Vanguard Open Beta Access: Everything you need to know ahead of time

Call of Duty Vanguard's Beta is going to become an Open Beta this weekend and we can't wait to experience everything Vanguard has to offer us - and more importantly, for free - on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation. Here's the latest on what you need to know about Weekend Two...

WEEKEND TWO - Everyone's coming to play...

Vanguard's Beta is finally going to be playable on all platforms during Weekend Two - there's going to be a couple of days of Early Access and then a fully Open Beta for the weekend!

Below, we've got a quick-fire guide of when the Vanguard Beta is available depending on your situation.

• PlayStation - Pre-Ordered Vanguard
  • September 16th to September 20th
• PlayStation - Hasn't Pre-Ordered Vanguard
  • September 16th to September 20th
• Xbox - Pre-Ordered Vanguard
  • September 16th to September 20th
• Xbox - Hasn't Pre-Ordered Vanguard
  • September 18th to September 20th
• PC via Battle.net - Pre-Ordered Vanguard
  • September 16th to September 20th
• PC via Battle.net - Hasn't Pre-Ordered Vanguard
  • September 18th to September 20th

The Vanguard Beta should be available at 10:00 PST / 13:00 EST / 18:00 BST on the day it begins - however, the PlayStation Beta last weekend started a couple of hours early.

If you have Early Access eligibility, you can utilise this in two ways:

• Digital Pre-Order
  • Automatic eligibility - get downloading the Vanguard beta!
• Physical Pre-Order
  • You should have a code via email or retail receipt - redeem it here: callofduty.com/betaredeem

NEW CONTENT - What to expect from the Open Beta

Champion Hill might be making a comeback, but there's a lot more on offer from Vanguard this time around and we have everything you need to know about what to expect below. Sledgehammer Games shared the following:

• Multiplayer Maps;
  • Champion Hill;
  • Hotel Royal;
  • Gavutu;
  • Red Star;
  • Eagle's Nest (available during Weekend Two);
• Multiplayer Modes;
  • Champion Hill (Solos, Duos, Trios);
  • Team Deathmatch;
  • Domination;
  • Kill Confirmed;
  • Patrol (available from Saturday of Weekend One);
  • Search and Destroy (available during Weekend Two);
• Weapons Availability;
  • Champion Hill;
    • Weapons are persistent through matches. There are ten upgrades per weapon, each adding one attachment;
    • There will be three rotating weapon sets, featuring 2 ARs, 2 LMGs, 2 snipers, 2 shotguns, and 2 pistols;
  • Core Multiplayer
    • For Core MP, you'll be able to level up weapons to level 30;
    • PlayStation players will get +2 custom loadout slots (12 total, 10 for other platforms);

• Operators Availability;
  • Please note, each Operator will have one finishing move attached;

• Daniel Takeyatsu
• Roland Zeimet
• Lucas Riggs
• Polina Petrova
• Wade Jackson
• Arthur Kingsley

In addition to this, Combat Pacing is also being included. There's going to be three levels of intensity to choose from and here's what we know about them:

• Tactical: These are the lobbies that franchise veterans know well. This is the experience that you're used to with classic Call of Duty combat timing. Tactical Combat Pacing is always 6v6.
• Assault: Balanced combat pacing that gives you enough room to breathe and a lot of targets to kill. In Beta Weekend 1, player counts will vary between 20-28 players.
• Blitz: High-action lobbies where the intensity is cranked up to frenetic levels. Prepare for plenty of combat when choosing to join a Blitz. In Beta Weekend 1, player counts will vary between 28-48 players.

How do you get Early Access, though?

If you want to get Early Access to the Vanguard Open Beta, you're going to need to pre-order the new Call of Duty game. You will get Early Access with any version of Vanguard - Standard Edition, Cross-Gen Bundle, or Ultimate Edition - but it's worth noting that the Standard Edition will only give you current-gen access to Vanguard.

If you're a PlayStation player, though, there's even more Early Access to be had. If you pre-order Vanguard on a PlayStation console, you can get access to the Open Beta a whole weekend early!

" The first weekend – September 10 to September 13 – will be for PlayStation owners who have pre-ordered the game."

Following this, anyone who pre-ordered Vanguard will also be able to access the Open Beta during the second weekend from September 16th - rather than September 18th - offering an additional two days of access.

Essentially, if you want to get the most out of the Vanguard Open Beta... You need to pre-order it on PS4 or PS5. With this, you're going to be getting five extra days of access!