Call of Duty: Vanguard updates – Best reviews as COD is released TODAY plus Forza Horizon 5, PS5, Xbox & Fortnite latest
THE release of Call of Duty Vanguard is here, with fans of the popular shoot 'em up series eager to get their hands on the brand new game.
The new COD game was released today (Friday November 5, 2021) at 1am GMT and sees the series returning to its World War 2 roots - bringing new maps, modes and features to the beloved franchise.
The much awaited blockbuster game is available to buy on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 PS5 and PC.
Pre-loads started on October 28 for console players, so if you've pre-ordered digitally, you can pre-load right now.
There are three different editions of the new Call of Duty game: Standard Edition, Cross-Gen Bundle, and the Ultimate Edition.
Read our Call of Duty live blog below for the latest news...
FOUR TASK FORCES
The Operators are spread over four Task Forces, and each one is hugely customisable:
- Hellhounds
- Daniel Take Yatsu
- Wade Jackson
- Halima Zambardi
- Sentinal
- Constanze Trude Muller
- Arthur Kingsley
- Padmavati Balan
- Barbarian
- Lucas Riggs
- Roland Zeimet
- Beatrice Mercier
- Shadow
- Shigenori Ota
- Polina Petrova
- Solange Hardewijk
- Hellhounds
The Sun's COD Vanguard review
By tech editor Sean Keach
CALL of Duty Vanguard is out today – but is it any good?
The Sun has had a chance to play the full game BEFORE it’s out, and it’s everything we’d hoped for.
We’ve only played the game for about 12 hours, so this isn’t our full review. We’ll give a fuller view and score in the coming days.
Read on for our review-in-progress.
Beware: This review may contain some story spoilers.
NEW COMBAT PACING SYSTEM
A new Combat Pacing system system switched up the multiplayer experience even more. You can opt for Quick Play to get a taste of everything, or pick the one that suits you best:
- Tactical: Tactical Combat Pacing always has a 12-player maximum in matches for traditional 6v6 play
- Assault: A middle ground between Tactical and Blitz featuring matches with 14 to 36 players (7v7 to 18v18) depending on the size of the map
- Blitz: Matches here range from 16 to 48 players (8v8 to 24v24) depending on the size of the map
MULTIPLAYER MAPS
These are the confirmed maps so far:
- Battle of Berlin
- Bocage
- Castle
- Das Haus
- Decoy
- Demyansk
- Desert Siege
- Dome
- Eagle’s Nest
- Gavutu
- Hotel Royal
- Numa Numa
- Oasis
- Red Star
- Sub Pens
- Tuscan
Core & hardcore modes
Vanguard offers the following seven core and hardcore modes:
- Free for All
- Team Deathmatch
- Kill Confirmed
- Domination
- Search & Destroy
- Hardpoint
- Patrol
VANGUARD CAMPAIGN, CONTINUED
The campaign will let you "live out the moments that made the characters heroes and learn how they came together to spearhead Task Force One."
Ultimately, they story will see them faceoff against "ruthless Nazi Officer Hermann Wenzel Freisinger" who's running Project Phoenix:.
Your first mission in the game starts off with a newly recruited Operator (that's you) infiltrating a "heavily fortified U-boat facility".
Once you're in, you need to procure Axis military intelligence on the project before it's smuggled out of Germany.
VANGUARD CAMPAIGN
We're going back to WWII but the focus is on the origins of Task Force One – dubbed "the original Special Forces".
Sledgehammer is no stranger to the setting, having developed 2017's Call of Duty: WWII, so the studio is more than equipped to take the reins.
Things will be quite a bit different this time around though as the story follows a handful of heroes across four major fronts.
- Private Lucas Riggs in the North Africa Campaign
- Lieutenant Wade Jackson from the Pacific
- Lieutenant Polina Petrova on the Eastern Front
- Sergeant Arthur Kingsley of the British Army’s 9th Parachute Battalion
Call of Duty: Vanguard file size
- PS5:
- 64.13 GB Download
- 89.84 GB Required Space
- PS4:
- 54.65 GB Download
- 93.12 GB Required Space
- Xbox Series X|S:
- 61 GB Download
- 61 GB Required Space
- Xbox One:
- 56.6 GB Download
- 56.6 GB Required Space
- PS5:
XBOX ONE AND XBOX SERIES X|S STANDARD EDITIONS
- Xbox One Standard Edition
- This version cannot be upgraded to Xbox Series X|S
- Xbox Series X|S Standard Edition
- This includes both the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One versions of the game on disc.
- Xbox Series X|S Standard Edition includes an Xbox Series X|S disc that is also playable on an Xbox One
- Xbox One Standard Edition
PS5 STANDARD EDITION
- This works on the PlayStation 5 console with a disc drive.
- This version of the game will not operate on a discless PlayStation 5.
- For a compatible version with the discless PlayStation 5, choose the digital Standard or Cross-Gen Bundle.
- PlayStation 5 Standard Edition will not operate on a PlayStation 4.
PS4 STANDARD EDITION
- This version has an option to upgrade to PlayStation 5 through the PlayStation Store.
- Note the PlayStation 4 disc must be inserted into the PlayStation 5 to access the digitally upgraded PS5 version of the game.
- Note that you cannot upgrade a Standard Edition disc to the discless version of the PS5.
THUNDERHEAD SUBMACHINE GUN
Includes special Tracer Rounds and eight pre-configured attachments. This is an accuracy-focused Submachine Gun. Increase fire rate with extended mag (9mm ammo), short barrel to increases fire rate slightly and damage range significantly, and recoil-boosting muzzle that uses that force to further improve fire rate.
SNOWSTORM RIFLE
This one includes special Tracer Rounds and seven pre-configured attachments. This long-range tool can deliver devastating one-shot eliminations with ease. Get max damage with extra-large caliber bullets and armor piercing ammo
BREACHER ASSAULT RIFLE
This weapon includes special Tracer Rounds and eight pre-configured attachments. Kitted for close-quarters, with several attachments coming together to maximize its fire rate on a level that competes with the fastest-firing Submachine Guns.
THREE THEMED OPERATOR SKINS INCLUDED
- Shepherd skin for Second Lieutenant Lucas Riggs of the 20th Battalion, Australian Military Forces
- Arctic Shadow skin for Lieutenant Polina Petrova of the 138th Rifle Division, Red Army
- Bomber skin for Captain Wade Jackson of Scouting Squadron Six, United States Navy
WHAT DOES THE COD: VANGUARD ULTIMATE EDITION INCLUDE? PART TWO
- Opportunity to pre-load the game before launch
- 5 hours of Weapons 2XP for Vanguard and Warzone when the game launches
- Task Force One Pack (3 Operator Skins and 3 Weapon Blueprints with Tracer Rounds)
- Battle Pass Bundle (1 Season Battle Pass + 20 Tier Skips)
- 5 hours of 2XP for Vanguard and Warzone when the game launches
Pre-ordering the Ultimate Edition through the in-game Black Ops Cold War or Warzone stores will give you an extra reward on top of all that:
- 10 Battle Pass Tier Skips, eligible to be used immediately in Black Ops Cold War and Warzone.
WHAT DOES THE COD: VANGUARD ULTIMATE EDITION INCLUDE?
The Ultimate Edition packs even more content in:
- Call of Duty: Vanguard (PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S or PC versions)
- Early access to Call of Duty: Vanguard Open Beta
- Night Raid Mastercraft Blueprint in Black Ops Cold War / Warzone (received for immediate use)
- Operator Arthur Kingsley in Black Ops Cold War / Warzone (received later)
- Frontline Weapons Pack containing two weapon blueprints (Digital exclusive)
WHAT DOES THE COD: VANGUARD CROSS-GEN BUNDLE INCLUDE?
The cross-gen bundle is for console owners only, and offers more rewards and flexibility over the standard option:
- Call of Duty: Vanguard (PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S versions)
- Early access to Call of Duty: Vanguard Open Beta
- Night Raid Mastercraft Blueprint in Black Ops Cold War / Warzone (received for immediate use)
- Operator Arthur Kingsley in Black Ops Cold War / Warzone (received later)
- Frontline Weapons Pack containing two weapon blueprints (Digital exclusive)
- Opportunity to pre-load the game before launch
- 5 hours of Weapons 2XP for Vanguard and Warzone when the game launches
WHAT DOES THE COD; VANGUARD STANDARD EDITION INCLUDE?
- Call of Duty: Vanguard (PS4, Xbox One, or PC version)
- Early access to Call of Duty: Vanguard Open Beta
- Night Raid Mastercraft Blueprint in Black Ops Cold War / Warzone (received for immediate use)
- Operator Arthur Kingsley in Black Ops Cold War / Warzone (received later)
- Frontline Weapons Pack containing two weapon blueprints (Digital exclusive)
- Opportunity to pre-load the game before launch
Console owners take note: this is the PS4 and Xbox One version only.
The game will play on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S via backwards compatibility, but if you're after a next-gen upgrade, you should take a look at the Cross-Gen Bundle or Ultimate Edition.
COD: VANGUARD WEAPONS, PART TWO
According to , the weapons featured in the new game are:
- Bren
- M1 Garand
- 3-Line Rifle
- Kar98k
- Machine Pistol
- Ratt
- 1911
- M1 Bazooka
- Panzerschreck
- F5 Fighting Knife
COD: VANGUARD WEAPONS
According to , the weapons featured in the new game are:
- STG44
- Itra Burst
- BAR
- NZ-41
- Volk
- M1928
- STEN
- MP-40
- Revolving Shotgun
- Auto-Loading Shotgun
- MG42
- DP27
VANGUARD ZOMBIE ARTIFACT ABILITIES
According to , the new artifact abilities are:
- Energy Mine
- Aether Shroud
- Ring of Fire
- Frost Blast
TASK FORCE ONE
Call of Duty: Vanguard features the specialist team Task Force One, which includes Arthur Kingsley, Polina Petrova, Wade Jackson, and Lucas Riggs.
They are tasked with pursuing Nazi Officer Hermann Wenzel Freisinger, as the game is set in WWIII.
NEW COD: VANGUARD STORY 'ONLY 5 HOURS'
Fans of the fame have reported online that according to technology outlet IGN, the new game's story campaign only lasts five hours.
GAMESPOT REVIEW OF COD: VANGUARD
The new Call of Duty fame received a mixed review rom
The outlet said: "The thing about Call of Duty games is that, with each yearly iteration, you pretty much know what you're getting--and that's largely the case here. It's both a blessing and a curse for Vanguard, however.
"Elements of Vanguard feel like good additions to the franchise, but its ideas also don't always mix well with the series' framework. That framework is still strong, and the solid gunplay, exciting multiplayer, and inventive moments of the campaign are worth seeking out.
"But forcing those two parts together exposes the seams in Call of Duty: Vanguard at times, weakening both parts of the game rather than pushing either one to the forefront."