Call of Duty Vanguard

Call of Duty: Vanguard is a first-person World War II action shooter for PC that combines a cinematic single-player Campaign, competitive Multiplayer, and cooperative Zombies. Current Steam, Battle.net, Xbox, and Activision listings continue to use the exact name Call of Duty: Vanguard; no verified storefront rebrand or replacement edition has superseded it.

Three modes built around fast gunplay

Vanguard moves between the Eastern and Western Fronts of Europe, the Pacific, and North Africa. Its Campaign follows an international group of soldiers whose experiences lead to the formation of Task Force One, presenting the war through several character perspectives rather than one anonymous recruit.

The Campaign is structured as a linear, set-piece-driven military shooter. Players switch between operators such as Arthur Kingsley, Polina Petrova, Wade Jackson, Lucas Riggs, Richard Webb, and Shigenori Ota, with each character bringing a different background and combat emphasis to the story.

Campaign missions mix close-quarters firefights, stealth sections, defensive stands, vehicle sequences, and long-range engagements. It is best suited to players who want a directed war narrative rather than an open-ended tactical sandbox.

Multiplayer is the long-term core of Vanguard. Matches revolve around familiar objective and elimination rules, but the game adds Combat Pacing, allowing matchmaking preferences that favor denser, faster encounters or more traditional player counts.

Destruction, blindfire, and weapon progression

Vanguard’s multiplayer maps include reactive environments and destructible elements. Walls, doors, windows, and other pieces of cover can be damaged or opened, changing sightlines and making static defensive positions less reliable as a match develops.

The gunplay also introduces blindfire, letting players shoot from behind cover without fully exposing their character. It is less accurate than aiming normally, but it can suppress a doorway, finish an enemy near a corner, or create a brief opportunity to reposition.

Weapon handling is shaped by custom ballistics, attachment choices, and the Gunsmith system. Players can tune weapons with optics, magazines, stocks, ammunition types, and other modifications, creating loadouts for aggressive close-range play, controlled mid-range engagements, or slower support roles.

Progression extends beyond weapons. Enlisted Ranks unlock loadout content, weapon experience opens attachments and camouflage challenges, and Operator progression is tied to skins, rewards, and preferred weapons. Cross-progression connects eligible progress across PC and console platforms through the same Activision account.

For a newer Call of Duty experience with movement-heavy combat and a larger Zombies focus, modern military shooters with round-based Zombies such as Call of Duty Black Ops 6 provide a useful comparison, although Vanguard keeps its weaponry and visual identity rooted in World War II.

Champion Hill and Patrol

Champion Hill is Vanguard’s distinctive multi-arena survival tournament. Teams or solo players fight through compact arenas, manage limited resources, purchase equipment between rounds, and attempt to outlast the rest of the bracket.

The mode rewards more than raw aim. Choosing when to upgrade weapons, when to buy armor or streaks, and how aggressively to contest the next arena gives Champion Hill a light tactical layer inside the otherwise rapid multiplayer formula.

Patrol reworks the familiar Hardpoint concept around a moving objective. Instead of holding one fixed zone, teams must follow and defend a patrol point as it travels through the map, creating shifting front lines and frequent close-range clashes.

These modes complement the standard playlist structure rather than replacing it. Players can move between traditional objective matches, Combat Pacing preferences, Champion Hill tournaments, and progression challenges without abandoning the same loadout ecosystem.

Vanguard Zombies and the Dark Aether

Vanguard’s Zombies mode is led by Treyarch Studios and continues the Dark Aether storyline associated with the wider Black Ops Zombies universe. The opening scenario, Der Anfang, places players in a hub area connected to other locations through portals.

Its structure combines survival combat with objective-based excursions. Players enter areas to complete activities, earn resources, return to the hub, and decide whether to push farther or improve their equipment before the next encounter.

The mode uses Artifacts and Covenants to add supernatural abilities and temporary build choices. Players can select upgrades that change how weapons, melee attacks, equipment, or damage bonuses function during a run.

The story centers on entities including Kortifex the Deathless, Von List, Inviktor the Destroyer, Bellekar the Warlock, Norticus the Conqueror, and Saraxis the Shadow. Zombies can be played solo or cooperatively online, making it the most approachable part of Vanguard for players who prefer PvE progression to competitive matches.

Content model and current PC edition

The paid base game includes the Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies. The digital Standard Edition is associated with the Frontline Weapons Pack, which contains two weapon blueprints.

Vanguard also uses optional in-game purchases, including Call of Duty Points, cosmetic bundles, Operator items, weapon blueprints, and themed Pro Packs. These purchases are not required to access the three main modes, but they form part of the game’s live-service progression and customization model.

Multiplayer maps, modes, seasonal events, and Zombies content were supported through post-launch updates. The practical appeal of the current package therefore depends on which mode you value most: the Campaign is a fixed narrative, while Multiplayer and Zombies are built around repeatable matches, unlocks, challenges, and mastery.

Players looking for another Call of Duty package with a strong campaign and competitive online structure can compare Vanguard with fast-paced Call of Duty campaigns and multiplayer suites like Modern Warfare III, though that game uses a modern setting and a different weapons sandbox.

PC features, accounts, and localization

The PC version supports keyboard and mouse as well as compatible controllers. Beenox’s PC work includes extensive keybind and graphics options, customizable display settings, ultrawide support, and multi-monitor support.

Players using multiple displays can use focused display options designed to reduce distractions on secondary monitors while the game is running in a borderless configuration. Vanguard also includes accessibility options intended to improve text readability, reduce motion discomfort, and make control settings easier to adjust.

Online play requires an internet connection, the relevant PC launcher, a Battle.net or Steam account depending on the storefront, and an Activision account. Cross-play allows PC players to join matches with PlayStation and Xbox users, while cross-progression carries eligible profile and unlock data across linked platforms.

RICOCHET Anti-Cheat protection applies to Vanguard, including a PC kernel-level driver and server-side security systems. This is important for players choosing Vanguard primarily for online Multiplayer, where account and platform requirements remain part of the experience.

Supported interface or subtitle languages include English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese-Brazil, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, Arabic, and Latin American Spanish. Full audio availability varies by language, so players should check the storefront language table before purchasing for a specific localization.

Who should play Call of Duty: Vanguard?

Vanguard suits players who want quick first-person gunplay, a cinematic World War II Campaign, cross-platform Multiplayer, and a cooperative Zombies mode inside one paid package.

It is particularly effective for players who enjoy rotating between solo missions, competitive loadout progression, and repeatable PvE runs instead of committing to one narrowly focused mode.

The game is a weaker fit for anyone seeking a historically restrained simulation, deep tactical planning, large-scale vehicle warfare, or a fully open-ended Campaign. Its combat is designed around speed, spectacle, readable objectives, and frequent weapon customization.

For a more deliberate World War II alternative built around stealth, positioning, and long-range marksmanship, third-person WWII stealth shooters such as Sniper Elite V2 Remastered offer a slower and more methodical contrast.

Call of Duty: Vanguard FAQ

Is Call of Duty: Vanguard still the official PC name?

Yes. Current official and storefront listings continue to use Call of Duty: Vanguard. No verified rebrand, renamed legacy edition, or replacement title has been identified for the PC version.

What modes are included in Vanguard?

The paid base game includes a single-player Campaign, competitive Multiplayer, and cooperative Zombies. Campaign progress is narrative-based, while the other modes focus on repeatable matches, challenges, unlocks, and mastery.

Does Vanguard support cross-play?

Yes. PC players can play with users on PlayStation and Xbox through cross-play. Cross-progression is also supported when platforms are linked to the same Activision account.

Can you play Vanguard Zombies solo?

Yes. Zombies supports solo play as well as online cooperative sessions. The mode combines combat, objectives, hub-based preparation, supernatural upgrades, and escalating enemy pressure.

Does Vanguard have controller support on PC?

Yes. The PC version supports compatible controllers alongside keyboard and mouse input. Its control, keybind, display, and accessibility options allow players to tune the interface around their preferred setup.

Is Vanguard free to play?

No. Vanguard is a paid base game. It also includes optional in-game purchases such as Call of Duty Points, cosmetic bundles, Operator items, and weapon blueprints.

Which developers worked on Vanguard?

Sledgehammer Games leads the project, with Treyarch responsible for Zombies development and support from Beenox, Raven Software, High Moon Studios, and Demonware. Activision publishes the game.