Call of Duty Ghosts Release Date

Now that Sony and Microsoft have detailed the PS4 and Xbox One to gamers around the world at E3 2013, the next generation of console gaming is officially set to kickoff. Pre-order pages for both systems are now live on popular retail sites - as hard core fans anticipate the new gameplay experiences awaiting them in the coming years.

However, for fans of the first-person action shooter genre, the Call of Duty series is giving current-gen players a sneak peek at the ground-breaking ideas and out-of-the-box thinking that will define gaming going forward - specifically playable military dogs. Since both the PS4 and Xbox One are set for 2013 launches, with unspecified "Holiday" season release dates, both current-gen and next-gen players will get to experience the soldier/dog Call of Duty: Ghosts gameplay - which allows gamers to command their support canine for a variety of immersive effects and purposes.

Thanks to Activision's promised gameplay reveal, we now have our first official look at the different ways that Call of Duty gamers can command (and directly control) the dog.

Check out an excerpt of the Call of Duty: Ghosts gameplay reveal below:

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As revealed in the video, the dog can be utilized in a number of intriguing ways. Named Riley, after fan-favorite Call of Duty alum Simon "Ghost" Riley (who bears little resemblance to Game Rant writer Riley Little), the canine companion can cause distractions, attack enemies, as well as sneak ahead to scope out enemy positions or scout areas of interest. In the video, the player can instruct Riley to take-down patrolling soldiers or draw attention (allowing the Call of Duty: Ghosts squad to kill-off preoccupied opponents at a safe distance).

The dog itself fits in the game world - with relatively fluid movements and interactions. Certain aspects of Riley's feature set might seem bizarre, such as the dog-eye-view perspective or a radio antenna that pops out of his backpack, but both elements are based on actual military service dogs - who often carry communication or first aid tech and wear collars that have been retrofitted with wireless cameras.

Riley Dog Call of Duty Ghosts Video

In addition to the Riley gameplay, Activision also showcased the underwater level "Into the Deep" - which gives fans an opportunity to explore a new underwater environment. Gamers have seen Call of Duty underwater mission moments before but never with the level of control and visual fidelity available in Ghosts.

Check out the "Into the Deep" level in the video below:

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To watch the entire Call of Duty: Ghosts gameplay reveal (including introductions and commentary from Geoff Keighley and Justine Ezarik), watch the 30 minute video below:

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No doubt, certain gamers will dismiss the new features in Call of Duty: Ghosts as fun but minor steps for a game series that hasn't significantly changed-up its formula in several years. However, there will also be a significant number of Call of Duty faithfuls that ensure the title enjoys solid sales - long after its initial release. A playable dog character and underwater levels might not be enough to silence skeptics but new additions (of which these are only a few) will easily give annual Call of Duty buyers reason to enlist for Activision's latest offering.

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Call of Duty: Ghosts launches November 5, 2013 for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. The sequel is also headed to the Xbox One and PS4, but as stated earlier, those next-gen consoles do not yet have official release dates.

Follow me on Twitter @benkendrick for more on Call of Duty: Ghosts as well as future movie, TV, and gaming news.

Source: Activision [via Games HQ Media]