Call of Duty: Vanguard will be released on November 5 and allows you to test the multiplayer in a beta test beforehand. What to expect in the beta starting September 10, the dates you can access the servers, and what improvements have been made compared to the alpha can be found on MeinMMO.
What’s happening with Vanguard? Last weekend, the first public test of the multiplayer mode for the new Call of Duty: Vanguard took place. However, the alpha was limited to PS4 and PS5. This is different for the beta, and the developers of Sledgehammer Games have now released new information about the next testing phase. Here you will find answers to your questions:
- When can I play?
- What do the 6 modes of the beta look like?
- Which 5 maps can I test in the beta?
- What content does the beta offer?
- What did the developers learn from the alpha?
MeinMMO summarizes the new information from the developers for you and shows all important dates related to the beta and the open beta.
When can I play the beta / open beta?
That depends on 2 factors: Do you have a PlayStation and/or did you pre-order? PlayStation players with a pre-order can access the servers first. Here are all the dates at a glance:
- September 10 – 13: Beta exclusively for pre-order customers on PlayStation
- September 16 – 20: Open Beta on PlayStation – No pre-order required
- September 16 – 20: Beta for pre-order customers on other platforms
- September 18 – 20: Open Beta for everyone
The first beta weekend is indeed only for pre-order customers on PlayStation. If you want to just try it out and are on PC or an Xbox, you can test it in the second weekend from September 18 – 20. Here is all the important information on how to pre-order Vanguard.
What do the 6 modes of the beta look like?
In the alpha test, there was only one game mode available, which could be played as a duo or trio. This “Champions Hill” mode is new in CoD Vanguard and is a kind of mini-tournament with constantly changing opponents. However, in the beta you can try out more modes:
- Champion Hill (Solos, Duos, Trios)
- Changing opponents and maps – Each team has 12 lives, and once used, they are eliminated.
- Team Deathmatch
- The classic among classic game modes. 2 teams compete for the most kills.
- Domination
- In German “Herrschaft” – The goal is to capture and hold 3 points on the map.
- Kill Confirmed
- In German “Abschuss bestätigt” – Like a deathmatch, but you must collect tags after kills.
- Patrol
- New with Vanguard and similar to “Stellung” – A zone appears and moves all the time. If players from one team are in the zone, points are awarded.
- Search and Destroy
- In German “Suchen & Zerstören” – One team has a bomb and must plant and hold it at one of 2 targets. The other team must prevent this.
However, not all modes are online at all times of the beta. “Patrol” will only go online on September 11, and you can try “Search and Destroy” in the second weekend, starting September 16.
Which 5 maps can I test in the beta?
Of the total 16 6vs6 maps that will be available at the launch of Vanguard, you can test four in the beta. The fifth map is part of the “Champions Hill” mode, which includes several small maps the size of skirmish maps:
- Maps for Champions Hill
- Hotel Royal
- Gavutu
- Red Star
- Eagle’s Nest
Again, not everything will be online at all times. The map “Eagle’s Nest” will only go online in the second beta week, on September 16.
What kind of maps are these? Gavutu is the name of an island in the Solomon Islands near New Zealand and is basically a medium-sized coastal map with palm trees and tank barriers on the beach. Red Star is slightly larger and takes place in a Russian city during winter – possibly Stalingrad,as the campaign also takes place there. Hotel Royale is also a medium-sized map and set in the heart of Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower. Eagle’s Nest is a well-known cabin in the German Alps and a small map.
What additional content does the beta offer?
The developers at Sledgehammer also give a small insight into more content, such as weapons or the number of different operators.
In Champions Hill, you have access to 3 rotating weapon sets, each consisting of two:
- Assault rifles
- LMGs
- Sniper rifles
- Shotguns
- Pistols
Which weapons will be available in multiplayer is not clear. However, you can level the weapons that are in the game up to level 30. Therefore, the new gunsmith in the game will likely be on duty.
Additionally, Vanguard tests the new “Combat Pacing.” Although the description now clearly states what the “Pacings” differentiate from each other, it still sounds a bit crazy:
- Tactical: Classic CoD experience with 6vs6 players
- Assault: Between 20 – 28 players on a map
- Blitz: Between 28 and 48 players can go all out on a map
The specified player numbers for Assault and Blitz only apply for the first beta weekend and may still change. Generally, the number of players will also depend on the respective map. If the new pacing really allows for up to 48 players on a 6vs6 map, that would be a whole new kind of CoD battle.
Finally, the developers show which operators will be available with the beta. There will be a total of six.
By the way: If you also want to write news, guides, or opinions about Call of Duty and other shooters, we are currently looking for support for MeinMMO’s shooter team.
What did the developers learn from the alpha?
The first section of the blog post is used by the developers to discuss the feedback and their experiences from the alpha. We briefly list the points for you:
- Visual Updates
- Better visibility when damage is taken
- Sun fog is less intense
- Outlining of characters intensified to better differentiate them from the background
- Overall exposure has been increased – everything is now brighter
- Audio Updates
- Footsteps of other players are louder
- Weapons of other players are quieter
- The announcer says less and is quieter
- Overall mixing has been improved to enhance informative sounds
- Upcoming Changes
- Issues with name tags being visible through walls are supposed to disappear
- The aim assist that works through walls will also be adjusted
Additionally, the developers also talk about the spawn points in the Champions Hill mode. There were often situations where players spawned next to each other or in the line of sight of the enemy. Adjustments will also take place here before the beta starts.
However, it seems the fixes for name tags will not make it into the game by the beta start. But the problem should be resolved by the release.
If you want to delve into the developers’ lines yourself, we link you here to the English blog (via sledgehammergames.com).
The developers promise in the blog post about the beta that they want to communicate openly with you and look forward to constructive feedback. Every serious hint, every small gameplay video with visible name tags that can be seen through walls can help the Vanguard creators make the game better.
If you have feedback, you can reach out to the official Twitter account of Sledgehammer Games (via Twitter).
All information about the release, including zombie mode and the campaign, can be found here: Call of Duty Vanguard: Release, Gameplay, and Multiplayer – Here’s what we already know about CoD 2021
