Mobile Watch: Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare Companion App

Companion apps haven’t really taken off in the way we had hoped they would. During the build up to the latest generation of home consoles, interconnectivity between games and mobile/tablet devices was a much-touted feature yet, after launch, its one very few publishers have bothered to experiment with.

Activision, on the other hand, has been quick to capitalise on the companion app buzz. Working with Beachhead Studio, the company released an app for Call of Duty: Ghosts, allowing players to customise their in-game experience while on-the-go or away from their console. It was a simple, effective tool, enhanced by features such as “second screen” functionality and being able to modify loadouts that would appear the next time you logged in.

In Advanced Warfare’s companion app, however, neither of features made the cut. In fact, as a whole, the new app has been largely scaled down compared to last year’s iteration. Loadout and avatar customisation has been stripped out, leaving players with the bare essentials: a 3D model of their Operator and an extensive data feed.

In truth, getting rid of the second screen feature is hardly a loss. Although inventive, even in games such as Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Shadow of Mordor, it always felt like nothing more than a novelty. That, and it would often mean turning away from the on-screen action just to receive a few inconsequential updates.

Using Advanced Warfare’s mobile companion is simple and, unlike Ghosts, doesn’t require a specific log-in. As soon as players boot the app, they can immediately link their PlayStation Network or Xbox Live account to sync their in-game data. It’s quick, pain-free and, best of all, updates regularly, keeping players in the loop at all times.

As far as the interface and menus go, there’s nothing particularly stand-out gorgeous about the app. Though far from utilitarian, it’s fairly basic but still manages to capture Advanced Warfare’s futuristic design elements. More importantly it runs well and, after installing the latest iOS update on my device, I never ran into any crashes or slow-down.

Though there are no new features of which to speak. fans will be delighted to see that the emblem editor is no longer restricted to Call of Duty Elite members. Anyone can now create and modify their own banner-like motifs using a wide array of tools and templates – the end result immediately being transferred to your in-game profile. It’s hardly Photoshop but there are an impressive number of tools at hand, allowing players to get as creative as they want.

One thing Call of Duty fans will be glad to hear is that the companion’s marquee feature is making a return. For those who don’t know, Clan Wars is somewhat of a meta-game, tying in with Call of Duty’s online multiplayer. Through the app you can create and find clans with built in tools to organise and chat with members instantly.

Clans can enter themselves into divisions that try and match them with similar-sized groups. Here, they are presented with a world map, tagged with several nodes which are then fought over. Instead of being straight up one-to-one fights, Clan Wars is more of a campaign, dishing out points to teams who put in the hours and fare well in prescribed game modes. Of course, the more points your clan bags, the higher they will rank in your division. Aside from managing a team’s war effort, the companion can also be used to view extensive data regarding the performance of both your clan as well as individual members.

Overall, it’s a smart app but to get the most out of it you really need to be dedicated to the game’s multiplayer. Frolicking around with the emblem editor and viewing stats can kill a bit of time though, ultimately, it’s the Clan Wars feature that really sells it.