Digitally Preorder "Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare" on Xbox One

Starting today, first person shooter fans can preorder digital versions of the game "Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare " for Xbox One. This means you won't need to buy a physical copy of the game in order to participate in the exclusive day one activities, which is ideal.

I've basically resolved to never buy a game on physical media with Xbox One if I can avoid it. So this change will help me keep to that: Until today, it seemed like you would need to buy a physical copy of the game, or the $499 Xbox One Limited Edition Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Bundle (which includes a special Xbox One console plus the game) to take advantage of the "Day Zero" benefits of the game.

Looking over the physical media options, I see three versions of the game you can preorder on Amazon.com:

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Day Zero Edition ($59.99). This is the basic game, of course, but the Day Zero Edition moniker means you get access to the game a day earlier than the general public, on November 3, 2014, and pick up double XP that day as well. You also get two custom weapons—the AK-12G Assault Rifle and CROSSBOW-B2—and an Advanced Arsenal Bullet Brass exoskeleton and EM1 Quantum directed energy weapon. Since this is the same price as the normal game, if you're going to get it anyway, it makes sense to preorder.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Atlas Limited Edition ($79.99). The next step gives you everything noted above in the basic game plus the Atlas Digital Content Pack, which includes two new weapons (Bal-27 AE Assault Rifle and the Atlas 45 AE Pistol), the Atlas Exoskeleton, Helmet, and Player Card, 5 bonus supply drops, and a single player Exoskeleton Upgrade Token, plus the Atlas Gorge bonus map, the Atlas Corporation Operator Manual, a digital copy of the in-game score, and collectible SteelBook packaging.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Atlas Pro Edition ($129.99). The full meal deal provides everything in the Day Zero and Atlas Limited editions noted above and adds the Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Season Pass, which will include four downloadable Map Packs over the ensuing several months. Since this Season Pass usually costs $50, this is a great value assuming you want the map packs. Which you do.

Given this lineup, I was prepared to preorder that last option, the Atlas Pro Edition, simply to get all the day one perks, and the Season Pass I'd buy anyway. But now I don't have to.

As of today, you can preorder one of two Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare day zero packs digitally, right on your console (or the web), and they're a bit different from the physical media options. They are:

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Day Zero Edition ($59.99). As above, you get the game plus the three weapons and the exoskeleton.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Digital Pro Edition ($99.99). Like the Atlas Pro Edition, this version provides all of the stuff from the basic game plus the Season Pass (map packs), the Advanced Warfare Atlas Digital Pack (the Atlas exoskeleton, helmet, and player card, the two other weapons, 5 bonus supply drops, and the single player exoskeleton upgrade), and the Atlas Gorge bonus map. But it doesn't appear to come with a digital copy of the in-game score, or the Atlas Corporation Operator Manual and collectible SteelBook packaging (which are of course physical items anyway).

So now I've ordered that last option, the Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Digital Pro Edition. It is downloading to my console right now so I can so I can start playing immediately at midnight on November 3, 2014. How sweet is that?