A new part of Call of Duty will be released again this year. We collect all official info and credible rumours about “CoD WW2: Vanguard”.
The next Call of Duty will be released in 2021, will allegedly be called “WW2: Vanguard” and will again be closely linked to CoD Warzone. In the meantime, publisher Activision has confirmed many rumours that have been circulating the net for weeks. We collect all official information and credible leaks on the release, setting, maps, weapons and the developer for you.
However, we would like to make it clear that regardless of the credibility of known leakers, their information does not come from an official source. So treat the corresponding lines with healthy scepticism.
This is what is known about Call of Duty 2021
Release: When will Call of Duty 2021 be released?
Although no official release date has been announced yet, at least we already know that the new CoD will definitely be released in 2021. Until now, the games in the series have always been released in October or November, usually on a Friday. Possible dates for the release of Call of Duty 2021 would therefore be, for example, 5 or 12 November.
Update from 5 May: Activision did not give an exact date in an investor call either, but announced that the release should take place sometime in autumn 2021. The rumours about a possible postponement to 2022 have thus been put to rest for the time being.
Reveal: When will CoD Vanguard be unveiled?
According to Tom Henderson, Warzone will play a central role in the 2021 CoD reveal. Like Cold War, the next Call of Duty is to be unveiled in Battle Royale. So we may be in for another lengthy reveal campaign in which snippets of information will only be published bit by bit.
Because of the success of Warzone, the reveal could be delayed, Activision president Robert Kostich also hinted:
‘The Reveal of a new CoD used to usually take place in May, but Cold War wasn’t announced until August 2020. We’re still hoping for the official unveiling of CoD 2021 in the summer of 2021 – indeed, Activision hinted at an “imminent” reveal in an investor call on 4 May. Which is, of course, a stretchy term.
The leaker ZestyCODLeaks went one step further and named a concrete timeframe. He discovered files for Season 4 in Warzone that contain “x2” in the name. The Cold War Reveal was called “x1” in the code at the time, so Zesty guessed that the CoD 2021 Reveal would be in Season 4:
Leaker ZestyCODLeaks went one step further and gave a specific time frame. He discovered files for Season 4 in Warzone that contain “x2” in the name. Cold War’s Reveal was called “x1” in the code at the time, so Zesty guessed that CoD 2021’s Reveal would be in Season 4:
🚨MAJOR EVENT COMING SOON🚨
I've actually known about this for a while now, but I felt like I didn't have enough for a post.
There is a NEW major event coming called 'X2' that will feature the 'Armoured Train' and 'Ambushes'.
BOCW's Reveal Event was 'x1_fin' 👀🔥
♥️+🔃 pic.twitter.com/WrEpvwM8Ez
— Zesty – News & Leaks (@ZestyCODLeaks) April 26, 2021
Season 4 of Warzone and Cold War launched on 15 June 2021 and a CoD 2021 reveal continues to be a long time coming. However, it is still possible that the reveal will come later in the season.
We also think August 2021 is quite conceivable, since, as with the last CoD: Cold War (which was also revealed very late), the global pandemic has shaped 2021 and may have caused corresponding delays.
Studio: Who is developing Call of Duty 2021?
Three developers are changing over at Call of Duty under publisher Activision’s mantle: Infinity Ward (Modern Warfare), Treyarch (Black Ops) and Sledgehammer Games (WW2). The studios are sort of vying with each other to see who will get the next nod.
Update from 5 May: As Activision officially announced in an investor call, this time the studio Sledgehammer has won the race and will develop CoD 2021. So known insiders were right with their leaks. And apparently the developers are very happy, as a look at the Twitter account reveals:
We’re so excited to be leading the charge on @CallofDuty this year and can’t wait to share more. https://t.co/pMuaFybT1r
— Sledgehammer Games (@SHGames) May 4, 2021
It was actually Sledgehammer’s turn in 2020, but then they helped with the development of Black Ops: Cold War under Treyarch. The last CoD to come out of Sledgehammer was WW2, which came out in 2017. The studio was also responsible for Advanced Warfare.
Title: What is the name of Call of Duty 2021?
The title of the next CoD has not yet been revealed. Some fans initially suspected that it could be called “Guerilla Warfare”, but there is no reliable information on this. In the meantime, most insiders believe in a different name.
This is what leaks say: According to the leaker ModernWarzone, the game will be called “WWII: Vanguard”. However, this could just be a working title that will be changed again. The magazine Eurogamer, which has already been right with its predictions in the past, believes that WWII: Vanguard is indeed the final title.
The leaker ZestyCODLeaks went one step further and named a concrete time period. He discovered files for Season 4 in Warzone that contain “x2” in the name. Cold War’s Reveal was called “x1” in the code at the time, so Zesty guessed that CoD 2021’s Reveal would be in Season 4:
Call of Duty 2021 has updated on https://t.co/hsFaJ0phsm as "Call of Duty: Slipstream" with the attached logo. Looks very WW2 to me. pic.twitter.com/O35cusy2lW
— Tom Henderson (@_Tom_Henderson_) June 29, 2021
Season 4 of Warzone and Cold War launched on 15 June 2021 and a reveal of CoD 2021 continues to be a long time coming. However, it is still possible that the Reveal will come later in the season.
We also think August 2021 is quite conceivable, since as with the last CoD: Cold War, which was also revealed very late, the global pandemic has shaped 2021 and could have caused corresponding delays.
It would actually have been Sledgehammer’s turn in 2020, but then they helped with the development of Black Ops: Cold War under Treyarch. The last CoD from Sledgehammer was WW2, which was released in 2017. The studio was also responsible for Advanced Warfare.
Title: What is the name of Call of Duty 2021?
The title of the next CoD has not yet been revealed. Some fans initially suspected that it could be called “Guerilla Warfare”, but there is no reliable information on this. In the meantime, most insiders believe in a different name.
This is what leaks say: According to the leaker ModernWarzone, the game will be called “WWII: Vanguard”. However, this could just be a working title that will be changed again. The magazine Eurogamer, which has already been right with its predictions in the past, believes that WWII: Vanguard is indeed the final title.
Update of 30 June: Leaker Tom Henderson noticed an update on Battle.net that most likely belongs to the new CoD 2021. It refers to a game called “Call of Duty: Slipstream”. This is probably not the final title, but rather a codename for a internal developer build.
Recently, the name and logo of Slipstream also appeared on the Playstation Network. According to the website Wccftech, there is even already a download size, which of course only refers to the Playstation versions:
– PS4: 28.4 GB
– PS5: 35.3 GB
Setting: Where and when is CoD 2021 set?
The next setting is not yet officially known, but there are currently several rumours and leaks about it. The most likely variant at the moment is a return to the Second World War, the last setting of a Call of Dutys by Sledgehammer.
WW2 scenario is considered certain: The fan portal ModernWarzone claims to have found out in March 2021 that CoD Vanguard will return to the Second World War. The conjecture is based on a known leaker.
The finding coincides with reports from the website Eurogamer. However, an article in the magazine contradicted speculations about an alternative WW2 timeline after 1945, saying that it is “a traditional WW2 setting”.
Or the Korean War: Other insiders report that CoD 2021 is set in the 1950s. At that time, for example, the Korean War, the beginning of the Vietnam War and the Suez Crisis took place. The well-known leaker Okami, for example, assumes that the Korean War will be at the centre:
Call of Duty 2021 will reportedly be set in the 1950s.
The Korean War started in 1950 so good chance it will be based around that.
(Source: @ModernWarzone) pic.twitter.com/A4HJZNpuDH
— Okami (@Okami13_) February 15, 2021
Vietnam rumours: The often well-informed insider Tom Henderson, who has since had to remove his tweets, reckons that this time it will be about a guerrilla war. That could speak for a Vietnam setting. However, he admits that the leaked Slipstream logo for the CoD 2021 alpha looks “very World War II”.
World War III rather not: That Call of Duty 2021 might be set in World War 3 is denied by both Henderson and the well-known leak portal ModernWarzone. A setting in the present or near future is considered unlikely, since Infinity Ward covers this setting with the Modern Warfare series.
Platform: Where will Call of Duty Vanguard be released?
In all likelihood, Call of Duty will be released in 2021 via Battle.net for the PC, as well as on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X / S. Activision said in an investor call that the game is “built for next-gen,” but did not specifically rule out a release for the older consoles.
According to CoD insider Tom Henderson, the release will also be on PS4 and Xbox One, although these would massively slow down development. He assumes that even Infinity Ward’s next CoD will still be released on last and current gen.
WW2 Vanguard is going to be held back so bad by previous generation consoles, and from my understanding they are planning previous gen for both Vangaurd and IW's next title. pic.twitter.com/PmokyHP0BU
— Tom Henderson (@_Tom_Henderson_) April 18, 2021
Campaign, multiplayer, co-op: what content does CoD 2021 have?
Activision hinted in the investor call that CoD 2021 will contain the usual modes, i.e. solo campaign, multiplayer and co-op mode. However, there is no concrete info on this yet.
Theoretically, the zombie mode Outbreak could also find its way into the upcoming CoD – at least developers had confirmed this possibility in the past. Editor Elena would probably be pleased:
Several leakers, including Nanikos, claim that CoD 2021’s co-op mode will indeed be a zombie mode again, developed by Treyarch, who are after all also behind Outbreak. The studio is said to be working closely with lead developer Sledgehammer. But there is no official confirmation of the zombies yet – after all, CoD 2021 hasn’t even been revealed yet.
Update from 1 July: The well-known leaker Tom Henderson claims that fans should not expect any major innovations in the multiplayer of CoD WW2: Vanguard, it is supposed to be a “Black Ops: Cold War 2.0”. Developer Sledgehammer Games is said to have tried out various things in order to make it more different from the in-house 2017 CoD WW2, but then had to discard much of it.
As for modes, Headquarters is said to be back in CoD 2021. In addition, Ground War, a large 64-player Battlefield-style multiplayer mode, could return in Call of Duty: Vanguard. The gameplay originally appeared for 2019’s CoD: Modern Warfare.
Henderson also estimates eight multiplayer maps at release, but stresses that this number could change at release. Furthermore, Blops developer Treyarch is said to be helping develop a Zombies mode for CoD WW2: Vanguard.
What weapons could CoD Vanguard get?
If the hints of a CoD WW2: Vanguard are confirmed, players can of course expect to see old World War II weapons. Fan favourites like the M1 Garand, the Kar98K, the Thompson M1928A1 or the MP40 should then most likely be represented.
The well-known scene leaker TheMW2Ghost also claims to have seen early footage of CoD 2021. The person expresses that an old shotgun was also among the weapons seen from Call of Duty WW2: Vanguard. This leaker also assumes a World War II setting.
https://twitter.com/TheMW2Ghost/status/1403652243908333569
Campaign, multiplayer, co-op: what content does CoD 2021 have?
Activision hinted in the investor call that CoD 2021 will contain the usual modes, i.e. solo campaign, multiplayer and co-op mode. However, there is no concrete info on this yet.
Theoretically, the zombie mode Outbreak could also find its way into the upcoming CoD – at least developers had confirmed this possibility in the past. Editor Elena would probably be pleased:
Several leakers, including Nanikos ), claim that CoD 2021’s co-op mode will indeed be a zombie mode again, developed by Treyarch, who are after all also behind Outbreak. The studio is said to be working closely with lead developer Sledgehammer. But there is no official confirmation of the zombies yet – after all, CoD 2021 hasn’t even been revealed yet.
Update from 1 July: The well-known leaker Tom Henderson claims that fans should not expect any major innovations in the multiplayer of CoD WW2: Vanguard, it is supposed to be a “Black Ops: Cold War 2.0”. Developer Sledgehammer Games is said to have tried out various things in order to make it more different from the in-house 2017 CoD WW2, but then had to discard much of it.
As for modes, Headquarters is said to be back in CoD 2021. In addition, Ground War, a large 64-player Battlefield-style multiplayer mode, could return in Call of Duty: Vanguard. The game mode originally appeared for 2019’s CoD: Modern Warfare.
Henderson also estimates eight multiplayer maps at release, but stresses that this number could change at release. Furthermore, Blops developer Treyarch is said to be helping develop a Zombies mode for CoD WW2: Vanguard.
What weapons could CoD Vanguard get?
Should the hints of a CoD WW2: Vanguard be confirmed, players can of course expect old World War II weapons. Fan favourites like the M1 Garand, the Kar98K, the Thompson M1928A1 or the MP40 should then most likely be represented.
The well-known scene leaker TheMW2Ghost also claims to have seen early footage of CoD 2021. The person expresses that an old shotgun was also among the weapons seen from Call of Duty WW2: Vanguard. This leaker also assumes a World War II setting.
Saw some footage of CoD 2021 / Vanguard recently. Definitely WW2 uniformed soldiers.
Saw a Kar 98 (they were using MW19’s asset for it) some WW2 trench shotgun, Molotovs. The map they was playing on *looked* as if it was set in an African palace.
HUD looked like WaW’s.
— MW2 OG (@TheMW2Ghost) June 12, 2021
What maps could CoD Vanguard be getting?
So far there is no official information about the maps of Call of Duty 2021. The only leak comes from insider TheMW2Ghost, who talks about a return of the London Docks map from 2017’s CoD WW2:
Just some small bits to share
I’ve been told that the map ‘London Docks’ from WW2 is apparently coming to Vanguard as season dlc (1 or 2 I think)
As well as a WW2 version of a very fan-favourite map from a very iconic cod game…. 👀 can’t share what that map is just yet though
— MW2 OG (@TheMW2Ghost) June 27, 2021
Also, the leaker claims that a “very popular map from an iconic CoD” will be featured in Call of Duty 2021. However, the person did not share which one exactly.
How is CoD 2021 related to Warzone?
Activision announced during an investor call that the new Call of Duty will be integrated with Warzone. This is likely to be similar to what happened with Cold War, so you can expect new weapons, operators and maybe even a WW2 map to end up in the battle royale again.
Update from 30 June: According to leaker Tom Henderson the new Warzone map is to be set in the Pacific, in keeping with the presumed setting in the Pacific War. The map is supposedly much larger than Verdansk. In addition, unlike CoD: Cold War, it is to be released directly with the release of Call of Duty: Vanguard. This contradicts his earlier statements, which he explains by last-minute changes in the developers’ plans. Henderson also believes that new modes are coming to the map, including tanks, which is reminiscent of Battlefield 5: Firestorm.
A really big eye-opener reminiscent of Battlefield: According to Henderson, CoD Vanguard will focus on destructible environments in Warzone. Players will be able to shoot walls, doors and trees, something that was only possible in multiplayer in 2013’s Call of Duty: Ghosts. However, the destruction will not be as extensive as in Battlefield, but will be limited to a few elements so as not to overtax the last-gen consoles.
Boats, vehicles and aircraft? Henderson also claims that new vehicles and also aircraft and boats will make their way into Warzone. This would be a great innovation, as players have so far only been able to travel on foot and in land vehicles.
July 1 update: Dataminer Nanikos has also found clues to key Warzone locations, which are said to be.
– Airfield
– Airstrip
– Arsenal
– Beach Head
– Caldera
– Capital
– Docks
– Farms
– Lagoon
-Mines
– Radio Station
– Subpen
– Villages
If this leak is true, there could also be clues to possible multiplayer maps here, as Warzone is traditionally partly composed of the levels.
The COD 2021 WZ POIs have been found in the latest update. They are as follows.
Resort, capital, radio station, subpen, farms, airfield, lagoon, beach head, caldera, mines, village, airstrip, docks, arsenal
Credit goes to Glitchy for finding these in the latest update. pic.twitter.com/x2ud8u0vFd
— Nanikos (@_Nanikos_) June 18, 2021
What is certain at this stage is that Warzone will continue to be the big driver of Call of Duty in the future. According to official Activision figures, Warzone has massively boosted revenues and also given the flagging Cold War a decent sales boost. The extremely successful Battle Royale will definitely continue in the long run, regardless of the annual release cycle: Season 3 is currently running in Warzone.
Does CoD have to change? For GameStar editor Peter, the time has come for a revolution: He would have much preferred Cold War as a solo role-playing game. He explains in his column why he liked the innovations but why they still don’t go far enough:
Payment model: What about DLCs, Battle Pass and Seasons?
There is no official info on these details yet. So far, however, there are also no signs that Activision might deviate from the new monetisation policy.
With 2019’s CoD: Modern Warfare, the publisher switched to a strategy around free additional content such as new maps and weapons. Additionally, regular new Seasons with Battle Pass for cosmetic items found their way into the franchise.
Should Activision stick with this model, players can expect the familiar flow from CoD: MW and Cold War, which revolves around game-relevant free content and extra cosmetic paid content.
