Call of Duty: Vanguardhas a lot of different pre-order bonuses. Those getting the Standard Edition will have access to theArthur Kingsley Operatorand Night Raid Mastercraft inCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarandCall of Duty: Warzone. The Frontline Weapons Pack will also be included, providing some extra blueprints once the new game releases. Those getting the cross-gen bundle will get 5 hours of Double XP, while the Ultimate Edition adds 5 hours of Double Weapon XP and several special bundles.
While this content is very similar to what was included forCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s pre-orders and special editions, there is one item that has not yet been revealed. In an official blog post detailing the Kingsley Operator, Activision mentions this specialCall of Duty: Vanguardpre-order bonus. Given how quiet it is being kept, and the window where it will apparently be revealed, it certainly seems like it will be Zombies related. As such, while this is purely speculation, it seems like fans of the classic Survival mode should be very excited.
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Why The Final Call of Duty: Vanguard Pre-Order Bonus Is Likely Zombies-Related
The concept of hiding a pre-order bonus is a strange one. Usually, developers and publishers want to get this information out to the public as soon as possible so that there is a reason to pre-order a game. The other bonuses were announced shortly after the reveal, which lines up with this idea. However, this final bonus is being kept secret until October - specifically, it is going to “lurk in the shadows” until “Halloween approaches.” This wording should instantly raise eyebrows amongstZombies fans.
Not only does this sound like something fans would see in a post about Zombies, but the Halloween window is particularly interesting. Back whenCall of Duty: VanguardZombieswas announced, and Treyarch was confirmed as the mode’s developer, fans were promised a first look at the mode come All Hallow’s Eve. The Halloween event forCall of Duty: Warzonemay include the first footage of this new Zombies experience, and this pre-order bonus being held until then certainly implies that the two are connected.
Zombies information is usually kept until a month before release, as Treyarch enjoys teasing the community and letting it theorize about what a new iteration of the mode could feature. Once again, this lines up with the pre-order bonus. If it is Zombies related like the description suggests, waiting until as close to release as possible to reveal it makes sense. While this could just be a pack ofCall of Dutycalling cardsand emblems, that seems unlikely. This final bonus is clearly being hyped up, and with all the mystery around it, Zombies fans may want to expect something big.
Why The Vanguard Zombies Pre-Order Bonus Could Be An Extra Map
While it would be surprising to seeCall of Duty: Vanguard’s Zombies locking a map behind pre-orders, it would not be unheard of. Exclusive maps have been done before, with Nuketown Zombies being tied to the Hardened and Digital Deluxe Editions of thefan favoriteCall of Duty: Black Ops 2. After several months, it became available as a $5 DLC for owners of the standard edition.Call of Duty: Black Ops 3featured The Giant, which was part of the Collector’s Edition and Season Pass while also ending up as a standalone purchase. Classified fromCall of Duty: Black Ops 4being tied to that game’s Season Pass makes it yet another example.
WhileCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s free Zombies mapsshow that the series has truly moved away from the old paid content model, pre-orders are a different story. It is easy to envision a scenario where a special map is unlocked on day one for those that pre-orderCall of Duty: Vanguard. A few weeks or months down the line, it could be made available to everyone. A smart business decision on the part of Activision, offering early access to a Zombies map would push players to pre-order the game.
As for the map that could fill this role, it is important to remember theleaks about Zombies Chronicles 2. Supposedly, the Victis maps (TranZit, Die Rise, and Buried) have been remastered for a while, with Activision and Treyarch waiting for the right time to release the content. While it is unlikely that an entire expansion would be a pre-order bonus forCall of Duty: Vanguard, one of these three maps could work, with a release for all players coming later down the line. The other two remasters could drop throughout the game’s life cycle, too, keeping the community engaged. While this is purely speculation, Zombies Chronicles 2 content seems like a genuine possibility.
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Why The Vanguard Zombies Pre-Order Bonus Could Be A Special Operator
Still, with rumors thatCall of Duty: VanguardZombies’ first map is being delayeduntil Season 1, early access to another round-based map could prove controversial. As such, Treyarch may introduce a different type of content instead. While blueprints and other cosmetics are unlikely to be kept secret, a fresh Operator could be worth hiding until closer to release - especially if this Operator could be considered a spoiler.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s final Survival map, Forsaken, is expected to reveal the identity of Requiem’s director. Based on the intel players have collected, all signs point to this character being none other than Eddie - AKA Edward Richtofen. If this does happen, the reveal would surely be a major revelation for those not keeping up with the mode’s many collectibles. As such, showing off a Richtofen Operator bonus before he is properly introduced in the story would make no sense. However, announcing him after Forsaken has released and had its main quest completed does, as players will know what he looks like in the new story.
Other fan favoritecharacters like Samantha Maxiscould fill this position as well. With characters like Price being a playable Operator inCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and Woods being usable inCall of Duty: Modern Warfare, fans clearly do not need to worry much about the inclusion fitting into the timeline. Even in a non-canon role, aCall of Duty: Vanguardversion of Samantha is possible, as is a playable Eddie. With players also having no idea how Forsaken will end, there could be a proper explanation for one of these characters being in a game that is set during World War 2. With this in mind, if this hidden pre-order bonus is not a map,Call of DutyZombies fans should not be shocked if it is a playable Operator instead.
Call of Duty: Vanguardlaunches November 5 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
