Call of Duty: Vanguard confimed by Warzone Season 5 leak

It’s been assumed for some time that Call of Duty: Vanguard would be the name of the franchise’s 2021 release. However, thanks to files encased in this week’s Back Ops Cold War / Warzone Season 5 update, it would appear that those long lingering rumours are all but confirmed. 

We can safely assume that CoD: Vanguard is being developed by Sledgehammer Games (with assistance from Treyarch), the team that led the way on 2017’s divisive Call of Duty: WWII. On this latest return to the Western Front, the campaign focus will be on special forces operations rather than frontline operations, with the storyline moving at some point to the Pacific Theater. It will be the first time a CoD has headed into the jungle since 2008’s World at War.

World at War was notable of course for kicking off the Black Ops storyline and introducing zombies to the series. We’re told to expect remastered maps from that game in the new release, which is being reported as being down for release on November 5, 202.

Also revealed by the leak are the likely availability of three editions of the game: Standard, Ultimate and the Cross-Gen Bundle, with bonus content planned in the form of Wade, Lucas, and Polina Operator skins, the Breacher assault rifle, Snowstorm sniper rifle, and Thunderhead machine gun.

Activision was apparently planning to officially announce Call of Duty: Vanguard on August 19, with details of pre-orders and a planned open beta period. Whether the under siege publisher decides to bring things forward remains to be seen, but as soon as we have confirmation on any of the leaked details, we’ll be sure to update you. In the meantime, set your sights on November 5… or perhaps a little earlier, if the reported open beta is to be a thing.