Call of Duty: Vanguard Multiplayer Will Include 20 Maps, Combat Pacing Settings, And Cross-play

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Sledgehammer Games today revealed a big chunk of the multiplayer action for Call of Duty: Vanguard, which releases later this year. Featuring 20 maps and a global cast of soldiers, Vanguard will feature special forces fighters who are "gritty antiheroes" from every theater of World War II.

Each map comes with a variety of combat-pacing settings, which can alter the experience from slow-paced and low-player-count ("tactical") to more fast-paced and action-packed ("blitz") affairs. The new Patrol mode will have players attacking or defending a moving point on the map, and the maps will feature dynamic destructible environments.

12 operators will be available at launch, six of whom will be offered during the beta. As you level an operator, you'll receive cosmetics related to him or her, such as charms and finishing moves. There are a multitude of weapons and options for how to mod those weapons, allowing you to customize your loadout to an exceptional degree.

Although it will have cross-play on consoles, it was stressed that the PC version of the game is receiving special attention, including uncapped frame rate and ultra-wide/multi-monitor support. Accessibility features include settings for motion sickness reduction, improved text readability, and adaptive ease-of-use.

The presentation concluded with a preview of what's to come in battle royale spin-off Call of Duty: Warzone. A new Pacific island map will arrive after Vanguard's launch, and it will come with a new anti-cheat system. New modes, playlists, and limited-time and seasonal events will come later.

Call of Duty: Vanguard launches on November 5 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox X|S, and PC. You can pre-load for this weekend's (Sept. 10-13) PlayStation beta now, while the next weekend's beta will be for players on Xbox (Sept. 16-17) and all platforms (Sept. 18-20).