Vanguard delivers the complete package to Call of Duty fans across Campaign, online Multiplayer and Zombies co-operative modes. Players will witness the origins of Special Forces as they change the face of history, forming Task Force One in a sprawling World War II narrative campaign spanning the Eastern and Western fronts of Europe, the Pacific, and North Africa. Multiplayer features 20 maps on day one at launch. While Zombies fans will experience a signature undead gameplay experience, marking a franchise-first Zombies crossover for Call of Duty.

Later this year, Vanguard players will be immersed in a fully integrated, new Call of Duty: Warzone experience featuring a brand-new map, new gameplay and new experiences. Together, this is the most connected Call of Duty ever, all powered by the next-generation Call of Duty engine introduced in Modern Warfare.

It's time to rise on every front.

Call of Duty: Vanguard is not just about World War II — it is how the world as we knew it could have been destroyed after it.

Call of Duty’s legacy, through several of its games, is entrenched in World War II. Sledgehammer Games, the lead studio for Vanguard, had its own perspective of the war through Call of Duty®: WWII in 2017.

In Vanguard, although most of the missions take place in a conflict whose story is told on multiple fronts, they reflect how five ordinary soldiers became heroes, ultimately resulting in what the game’s Campaign is all about — The origins of the original Special Forces — Task Force One — stopping what could have destroyed the world long after the war was over.

The Rise of Special Forces from Every Front

The game begins at its climax: as a newly recruited Operator within the budding Task Force One, you are en route to a heavily fortified U-boat facility. There, you must infiltrate the complex and obtain vital Axis military intelligence — stemming from something code-named Project Phoenix — before it is smuggled out of Germany.

Your squadmates are five soldiers whose individual actions helped turn the tide of World War II across four major fronts: Private Lucas Riggs in the North Africa Campaign, Lieutenant Wade Jackson from the Pacific, Lieutenant Polina Petrova who defended her home country on the Eastern Front, and your leader: Sergeant Arthur Kingsley of the British Army’s 9th Parachute Battalion.

Through Vanguard’s Campaign, you will live out the moments that made them heroes and learn how they came together to spearhead Task Force One. You will also get to know the concept of international “Special Forces,” and ultimately, what brings them face-to-face with the man who is spearheading Project Phoenix: the ruthless Nazi Officer Hermann Wenzel Freisinger.

Behind the Scenes of Vanguard’s Campaign

In addition to Vanguard’s Campaign reveal today, Sledgehammer Games gave a glimpse into their studio — also on multiple fronts, with locations across the United States, Canada, and Australia — and what they are doing to tell this original story based in World War II.

After retelling some of the familiar moments of World War II — Normandy and the actions of the United States’ “fighting” 1st Infantry Division — in 2017, Sledgehammer was ready to return to this pivotal global conflict with a broader perspective. When speaking to their historical advisor about the Vanguard storyline, the concept of massive tide-turning battles took hold, battles that shifted the direction of the war and that took place around the globe.

“You had battles happening on the snowy landscapes of Stalingrad, over the Solomon Islands in the Pacific, and in North Africa,” said David Swenson, Vanguard’s Campaign Creative Director.

And though tens of millions were involved in the war effort, individual actions still accounted for major contributions. “We’ve got the backdrop of these epic battles in diverse locations,” Swenson said, “but we’re also focusing on the personal stories of those who fought in World War II. These are the stories we want to tell.” 

Those individual stories are the Operators who ultimately make up Task Force One — and for one of them, Polina Petrova, we got a glimpse of it earlier in September at Gamescom.

She, like other characters in the game’s Campaign, drew inspiration from those who fought in World War II. Petrova is based on several female Soviet snipers whose confirmed kill count was in the hundreds. “Famous amongst her people and infamous amongst the Germans,” Swenson said, when speaking to one of Petrova’s inspirations, “she is to this day the most successful female sniper in history.”

In taking on the stories of these characters, Sledgehammer Games employed a diverse group of writers, each with their own skill set and perspective on the war.

“In doing a story on World War II,” Narrative Lead Stephen Rhodes said, “a place that’s been well trodden in video games, and using that history and that pivotal moment in time as a springboard to tell unique, interesting stories is one of the most excited parts of the Vanguard campaign.”

“In World War II,” Associate Narrative Designer Belinda Garcia said, “you assume that it’s always on the front lines and I think what our narrative does really well is show that the war was fought everywhere. It was fought in civilian places, and it affected people at home. It affected their loved ones, and it affected all these people that may not have wanted to play a part in the war but had to.”

Narrative Designer Alexa Ray Corriea also reflected on the team’s commitment to the game’s characters, citing a mission that wasn’t quite right until a rewrite session turned into a memorable moment during the game’s development:

“A bunch of us sat down to rewrite the mission, and over the development process, we all sort of ended up owning a character. We’re almost role playing the level as we’re going through it, and we came up with a much stronger script. This team is really something special.”

Meet the Elite Operators of Vanguard’s Campaign

Who are the Operators who spearheaded global special forces — Task Force One?

In Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Campaign, five heroes — Richard Webb, as well as playable characters Arthur Kingsley, Polina Petrova, Lucas Riggs, Wade Jackson — form an international squad toward the end of World War II to completely wipe out the Axis threat before they can escape with a path toward resurgence. These Operators also represent a third of the 12 playable characters available at launch within the game’s Multiplayer, which had its Beta period back in September.

Behind these Operators is the narrative team at Sledgehammer Games, who did extensive amounts of planning, writing, and research for Vanguard’s Campaign and who is set to give life to all the game’s Multiplayer Operators at launch and in the seasons to come.

The work they do for Vanguard is testament to the studio’s writing talent. If you want to get to know them more, check out our main blog, which delves “behind the scenes.”

But for this look into the game’s Campaign, here is what you need to know about the four protagonists you will play as and the game’s main antagonist — Hermann Wenzel Freisinger:

Sergeant Arthur Kingsley

The heart and leader of Task Force One, Kingsley was born in the Douala region of Cameroon before attending University of Cambridge and enlisted in the British Army. A man of nobility whose parents encouraged his multilingualism — he speaks English, German, French, Portuguese, and Bantu, both the Equatorial and Northern dialects — Kingsley saw politics always being discussed at the dinner table, and as a kid, his mother would read him his favorite book, The Three Musketeers, every night.

While Kingsley is a natural-born leader, he fears falling into the traditional patterns of the British Army, over-deliberating at times when his soldiers may be faced with a life-threatening situation. However, that all represents a near-unrivaled care for those who serve beside him, and Kingsley works every day to not only protect them, but also earn their respect.

To his core, Arthur is a kind soul with a warm but mischievous smile. He takes things to heart and harbors deep empathy for those close to him. He loves the comfort and warmth of his home life and family, and longs for peace time to return.

However, Arthur harbors a deep resentment: despite understanding the wrongs of the world, he is unable to right them. To that point, hehas a strong sense of loyalty to fight against the Nazis to help protect his home and put an end to the dangerous ideas Nazism propagates.

Lieutenant Polina Petrova

Born and raised in Stalingrad, Polina Petrova is a soldier not by choice, but by a need to defend her country.

Stalingrad was her childhood home, one where she lived many happy memories, including hunting with her father and brother. Although she lost her mother a decade prior to the war, her reality was even more impacted by the brutal Axis invasion of Operation Barbarossa. Using the sharpshooting skills, she learned from her family, Petrova’s story is one of vengeance and retribution for all that she and her community lost.

Polina is a woman of few words, but when she speaks, it is with purpose and often leaves a powerful impact. She’s content in her own company, only opening up to those she trusts and respects deeply with sharp and educated wit.

Although she barely shares what is on her mind, her actions speak for her opinions. Often, she takes matters into her own hands and never waits for anyone else, especially when her thirst for vengeance takes over and puts her in a blind rage.

Whether by words or action, Polina is driven by a desire to see her home free from Nazi invaders, and she is not afraid to put this personal pursuit above her duties.

Private Lucas Riggs

Lucas Riggs prefers actions over words, and although his personality is far from explosive, his method of dealing with threats is highly combustible.

A child of sheep farmers just outside Melbourne, Australia, Riggs worked with his family to tend the herd and collect wool. When World War II began, he didn’t hesitate to sign up before conscription was even implemented. He was ready to see more of the world and fight a greater evil than the occasional petty mobster in his area.

Riggs can be described as an enigma – he would not take offense to this distinction, as he understands people just as much as others understand him.

To his allies, Riggs is a gentle giant, often being the life of the party, but not one to seek the spotlight. To his enemies, Riggs is an intimidating and brutal warrior of honor. He stands up to wrongdoers and those who start conflicts with blunt force, ironically done via his specialty within the Australian Army: explosives.

Ultimately, Riggs is the definition of passion within a soldier. Valuing his fellow squad mates and country above all else, he wants to show the world what Australians are made of.

Lieutenant 1st Class Wade Jackson

A product of New York, pilot Wade Jackson is more at home in the sky than he is on the ground… And he is adamant on doing all his own stunts, even if the mission does not call for it.

Growing up in Brooklyn as a first-generation American, Jackson is a rebel who often finds himself first to a fight, especially if it’s about respect for his family. Bright, yet not engaged with traditional schooling, Jackson discovered his love for speed at the age of 16 through an afterschool repair club. He and his friends often took the vehicles at the shop for joyrides on the newly opened Interboro Parkway, where he would be the only daredevil able to tame the road’s dangerous curves at high speeds.

His newfound rigor for adrenaline paid off after high school, when he was accepted into the Navy’s enlisted aviation cadet program and earned his pilot’s wings in a dive bomber. Since then, he has become a true force in the Pacific.

Charismatic and enthusiastic, Wade enjoys a challenge and relishes the prospect of showing off his natural talents in the spotlight to prove he’s the best. He is egotistical and considers himself special, believing he can fix every problem through bold action.

As the daring hotshot of the group, Wade would rather be a lone wolf, but welcomes competent team members if they don’t get in his way.

Sergeant Richard Webb

Although he shares the same rank as his squad mate, Arthur Kingsley, Sergeant Richard Webb is Kingsley’s right-hand man, friend, and confidant.

Webb grew up in a family of academics, following in his parent’s footsteps in pursuing a professorship track at the university where they worked. In doing so, he had no intention of fighting in World War II; he felt secure that his graduate work would make him exempt from service. However, the draft called for him and he reluctantly joined the army.

He knows his country needs him for the war, but he sees no honor in the duty. Rather, he sees soldiering as a job that must be done if there is any hope of life returning to normalcy.

With no illusions of glory nor passion to volunteer for a high-risk assignment, Webb often takes a cautious and calculated approach to every conflict, using his intelligence based in realism to come to a correct decision. Indeed, Webb believes his choice is always right, and his stubbornness derails discussions just as much as his perceived pessimism for how a situation could go wrong.

Webb’s defining moment is during Operation Tonga, where his style of leadership and that of Arthur Kingsley reaches a breaking point. What happens then – and Webb’s ultimate decision to join Task Force One – is up to you to discover in Vanguard’s Campaign.

SS Oberst-Gruppenführer Hermann Wenzel Freisinger

The main antagonist of Vanguard’s Campaign, Freisinger is an ambitious and arrogant Nazi Officer, working at the Gestapo’s Berlin Headquarters. He is chief interrogator of the SS and the secret architect of the mysterious Project Phoenix.

Born as an only child to a wealthy family with a long history of military service, Freisinger served as a courier and information analyst during the later years of the Great War. Following that, he served in the military police and then the Gestapo, rising quickly through the Nazi Party through his cunning and tactical wit.

Ruthless and charismatic, Freisinger makes everyone in the room feel special, but uses this charisma to manipulate people into telling him what he needs to know. He is always trying to maximize what he can gain out of an individual, be it a colleague or an enemy, analyzing and remembering every tiny detail about them to get what he needs.

Freisinger’s goal is to live up to his family reputation within the military and continue the great lineage of his namesake. He does not see much value in winning individual battles, as he understands that to win the war, you must outsmart and outmaneuver your opponents.

Ultimately, Freisinger is willing to sacrifice anything – and anyone – to ensure that Project Phoenix is realized.

Key Features:

• Epic campaign spanning four major theaters of WWII  
  • Experience pivotal WWII battles through the untold stories of multinational heroes that formed Task Force One, changing the face of history and setting the stage for Special Forces as we know it  
  • Development led by award-winning studio Sledgehammer Games, Call of Duty: Vanguard drops players into an epic scale of global warfare, where they will experience combat through the eyes of the original Special Forces Operators across four major theaters of WWII  
  • The deeply engaging, single player narrative features a select multinational group of four soldiers from diverse backgrounds, who rise together in combat to turn the tides of war  
  • Vanguard uses the next generation Call of Duty engine introduced with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare to deliver breathtaking visual fidelity, a photo realistic world, lifelike characters and optimized performance that enhances the gameplay for an advanced Call of Duty experience.  
• Unparalleled Multiplayer offering 
  • Massive day 1 Multiplayer offering with 20 multiplayer maps at launch, including 16 core multiplayer 
  • Experience signature Call of Duty combat and new ways to play with combat pacing and reactive gameplay environments.
  • Tactical down the barrel gunplay, the return of Gunsmith, new custom ballistics, and reactive environments
  • The fast and frenetic Champion Hill mode features a series of tournament style head-to-head matches, where players can play solo (1v1) or squad up in duos (2v2) and trios (3v3) to battle it out in an arena consisting of four maps to be the last squad standing  
• Treyarch Zombies!  
  • From the birthplace of Zombies, Treyarch helps deliver a franchise first Call of Duty Zombies crossover as Vanguard connects with the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies storyline delivering a new connection for Call of Duty players  
  • Players will be able to survive the relentless onslaught of the undead in a chilling all-new Zombies experience, developed by Treyarch Studios  
  • Provides continuity from a lore standpoint while innovating on the core gameplay loop  
• Warzone Integration  
  • Raven Studios leading development of brand-new Call of Duty: Warzone map coming this year  
  • Will feature a multi-faceted, new anti-cheat system across Warzone
  • Shares the same tech as Vanguard for seamless weapon and operator integration

Post launch, Vanguard  together with Warzone will offer a massive calendar of free post-launch content featuring new maps, modes, playlists, limited time events and seasonal events, as well as community celebrations and more.

The Battle Pass system also returns, allowing you to unlock post-launch content with unified progression across both Call of Duty: Vanguard and Call of Duty: Warzone. As always, you can unlock items like base weapons, customization items, and more, simply by playing the game.

Call of Duty: Vanguard is scheduled for release on PS5, PS4, XboxSeries X|S ,Xbox One, and PC via Battle.net starting November 5, 2021. Call of Duty: Warzone’s new experience will release later this year.