No Call of Duty Elite Black Ops 2 Launch

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will mark the first time that Activision's popular shooter franchise will appear on a Nintendo console in all of its highly anticipated glory. While Call of Duty titles in the past have been passable ports of the PS3 and Xbox 360 experience, they were lacking in key areas like multiplayer and graphics.

However, with the Wii U Nintendo is capable of providing a comparable experience, if not a better one. The game might be launching a few days after its counterparts — on November 18th, rather than the 13th — but will be just as fully featured…except for one key omission.

According to Activision, while Black Ops 2 will be available in all its promised glory on the Wii U, the publisher has yet to work out a strategy for how best to bring Call of Duty Elite to the new console. Activision isn't saying it, but our guess is it has something to do with the Wii U's new online network.

Yes, the console will have an easier to use, functional online service — something gamers have been clamoring for — but it's still a Nintendo creation, and therefore isn't as adaptable as some publishers might like. Activision isn't saying that Call of Duty Elite won't be coming to the Wii U, though; it just won't be available at launch.

Earlier this week Activision revealed that Call of Duty Elite, as opposed to last year's version, would be free of charge. Unfortunately, this 2.0 version of Call of Duty Elite is expected to be far less robust, as indicated by the lack of a DLC plan.

The doling out of map packs will now be handled by a new Call of Duty Season Pass, which will entitle its owner to four map pack releases for a decent price ($49.99). However, just like Call of Duty Elite, it's unclear how the Wii U might accommodate DLC releases for Black Ops 2. Hopefully by the time developer Treyarch gears up to start unloading new content, all of the Wii U's online capabilities will be worked out.

Is there anyone who plans on picking up Black Ops 2 for the Wii U? Do you think that the Wii U will be capable of delivering the same online experience that Call of Duty fans are used to from the other consoles?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 launches November 13, 2012 for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, and November 18th for the Wii U.

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Source: Kotaku