Call of Duty: Vanguard updates – Best reviews as COD is released TODAY plus Forza Horizon 5, PS5, Xbox & Fortnite latest
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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...
HOW MANY MISSIONS ARE THERE IN COD VANGUARD?
The new game features nine missions:
- Phoenix
- Operation Tonga
- Stalingrad
- The Battle of Midway
- Numa Numa Trail
- Lady Nightingale
- The Rats of Tobruk
- The Battle of El Alamein
- The Fourth Reich
VANGUARD 'TAKES ITSELF LESS SERIOUSLY'
Technology writer reviewed the game on Friday.
"Vanguard takes itself less seriously than the last couple Calls of Duty have and I really appreciated that," he said.
"Instead of Saving Private Ryan, which games have been trying so hard to do for 20 years now, it's more The Guns of Navarone or Where Eagles Dare."
FANS AWAIT RELEASE
Fans of the popular game took to Twitter to share how they were waiting for the launch on Friday.
INSTALL SIZE ON PS5 REVEALED
A PS5 user shared the install size of Call of Duty: Vanguard just moments after the game was released on Friday morning.
PRE-ODER BONUSES
All three digital editions have the following pre-order bonuses included, so you're getting all of this no matter which edition you opt for:
- Early access to Call of Duty: Vanguard beta
- Night Raid Mastercraft Weapon 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
- “Shredder” Submachine Gun
- “Wildwood” Submachine Gun
- Opportunity to pre-load the game before launch
THREE EDITIONS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER
There were three different editions of the new Call of Duty available to pre-order: Standard Edition, Cross-Gen Bundle, and the Ultimate Edition.
There are also differences between digital and physical editions of the game, just to make things even more complicated.
Call of Duty: Vanguard release date and start time
Call of Duty: Vanguard launches this Friday, November 5 across all platforms.
If you pre-order, you can pre-load the game and start playing on November 4 according to one tipster. The times for North America are listed below:
- 9pm PDT
- 10pm MDT
- 11pm CDT
- 12am EDT November 5
Pre-loads started on October 28 for console players, so if you’ve pre-ordered digitally, you can pre-load right now.
If you’re playing on PC, pre-load begins at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT on November 2.
'DON'T FORGET TO PRE-LOAD'
The official Call of Duty Twitter account reminded fans to pre-load shortly before the game is released.
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Vanguard players get EXCLUSIVE first access to a brand new map
CALL of Duty: Vanguard is launching in a few hours, granting players exclusive first access to a brand new Warzone map.
laid out the Vanguard road to Season One and has shared the details of a Vanguard exclusive.
Call of Duty's upcoming title will see full interaction with Warzone, and the end Verdansk.
After Vanguard's launch, players will be dropping into Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific with a lush and verdant map to boot.
Caldera is described as "just the beginning of Vanguard’s full integration into Warzone."
It won't be available until December, but there is a way to get exclusive first access for 24 hours.
Read more here.
Call of Duty: Vanguard – what to expect (Continued...)
The title will take players back to WWII with a solo campaign following the birth of special forces units.
Multiplayer is introducing new features to the franchise, like destructible environments.
It'll also be integrated with Warzone, which is getting a new Pacific map for the occasion.
Call of Duty: Vanguard releases on Friday, November 5 so make sure you pre-order if you want to pre-load early and dive in at launch.
Players can also play through the franchise in order of their timelines Credit: Handout Call of Duty: Vanguard – what to expect
This year's entry in the series is Call of Duty: Vanguard, developed by Sledgehammer.
That name will be familiar to long-time fans of the franchise.
The studio is wholly owned by Activision, and is responsible for some of the most iconic Call of Duty games.
Sledgehammer developed, co-developed or assisted with:
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
- Call of Duty: WWII
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Call of Duty: Vanguard Ultimate Edition (digital)
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)
- 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.
The digital editions
All three digital editions have the following pre-order bonuses included, so you're getting all of this no matter which edition you opt for:
- Early access to Call of Duty: Vanguard beta
- Night Raid Mastercraft Weapon 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
- “Shredder” Submachine Gun
- “Wildwood” Submachine Gun
- Opportunity to pre-load the game before launch
North America release times
The times for North America are listed below:
- 9pm PDT
- 10pm MDT
- 11pm CDT
- 12am EDT November 5
Pre-loads started on October 28 for console players, so if you’ve pre-ordered digitally, you can pre-load right now.
If you’re playing on PC, pre-load begins at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT on November 2.
Call of Duty: Vanguard release date and start time
Call of Duty: Vanguard launches this Friday, November 5 across all platforms.
If you pre-order, you can pre-load the game and start playing on November 4 according to one tipster.
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Where to pre-order if you are a PC gamer
If you prefer your desktop to your console then the best place we have seen to get your hands on Vanguard is .
They are offering the game at a starting price of £49.99 ($59.99) and all three different editions of the game are on offer.
Explained: What is Call of Duty?
Call of Duty is one of the world’s most popular video game franchises published by Activision.
The original game, released in 2003, was set during the Second World War, and Vanguard is its the 18th title.
Although there is a Modern Warfare spin-off series set in the near modern day most of the CoD games are set in different theatres of war during the 1940s.
Vanguard is set at the end of the war with a story line about the emergence of the special forces as the world faces a new threat.
Where to pre-order on PS5
- – £69.99 / $69.99
- – £69.99 / $69.99
- – £69.99
- – £69.99
- – £69.99
- – $69.99
- – $69.99
- – $69.9
Where to pre-order Call of Duy on XBox X|S
- – £69.99 / $69.99
- – £69.99 / $69.99
- – £69.99
- – £69.99
- – £69.99
- – $69.99
- – $69.99
- – $69.99
Call of Duty: Vanguard PS5 exclusives (Continued...)
There’s also seasonal combat packs, with the first one including a new Operator skin, Weapon Blueprint, and more.
Partying up with other PlayStation players will net you even more rewards. Party members get +25% bonus weapon XP.
Monthly double XP events running for 24 hours, and an additional two loadout slots are also being made available for players on the platform.
Call of Duty: Vanguard PS5 exclusives
If you’re playing Call of Duty: Vanguard on PS4 or PS5, there’s some free, exclusive content headed your way.
PlayStation players who purchase the Battle Pass Bundle get a bonus five Tier Skips on top of the 20 that the bundle offers as default
Gone gaming
Gamers have spent the equivalent of 78 DAYS playing video games over the past 18 months.
A study of 2,000 adults who regularly game found 39 per cent spent more time gaming during the last year and a half – playing an estimated 40 per cent more in a typical week than pre-pandemic.
An average of 17 hours and 48 minutes was spent by individuals on their console between Monday and Fridayduring the average week.
While weekends accounted for another six hours and 52 minutes – a total of more than 24 hours a week.
But despite the increase in gaming, 48 per cent like to stick to the same games, with the average gamer rotating through just three of their favourite titles.
Fan favourite features MISSING
The popular Call of Duty Zombies mode is going to look a bit different to franchise fans when the game drops tomorrow.
Call of Duty developer Treyarch is handling Zombies this year and has told that the upcoming Vanguard is going to be missing a couple of things.
- No round-based Zombies
- No Zombies campaign
Read more here.