Download the brand-new Call of Duty: Vanguard
Call of Duty has been an iconic franchise ever since the first game launched in 2003. Its success is evident in the sheer number of titles released in the series over the years.
In total, 46 titles (both mainline entries and spin-offs) have been released, and with Vanguard the series now reaches 18 core games. One year after COD Black Ops Cold War, players can return to the story of these special forces and experience some of World War II’s darkest moments from a first-person perspective.
Developers and publishers
The game is developed by Sledgehammer and published by Activision Blizzard, just like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, which also launched on PC exclusively through Activision Blizzard’s game library Battle.net.
Note:
- If you pre-ordered Vanguard, make sure to claim the included weapons pack.
Four characters – four stories, four fronts around the world
The line repeated on Call of Duty’s official site, in trailers, and in news about the new COD is “Rise on every front.” Vanguard doesn’t focus on a single theater of war. You’ll fight on four fronts, each letting you play as a different character who ultimately comes together as a unified resistance against the Axis powers.
Wade Jackson
Over the Pacific, you’ll engage in aerial combat as American pilot Wade Jackson, captain of the reconnaissance squadron in the United States Navy. Charismatic and driven by adrenaline, Wade must keep a cool head even as the plane next to him erupts in flames.
Arthur Kingsley
Arthur Kingsley was released as an Operator in COD: Black Ops Cold War for those who pre-ordered Vanguard. Born in British Cameroon to a royal family, he is a learned man who studied at university, speaks many languages, and inspires those around him.
Lucas Riggs
Lucas Riggs is a demolitions expert from Australia. His weapon of choice is explosives; in his world, there’s no problem that can’t be solved by blowing something up. A passionate soldier, he intimidates enemies with his explosive combat techniques.
Polina Petrova
Polina Petrova stands in sharp contrast to the male characters. A lieutenant specializing in marksmanship, Polina is an exceptionally skilled soldier. Through her eyes, you’ll witness one of World War II’s largest massacres, which claimed both civilian and military lives. She serves in the Krasnaya Armiya (“the Red Army”) in the Soviet Union, and below we walk through some of her pre-release gameplay.
Defend Stalingrad as Polina Petrova
Before launch, a gameplay trailer was released to give players a taste of what to expect from the campaign. Dubbed the “Stalingrad Demo,” the footage takes place in this historic city.
In Stalingrad (now called Volgograd) in the former Soviet Union, we experience—through the eyes of the young soldier Polina Petrova—how one of the 20th century’s greatest military catastrophes unfolded.
On a routine patrol, Polina walks through the heart of the defense; red flags with the crossed yellow hammer and sickle wave from the massive buildings around her. She doesn’t get far before a horrifying sound cuts across the square. The world seems to stop—everyone senses something is wrong, and they’re right.
A swarm of planes, like a black sun, sweeps over the square, dropping bombs and shooting indiscriminately at civilians and soldiers alike.
An hour later, the city lies in ruins, and Polina’s fierce desire to defend her country and avenge her family is put to the test as she fights to survive a battle that historically left nearly two million soldiers dead, wounded, or missing. Almost the entire civilian population of Stalingrad perished in this bloody Axis assault, which nevertheless miraculously ended in a Soviet victory.
Polina ends up sprinting from the planes as explosions and executions erupt all around her—setting a serious, intense tone from the very beginning. Prepare for shocking, harrowing moments as you play Vanguard.
Multiple game modes
You don’t just get a gripping story campaign when you buy the new Call of Duty—you also get multiple ways to play.
As always, there’s competitive online multiplayer. The game launches with twenty maps where you can do battle; the developers also focused on delivering an online experience built for long-term engagement.
You’ll authentically learn new gameplay techniques as you play, and the environment is reactive—breach walls and windows to create fresh escape routes or new angles to surprise the enemy.
Vanguard also supports cross-play, cross-progression, and cross-gen, so you and your friends can always play together and keep your progress, even away from your usual gaming setup.
Treyarch’s year – the year of Zombies
Treyarch was involved in development, which made it possible to implement the Zombies universe they first introduced to Call of Duty; more specifically Call of Duty: World at War (Zombies).
So what can you expect when the box says “developed by Treyarch”? Quite a lot—it continues the Zombies storyline with a campaign in which Nazis become capable of raising the dead to use them as inhuman weapons.
Conclusion
Whether you buy the PC version via our links at the top and bottom of this page or prefer Xbox Series XS / One, PS4, or PS5, you’re in for many hours of intense entertainment that put you through the terrifying and heroic experiences of war.
The different characters are well balanced and add variety—shifting pace and atmosphere alongside the changing locations and ecosystems.
Combat emphasizes weapon skill more than ever, and the scenarios are packed with heart-pounding moments.
Download Call of Duty: Vanguard
