Call of Duty: Vanguard beta — here's how to get access

Call of Duty: Vanguard
(Image credit: Activision)

Sledgehammer Games' upcoming Call of Duty: Vanguard is gearing up for its big launch on November 5, and while PS5 and PS4 players got a first look during August's alpha, an open beta is set to arrive this September.

As previously reported, Call of Duty: Vanguard’s beta is taking place over two weekends. The early access beta for PS5 and PS4 players already took place on September 13. 

The second beta weekend will either be an open beta or early access, depending on what platform you play on. The official Call of Duty blog site states for those on Xbox Series X or Series S, Xbox One, or PC via Battle.net, the first two days of the beta are "considered an Early Access period," so you'll need a pre-order code.

As for PS5 and PS4 players, the first two days of the five-day beta are open access, so get downloading. Plus, most PS players won't need a PlayStation Plus subscription.

(Image credit: Activision)

Vanguard's second beta will kick off from Thursday, September 16 at 10am PT / 1pm EST / 6pm BST  to Monday, September 20 at 10am PT / 1pm EST / 6pm BST. For those on Xbox consoles of PC, the open beta will kick off on Saturday, September 18 at 10am PT. 

How to access the Call of Duty: Vanguard beta

To join the beta, those with a digital pre-order will be automatically registered for early access, while players who pre-order a physical version may find their early access code on the retail receipt or sent via email. Early access codes can be redeemed at callofduty.com/betaredeem, but be sure to be logged into an Activision account.

For PlayStation players who pre-ordered, you can pre-load the early access beta right now in the PlayStation Store. Reports via Charlie Intel indicate the beta's filed size on PS5 will be 9GB.

As for PC and Xbox players, an early access beta is expected to be available starting from Thursday, September 16 until Friday, September 17, with the open beta being available from September 18. Essentially, from Saturday until Monday, anyone will be able to download and play the Call of Duty: Vanguard beta. 

What to expect 

The Call of Duty: Vanguard beta will focus on multiplayer content, delivering three traditional game modes to try including Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Kill Confirmed, along with a new game mode known as Patrol.

Players will be able to duke it out in three new Vanguard maps known as Hotel Royal, Red Star, and Gavutu. Plus, the beta will bring back Champion Hill, first introduced in the limited-time alpha. What's more, those who join the beta will get plenty of perks once Vanguard arrives in November.

Gamers who reach level 20 in the beta will receive a "Weapon Blueprint" for both Vanguard and Warzone, while those playing Call of Duty: Mobile will get an "Arthur Kingsley Operator" after the beta finishes.

For a better look at all thing's Call of Duty: Vanguard, we've got you covered. As for 2021's other big shooter to rival Vanguard, find out all you need to know about Battlefield 2042

Darragh Murphy
Editor

Darragh Murphy is fascinated by all things bizarre, which usually leads to assorted coverage varying from washing machines designed for AirPods to the mischievous world of cyberattacks. Whether it's connecting Scar from The Lion King to two-factor authentication or turning his love for gadgets into a fabricated rap battle from 8 Mile, he believes there’s always a quirky spin to be made. With a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from The University of Sheffield, along with short stints at Kerrang! and Exposed Magazine, Darragh started his career writing about the tech industry at Time Out Dubai and ShortList Dubai, covering everything from the latest iPhone models and Huawei laptops to massive Esports events in the Middle East. Now, he can be found proudly diving into gaming, gadgets, and letting readers know the joys of docking stations for Laptop Mag.