Call of Duty

Hostile Takeover

Changing the game. Literally.

A first-person shooter video game scene shows a player holding a futuristic rifle, aiming at a large outdoor digital billboard displaying a soldiers face. The setting is bright with blue skies, trees, and modern structures.

Insight

Call of Duty’s biggest social network isn’t Facebook or Twitter or Snapchat. It’s the game itself.

There’s no better platform to reveal Activision’s next game in the Call of Duty series than the best-selling game of the year — Call of Duty: Black Ops III.

A person holds a smartphone displaying a Facebook Messenger chat with CDM messages, while sitting on a couch. A black video game controller rests on the gray fabric beside them.

Idea

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare invades Black Ops III and the living rooms of millions of players.

Fans first notice something is amiss when the enemy’s warship appears above NUK3TOWN, Black Ops III’s most popular multiplayer map. 24 hours later, the enemy takes it further, spewing propaganda in-game and online. In the final day, fans are sent on a mission to find hidden codes spread throughout NUK3TOWN and across the internet that would help the good guy – Lt. Reyes – fight back.

Players report to Lt. Reyes utilising chatbot technology to receive their instructions and their final reward.

A glitchy, distorted image of a colorful skull appears in the background with the text “NUK3TOWN OFFLINE” displayed across the center in bold white letters.

Impact

Building on Call of Duty’s iconic experience gave players an in-game journey that took them beyond the game.

Across the 72 hours the experience was live, millions took part from across the globe, driving fans crazy and creating Call of Duty’s biggest reveal of all time.

Gold

Innovative use of Social or Community

Gold

Digital Experiences: Guerilla Stunts