‘Call of Duty: Vanguard’ release date, gameplay: 20 multiplayer maps, and a new anti-cheat system for ‘Warzone’ are confirmed

Activision’s new iteration of “Call of Duty” completes the lineup of first-person shooter games launching before the year ends. The game, officially titled “Vanguard,” has been revealed on Thursday along with the first details about the gameplay.

Unlike its “Battlefield” counterpart, the “Call of Duty: Vanguard” will still feature a campaign mode. However, there appears to be plenty more content to expect for its multiplayer gameplay. For one, Activision confirmed that the game will launch with 20 multiplayer maps.

Details about the multiplayer maps are still scarce at this point. But Sledgehammer Games, the studio that mainly develops “Call of Duty: Vanguard,” said 16 out of 20 maps were designed for “core gameplay.”

Sledgehammer also said that there are several map-related gameplay upgrades to expect in the “Call of Duty: Vanguard” multiplayer. The game will launch with “an advanced Gunsmith and Caliber system” and a next-generation version of the 2v2 Gunfight mode that was initially released on “Modern Warfare.” “Imagine quick-action, close-quarters, small-squad combat in which eight teams compete in a series of head-to-head matchups where the last team standing wins,” the developer wrote.

The developer promised to reveal more details about the “Call of Duty: Vanguard” multiplayer and its maps in upcoming announcements. Sledgehammer also confirmed it is planning on conducting an open beta, which is listed as one of the perks in pre-ordering the game.

It can be recalled that the “Call of Duty: Vanguard” was recently rumored to deliver an all-new anti-cheat system to address the rampant illicit player behavior in the online multiplayer. Now, it is one of the features confirmed to arrive with the game.

The “Call of Duty: Vanguard” announcements came with a few updates about the “Warzone.” Activision revealed that the online game is getting a new map to launch where the new anti-cheat system, developed by Raven Software, will be applied. Fans, however, have to wait for a few weeks for a more detailed explanation of how the new anti-cheat system will work.

Pre-orders for “Call of Duty: Vanguard” is now available, and regardless of which edition players will buy they still get guaranteed access to the open beta before the game fully launches on Nov. 5.