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Call of Duty: Vanguard is shaking up the formula for the series by adding things like destructible environments and all new gun customization options. For years, fans have often complained that the franchise has become too static and not enough has been done to push things forward. It seems Call of Duty: Vanguard will address these complaints head on and attempt to implement some new mechanics that could be mainstays if well-received.
Sledgehammer Games already offered a small taste of Call of Duty: Vanguard's multiplayer via a PlayStation exclusive alpha in August. Players were able to play a new mode called Champion Hill which builds on the concept of Gunfight from Modern Warfare. Players got to get a feel for the movement and gunplay of Vanguard while also seeing all of the destruction that Sledgehammer has implemented into the game. The developer talked more about this and other gameplay features in a new multiplayer livestream ahead of the upcoming beta.
During the Call of Duty stream, Sledgehammer talked about the more dynamic nature of the multiplayer maps. There's a lot of surfaces that can not only be shot through, but also destroyed in Call of Duty: Vanguard. When a match begins, the map will look relatively clean, but by the end it will likely be torn apart and a shell of what it once was. To help with this, Sledgehammer has added different calibers of bullets in Vanguard, which increase damage, fire rate, and more. Some of the heavier calibers will destroy walls and surfaces with ease, while others may require more effort. Similarly, the developer noted that it has 30 guns in the game but all of the weapon build options in Gunsmith can essentially allow for roughly 100 different unique weapons.
These new gameplay mechanics should help with creating new paths on maps, new sightlines, and potentially even ways to deal with campers. The upcoming Call of Duty: Vanguard beta should give more insight into how this will all work on a larger scale than the alpha did. Sledgehammer has also added things such as the ability to blind fire from cover, which should be good for those in a tight situation and can't poke their heads out.
It'll be interesting to see how balanced all of this is. Call of Duty players can be a bit picky when it comes to making big changes that potentially disrupt the flow of gameplay. Although Battlefield has had lots of success with destruction, it may not work well for Call of Duty and fans may find things like blind firing to be a bit cheap or overpowered. Either way, it's a worthy thing for Sledgehammer to experiment with and attempt to refine to keep the series fresh.
Call of Duty: Vanguard will be available for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC on November 5, 2021.
Source: Call of Duty/YouTube