The first test phase of Call of Duty: Vanguard starts today, on August 27th. In the alpha, players on PlayStation get a first look at the multiplayer of the new CoD and can try out the arena mode “Champions Hill”. All details about participation can be found here on MeinMMO.
Update August 27th, 20:20: The alpha is online. We have embedded a video with gameplay for you.
What’s going on? The new Call of Duty: Vanguard celebrated its reveal in the battle royale Warzone and today marks the first test phase in the form of a PlayStation-exclusive alpha:
- “Champions Hill” alpha for PlayStation from Friday, August 27th at 19:00 until Sunday, August 29th at 19:00.
Owners of a PlayStation 4 or PS5 get the first opportunity to test the new Call of Duty. The alpha is part of the collaboration between Sony and Call of Duty and is therefore reserved only for PlayStation players. For other platforms, it will start no earlier than September 16th, with the launch of the beta on all platforms. Vanguard will be released on November 5th.
- Here you can find all the information about the download
- Here you jump to the information about the “Champions Hill” mode
As part of gamescom, there was already a 9-minute excerpt from the campaign of Vanguard. We embed gameplay from the launched alpha here:
Vanguard Alpha: All information on start and download on PS4 and PS5
From August 27th at 19:00 until August 29th at 19:00, you can test the mode on PlayStation 4 & 5. Overall, the alpha is online for 48 hours.
The blog post from Call of Duty mentions 2 prerequisites: A PlayStation (4 or 5) and an internet connection. As soon as the alpha is available, you will find the download in the PlayStation Store.
The pre-load is online and you can download the alpha via the PlayStation Store. If you don’t find the download directly in the shop, enter “Vanguard” in the search.
It depends on whether you enter the alpha on PS4 or PS5:
– PS4: 17.63 GB
– PS5: 21.23 GB
Vanguard: Alpha with gameplay of the new mode
What can be seen in the alpha? In the test phase, you can test the brand new mode “Champions Hill”. This is a new form of the popular gunfight modes from CoD MW and Cold War, but in a kind of tournament mode. In the alpha, there are two playlists that allow you to play Champions Hill in 2vs2 or 3vs3.
How does Champions Hill work? You play in a small tournament with 8 teams. In each round, you must shoot the lives of the opposing team down to 0 to advance to the next round.
At the beginning, all players start with the same loadout. By earning points, you can acquire better weapons, attachments, equipment, and even killstreaks. Points are earned by eliminating enemies or by collecting drops that you can gather during a round. Between the rounds, there is a “buy phase” in which you equip yourself and purchase better equipment for the next round.
In the end, the team that remains wins. As a loser, you can “cheer” for the other teams from a observation point.
Which maps are available? Of the 20 maps that CoD Vanguard launches with in multiplayer, 4 maps are small gunfight maps and all are available in the alpha:
- Courtyard
- Trainyard
- Market
- Airstrip
How does it work with the weapons? Which weapons you can specifically play in the alpha is left open by the developer Sledgehammer. However, there are 2 weapon sets that rotate through the mode. Both sets include assault rifles, LMGs, shotguns, and pistols.
All participants start with the same weapons and earn points during the matches. You can use these points between rounds in the buy phases for upgrades of the weapons. Each weapon comes with 10 optional upgrades, which correspond to attachments and improve your firearm.
What else can I purchase during the buy phase? In addition to weapons, there is also equipment, perks, and killstreaks during the buy phases:
- Equipment in the alpha
- MK2 Fragmentation Grenade
- No. 69 Flash Grenade
- Throwing Knife
- Gammon Bomb (likely a contact grenade)
- MK V Gas Grenade
- S-Mine 44
- Perks in the alpha
- Ghost – Helps with hiding
- Survival Training – Reduces stun and negates gas effects
- High Alert – Visual signal when enemies spot you
- Tracker: Enemies leave footprints
- Demolition – More grenades upon spawn and throw preview
- Double Time – Tactical sprint doubles and crouched running faster
- Streaks in the alpha
- Spy Plane: Shows enemy positions on the mini-map (automatically activated)
- Flamenaut: You become a fighter with a flamethrower (automatically activated)
- Deathmachine: Machine gun with explosive ammunition (automatically activated)
- V2 Rocket: Fire a rocket onto the field and end the match
- Extra Life: One more life for your team
- Armor Plate: An armor plate
- Full Armor: Multiple armor plates
The additional equipment already reveals quite a bit about the possible course. There are armor plates for soldiers, and some streaks are directly activated after purchase. How the mode actually plays out, we will observe from MeinMMO at the start and will provide you with timely information about the new mode and gameplay of Vanguard.
The small shootouts were very well received in the last two CoDs and with Vanguard, the modes are taking the next step. Instead of small skirmishes lasting a few minutes, you will apparently play the shootouts in a tournament that lasts a bit longer.
It will be exciting to see which modes the latest CoD will further develop and what familiar elements await us.
