Call of Duty: Ghosts multiplayer detailed, plus new screens from gamescom

A couple of quite different environments from Call of Duty: Ghosts are on show in this latest batch of screenshots for the Infinity War shooter, accompanying a massive stack of information about multiplayer.

At least one of these screens snuck out a little early, but the others seem new.

Activision also sent over a huge stack of information pertaining to Ghosts' multiplayer, notably the Create-a-Soldier system, which gives players over 20,000 combinations for appearance. it also means plenty of loadout options, as players are allocated a budget and must determine how to split it between primary weapon, secondary weapon, lethal and tactical equipment and Perks. Attachments and Killstreaks are free. As players level up, they earn token to unlock new equipment in these slots.

There are more perks than ever before, and each is assigned a points value from one to five; players can equip up to eight points' worth, or choose not to equip any weapons to go up to 11 perks. Perks have been divided into the following types:

• Speed – Examples include Sleight of Hand and Agility allowing players to quickly move through the environment.
• Handling – Improve the player’s weapon handling abilities with perks such as On The Go (reload while sprinting) and Strong Arm (throw equipment further and decrease grenade cook time).
• Stealth – Perks such as Takedown (kill enemies without revealing their death location) and Off the Grid allow players to move through the environment undetected.
• Awareness – Improve a player’s situational awareness and ability to detect enemy equipment.
• Resistance – Enhance a player’s ability to withstand damage and regenerate health faster.
• Equipment – Perks that allow players to hold extra equipment, attachments and ammunition.
• Elite – A new type of player perk that includes Ping (a sonar ping that’s activated upon killing an enemy, revealing nearby hostiles) and Deadeye (consecutive kills increase the chance to deal more bullet damage).

Strike Packages are back and come in three flavours – Assault, Support and Specialist.

Assault Strike Package – Strike package based on consecutive enemy kills that resets upon death. New streak rewards include:

• Sat Com – Utilize satellite communications to relay enemy movements. Drop multiple Sat Coms on the map for enhanced reads on enemy locations.
• Guard Dog – Man’s best friend is watching your back. Your Combat dog will warn you when there are nearby enemies and take out ones that got the jump on you.
• Maniac – Call in advanced juggernaut armor via Care Package; one catch, this knife expert forgoes guns in favor of a high-speed melee attack.

Support Strike Package – Strike package that does not reset on player’s death. New streak rewards include:

• Night Owl – An advanced companion drone that detects enemies based on proximity and protects you from explosives.
• MAAWS – Lase targets to guide missiles from the free-fire shoulder mounted rocket launcher.
• Helo Scout – Provide sniper support for your team aboard a controllable helicopter.

Specialist Strike Package – Consecutive kills earn players additional Perks.

Ghosts has over 30 new weapons across Assault Rifles, SMGs, LMGs, Shotguns, Sniper Rifles, Launchers and the new Marksman Rifles class. Marksman Rifles are more versatile than classic Sniper Rifles, with greater stopping power than Assault Rifles. Marksman Rifles are great for protecting an objective point from range, while still having the power to deal with mid-range combat at ease.

There are seven new game modes, including:

• Search and Rescue – A take on Search & Destroy, but rather than having a single life per round, in Search & Rescue your team can revive you. It combines that teamwork and communication from Kill Confirmed with the objective-based cooperation of Search & Destroy.
• Cranked – A new level of TDM. When you get a kill, you gain new abilities, but you also start a countdown clock. Rack up the next kill before the timer hits zero, or you’ll explode. In this mode, players not only end up competing against the competition, but also against the clock.
• Blitz – An objective based mode where the goal is to breach the other team’s goal line while defending your own – a high-octane take on Capture the Flag.
• Squads - Call of Duty: Ghosts features an all-new third mode of play, Squads, which allows players of all skill levels to take their squad of soldiers created in multiplayer and enlist to play solo, cooperatively with up to six players, or competitively. Squads features a variety of play-types, allowing fans to swap-out their custom soldiers at any time with a friend for quick-action co-op. The competition can be fierce, as squad soldiers display life-like, skilled tactics and behaviors like side-strafing, corner-camping, jump-shooting and more. Players and their squads will earn XP, and if you’re offline, be prepared, as your squad may be challenged for play on their own.
  - Squad vs. Squad – Two-player competitive, pitting you & your squad vs. your opponent & their squad.
  - Squad Assault – Play against another player’s squad – even when they’re offline in up to six-player co-op. Match-make against squads made from around the world, or select one of your friend’s squads to assault. Offline players get in on the action, as they apply strategy too as they can determine the loadouts of their squad, as well as the map and mode that their squad will defend.
  - Wargame – You & your handpicked squad of five soldiers vs. another squad, swap out your custom soldiers at any time with a friend for quick co-op play.
  - Safeguard – Survive wave after wave of enemies in up to four-player co-op.

Call of Duty: Ghosts releases on November 5 on PC, PlayStation 3, Wii U and Xbox 360, while PS4 and Xbox One versions are due with hardware. launches.