Call of Duty: Vanguard is a first-person shooter set during World War II that delivers a complete package of campaign, multiplayer, and cooperative play on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Developed by Sledgehammer Games with Zombies support from Treyarch, the title places players in key battles across the Pacific, Europe, and North Africa while emphasizing fast-paced gunplay and global conflict on a large scale.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on responsive movement and precise shooting across varied environments. Players engage in direct firefights with a focus on weapon handling, recoil patterns, and positioning that reward quick decisions. Multiplayer supports cross-generation play between PS4 and PS5 versions along with cross-progression for seamless advancement across platforms.
Weapon customization stands out through extensive attachment options that alter handling, damage profiles, and recoil behavior. Reactive environments allow for dynamic interactions during matches, while features such as blindfire and custom ballistics add layers to close-quarters and longer-range engagements. Combat pacing lets players select lobby sizes that range from standard 6v6 tactical matches to larger assault or blitz formats for different intensities.
Game Modes
Multiplayer launches with over 20 maps, including 16 designed specifically for core 6v6 action. Classic modes include Team Deathmatch, Domination, Kill Confirmed, Search and Destroy, Hardpoint, and Free for All. Two additions expand the options: Patrol features a continuously moving objective that teams must contest across the map, and Champion Hill operates as a squad-based survival tournament where players manage limited lives, upgrade loadouts between rounds, and compete in bracket-style elimination.
The single-player campaign follows a linear narrative through multiple missions without co-op support. It shifts between different soldiers from various nations as they participate in operations spanning dogfights, airdrops, sniper defense, and infantry advances.
Zombies provides cooperative survival against waves of undead. The launch experience centers on Der Anfang, a hub-style map with portal objectives that blend survival elements and task completion. Subsequent updates introduced additional maps such as Terra Maledicta and a round-based version of Shi No Numa, along with story quests and artifact-based progression tied to the Dark Aether narrative.
Campaign and Narrative
The story follows an international group of soldiers who form the foundation of what becomes special forces operations. Missions cover distinct fronts with set-piece sequences that highlight different combat styles, from naval engagements to urban defense. Character focus drives the experience forward through personal stakes amid the larger war effort.
Is It Worth Playing?
Reception has been mixed since launch, with critics noting strengths in gunplay and map variety alongside criticisms of progression systems and limited innovation relative to prior entries. The campaign receives consistent praise for its pacing and production values, while multiplayer delivers reliable matches for fans of objective-based and deathmatch formats. Zombies appeals to players seeking cooperative survival with evolving map support over time.
The game remains available through standard digital purchase on PlayStation platforms and joined Xbox Game Pass in 2026, providing broader access for those interested in trying the full suite of modes. It suits players who enjoy World War II settings combined with established Call of Duty multiplayer loops and cooperative zombie survival. Those prioritizing fresh mechanics or extensive ongoing seasonal content may find the experience more limited compared with newer releases in the series.
