for our game. We honestly cannot thank you enough for participating, sharing your feedback, and taking part in this journey with us. It’s been an incredible time for the team and we couldn’t have learned as much as we have without you, so thank you.
During the Beta, we wanted to not only test a variety of new things such as our new matchmaking system, but we also wanted to hear all your feedback to help balance the game.”
The changes include some big ones, like a change to the matchmaking system, which left players waiting far too long to join games in the beta. That should be remedied in the final version. The game’s matchmaking has streamlined – with geographic location categorisation, player skill evaluation and dead lobby cleanup, all of which should lead to finding games more expeditiously.
There have been some weapon balance changes too – notably on the sniper rifle side. “Sniper-class weapons no longer have any Aim Assist until the optic fully reaches the player’s eye,” says the extensive changelog, which should help lessen those horrible quickscope sniper kills.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is out this week on PC, Xbox One and PS4. While it will inevitably go on to become a sales juggernaut as usual, I feel that this year the series has its biggest competition from EA, just about ever. Both Battlefield and Titanfall 2 have been met with critical acclaim, making the choice for an end-of-year blockbuster FPS all the more difficult.
Last Updated: October 31, 2016
Gavin Mannion
October 31, 2016 at 08:20
Nerfing the sniper makes me happy… that thing was stupidly overpowered in the beta and I honestly stopped playing it because of it..
It’s great that they’ve taken feedback into consideration but these guys should have known it was a problem before the beta, it’s not like COD is a new experience
Admiral Chief - Dragonborn
October 31, 2016 at 08:28
So, is it BETA for you now?
Gavin Mannion
October 31, 2016 at 08:39
corner… go
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
October 31, 2016 at 08:44
COD : Infinite Whiners
*Joins @Admiral_Chief:disqus in the corner
Admiral Chief - Dragonborn
October 31, 2016 at 08:58
Being told to go to the corner and actually going, is two different things.
Get out of the corner dammit! CoD should have known BETA
WeetBix
October 31, 2016 at 08:31
I have sorted my FPS problem for the year yesterday! Skyrim Special Ed! Because I will forever be alone!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
October 31, 2016 at 08:43
Don’t you have milk and sugar to keep you company? 😛
WeetBix
October 31, 2016 at 08:55
Oh put me in the microwave with my friends for a minute and I am putty in your spoon and ever so delicious!
Admiral Chief - Dragonborn
October 31, 2016 at 08:57
Just don’t dry out, then you are difficult to clean
WeetBix
October 31, 2016 at 09:06
Yes. I am clingy like that. Ask both my ex girlfriends for reference.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
October 31, 2016 at 09:30
XD
Admiral Chief - Dragonborn
October 31, 2016 at 08:57
FUS RO AWWWWJISSS
WeetBix
October 31, 2016 at 09:08
Only played a tiny bit. Got the dragon stone quest done and my word! Skyrim’s still the best!
Admiral Chief - Dragonborn
October 31, 2016 at 09:13
What race did you pick?
Argonian for me this time around
WeetBix
October 31, 2016 at 09:14
Nord. Argonians are just too ugly for me to play as. And you know what they say about Kajit. No matter how tough you are, you were once a kitten.
Admiral Chief - Dragonborn
October 31, 2016 at 09:15
I’ve done three Nord characters, one Orc, and now my Argonian. Might do Khajit next, meow
WeetBix
October 31, 2016 at 09:32
My one play through was a Breton. By accident.
Dresden
October 31, 2016 at 09:46
Hey! The Breton are cool! My only character I made was Breton.
Dungeon of JJ
October 31, 2016 at 09:34
Haha. Excellent. When I see an Kahjiit all I think is: “THUDERCATS!” So I love them 🙂
Dungeon of JJ
October 31, 2016 at 09:33
My brother! We Argonians will take Skyrim! 😀
The health regen is really nice
Admiral Chief - Dragonborn
October 31, 2016 at 09:36
Also, they actually LOOK Dragonborn lolz
Dungeon of JJ
October 31, 2016 at 09:49
Haha. I was saying that EXACT same thing to my wife XD
Dungeon of JJ
October 31, 2016 at 09:33
Yea it is.
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 31, 2016 at 08:46
So it’s changed for the beta?
HairyEwok
October 31, 2016 at 10:03
Not one single %$#% is given for this game and Titanfall 2 and Battlefield 1 from my side. I think i should take a break from FPS gaming.