Activision wants you to try before you buy — emphasis on ‘buy’

Perhaps in response to reports that sales of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare aren’t going so hot, Activision will open up the game to a free five-day trial beginning on Thursday.

The trial version, available for download on PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One, will let players sample the first two chapters of the campaign; all online multiplayer with a level cap of 15, and the zombies mode with a level cap of 3.

Should players choose to buy Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, all progress will carry over to the full edition of the game.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, by Infinity Ward, is the third and furthest push into the future for Activision’s military shooter. It features futuristic weapons and multiplayer abilities and space vehicle combat.

That hasn’t seemed to resonate as well as past editions of the game. CNBC reported on Friday that NPD data shows sales of physical editions of the game are down 50 percent from what Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 sold in November 2015. That matches a similar decline reported in the U.K.

Polygon scored Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare an 8.5, but the game’s Metacritic rating is essentially tied with 2013’s forgettable Call of Duty: Ghosts. Among main editions that have launched on consoles, only 2004’s Call of Duty: Finest Hour scores lower.

Activision has done free weekends with its marquee shooter before, but they typically have been multiplayer-only promotions coming well after the game’s launch date. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare launched Nov. 4 on PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One.

Source: Polygon – Full