PlayStation owners — prepare to be the first to ascend to glory through a brand-new Multiplayer mode to the franchise coming with Call of Duty: Vanguard, Champion Hill.

From August 27 at 10 AM PT to August 29 at 10 AM PT, every single PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 owner will be able to participate in the Call of Duty: Vanguard PlayStation Alpha, featuring Sledgehammer Games’ innovative new game mode known as Champion Hill. This 48-hour play session is your first opportunity to play Call of Duty: Vanguard two months before its November 5 release, and for most PlayStation owners, a PlayStation® Plus Subscription is not required*.

Only a console and an internet connection are needed to participate with no preorder required — but after a few rounds of Champion Hill, it might be something worth considering.

Before diving into details about how you can access the Alpha, here is a primer on what it is all about, including an introduction to Champion Hill:

What Is the Call of Duty®: Vanguard PlayStation® Alpha?

Similar to Alpha sessions in previous Call of Duty® games, Sledgehammer Games is giving players a vital role in Call of Duty: Vanguard’s development by granting them access to a limited pre-release version of the game’s Multiplayer, a small slice of what is to come on November 5^th. While also providing you with a ton of fun this weekend, the Call of Duty: Vanguard PlayStation Alpha will provide our developers feedback on a global scale to help them tune and polish the game’s Multiplayer prior to its upcoming beta and launch.

This Alpha is the first hands-on opportunity the world will have with Call of Duty: Vanguard, introducing just some of the game’s innovations — as broken down today on stream by Greg Reisdorf, Sledgehammer Games’ Multiplayer Creative Director — and putting them into your hands to experience and test.

For example, you can expect — and are encouraged — to explore reactive environments across the four maps within Champion Hill, breaking destructible barriers, doors, and other obstructions to create new sightlines or catch a would-be camper by surprise.

You will also get hands-on time with some of the game’s armaments, including being able to modify some with up to 10 attachments. You can also put yourself in the boots of the four main characters — Lucas Riggs, Polina Petrova, Wade Jackson, and Arthur Kingsley — as Operators, and of course, experience tactical fast-paced Multiplayer gameplay in Champion Hill.

Champion Hill — The Basics

In 2019, Infinity Ward broke ground through Modern Warfare® Multiplayer with Gunfight, a new mode based on quick-action, close-quarter small-squad combat that is easy to learn but hard to master. For the next two years, both IW and Treyarch continued to innovate, introducing the concept of Gunfight Tournaments to reward the best Duos with exclusive rewards and allowing the mode’s frenetic small-scale maps to see action in more traditional modes like Team Deathmatch in playlists like Face-Off.

Now, Sledgehammer Games introduces Champion Hill, a tournament-style, multi-map and multi-life game mode where tactics and strategy go beyond the pull of a trigger.

In Champion Hill, your squad — either a Duo (2v2) or Trio (3v3) during the Alpha — will compete in a round-robin deathmatch tournament against other squads. Your mission is to reduce all other squads’ life count to zero before your whole squad is eliminated.

Everyone starts with the same Loadout, and while it can be lethal, collecting Cash — earned by taking enemy lives and picking up drops scattered around the map — will allow you to upgrade your starting weapons and purchase new armaments, equipment, Perks, and Killstreaks during Buy Rounds that happen between Combat Rounds.

Champion Hill also takes place on one large map split up into five sections. Specifically, there is a central Buy Station Area and four arenas for Combat Rounds: the Airstrip, the Trainyard, the Market, and the Courtyard. Once you are eliminated, you can watch how the tournament ends from the Buy Station Area spectator platform, but ideally, you survive long enough to see victory for yourself.

Want to know more? Like a standard-issue Fragmentation Grenade, the Call of Duty Blog is cooking an exclusive in-depth guide to Champion Hill prior to its debut on August 27.

Preloading and Regional Download Links

Preloading will begin on August 23 at 3 AM PT ahead of the Alpha’s scheduled launch on August 27 at 10 AM PT.

Download the free Alpha at the links below for your respective region:

PlayStation 5:

Download Free PS5 Alpha: Americas.

Download Free PS5 Alpha: Europe, Middle East, Australia, or New Zealand.*

Download Free PS5 Alpha: Japan.

Download Free PS5 Alpha: Asia.

PlayStation 4:

Download Free PS4 Alpha: Americas.

Download Free PS4 Alpha: Europe, Middle East, Australia, or New Zealand.*

Download Free PS4 Alpha: Japan.

Download Free PS4 Alpha: Asia.

How to Access the Alpha

Those who have Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare®, Call of Duty®: Warzone™, or Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War installed can access the Call of Duty: Vanguard Alpha through the main menu after it is downloaded.

Within any of those released game’s menus, selecting the Alpha menu blade — to the far left of the main menu screen — either brings you to the Alpha to jump in and play if you’ve already downloaded, or redirects you to its download page on the PS Store.

All participants will receive a Calling Card and an Emblem, accessible in Call of Duty: Vanguard upon its release – as well as Warzone following the integration of Vanguard – just for being the “tip of the spear” and participating in the Alpha.

Preorder Now on Digital

This Alpha is just a sample of Call of Duty: Vanguard. Expect more modes, maps, and weapons in the upcoming Beta in September and at the game’s launch on November 5.

Visit CallofDuty.com to digitally preorder now and get instant rewards like the Night Raid Mastercraft Weapon Blueprint for immediate use in Black Ops Cold War and Warzone;** secure early access to the Open Beta,*** first on PS5 and PS4; and receive additional preorder rewards to be available in Call of Duty: Vanguard at launch, such as the Frontline Weapon Pack.

Call of Duty: Vanguard Multiplayer Reveal and Beta Dates Announced

As the Alpha approaches, you should know about one other pre-release experience of Call of Duty: Vanguard coming in September.

After a worldwide Multiplayer Reveal on Tuesday September 7, get ready to experience the Call of Duty: Vanguard Beta! This will be held over two weekends: from Friday September 10 to Monday, September 13, and Thursday, September 16 to Monday, September 20.

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

The second weekend will be considered an Open Beta in its entirety for PlayStation owners. Those on other platforms will need to pre-order the game to access the first two days of the Beta (September 16 and 17), before it becomes an Open Beta for all platforms from Saturday, September 18 to Monday, September 20 at 10 AM PT.**

Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl Details Announced

Also announced today was the third annual Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl, a tournament featuring U.S. and U.K. military esports teams that helps their country’s veterans find high-quality careers, to take place on December 10 with some of your favorite Call of Duty creators. Watch to see if U.S. Space Force will repeat as champions, as they battle it out aboard the legendary Intrepid aircraft carrier in New York City.

Be sure to follow @callofdutyendowment in Instagram and Facebook, and @CODEVets on Twitter for updates on this highly anticipated event.

Stay Connected for Additional Intel

Be sure to check back here at the Call of Duty Blog in the coming days and weeks for the latest information on Call of Duty: Vanguard, including our full guide to Champion Hill. Players can also visit Sledgehammer Games’ Blog for Call of Duty: Vanguard announcements and content. Follow @CallofDuty and @SHGames on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for additional information.

Preorders at participating retailers are available now, or at CallofDuty.com.

*PS4™ and PS5™ owners in Germany will need a PS Plus subscription due to the game’s age rating. Alpha starts August 27, 2021, on PS4 and PS5. Actual platform availability and launch date(s) of Alpha subject to change. Minimum Alpha duration is 2 days. Limited time only. Internet connection required.

**Offer content and availability may vary by region and is subject to change. Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War/Call of Duty®: Warzone™ on pre-order platform required to redeem offer. Sold/downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by November 5th, 2022.

***Actual platform availability and launch date(s) of MP Beta subject to change. See www.callofduty.com/beta for more details.  Minimum Open Beta duration is 2 days. Limited time only, while Early Access Beta Codes last, at participating retailers. Internet connection required. Online multiplayer subscription may be required.

For more information on Call of Duty®: Vanguard, check out www.callofduty.com and www.youtube.com/callofduty and follow @SHGames, @Treyarch, @RavenSoftware, and @CallofDuty on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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