Activision's Confident In Its Next Call Of Duty Game, But Can It Beat Battlefield 3?

The next iteration in the franchise — hotly tipped to be Modern Warfare 3 — will face stiff competition from EA's Battlefield 3. But Activision isn't worried, claiming that the new game has "exceeded every internal milestone" set by the publisher.

"By any measure, Call of Duty is one of the biggest entertainment franchises in the world and we expect this year's game will set a new standard in the franchise," explained Activision publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg.

"The creative excellence and sheer scale of the game we are making, and the unprecedented online universe that will accompany it will re-set the bar for this genre, giving players a new level of immersion, connectivity, community and of course epic action. The game to date has exceeded every internal milestone and we look forward to sharing it with you soon."

Apparently the publisher has invested even more heavily in the first-person shooter franchise this year in an effort to "take the experience to an entirely new level".