When does Call of Duty: Vanguard take place?

Nathan Warby
Call of Duty: Vanguard character holding rifle

The Call of Duty series has plenty of era hopping over the years, from the Cold War to the distant future. But when is the new game, Call of Duty: Vanguard, set? We have the answer right here.

We’re edging ever closer to the release of Call of Duty: Vanguard, and fans are keen to get their hands on Sledgehammer’s next shooter.

As always, one of the most intriguing parts of the new game is how it will once again go for a historical setting.

The time period a Call of Duty is set in always has a huge impact on both the campaign and the multiplayer, so when does Call of Duty: Vanguard take place?

Vanguard player aiming down sights

When does Call of Duty: Vanguard take place?

Although we don’t have an exact timeframe for when the events of Vanguard’s campaign will unfold, we know that the game is set in the era of the Second World War. This places it somewhere between September 1, 1939, and September 2, 1945.

The campaign focuses on the rise of Special Forces during the WWII era, covering four fronts of the war – Pacific Front, Western Front, Eastern Front, and North Africa.

Before release, it’s impossible to say whether the story will span the entire length of the conflict or be set in a smaller pocket of time.

Call of Duty Vanguard character shooting out of plane

Vanguard will also take some liberties with what we already know to be true about the timeline. Sledgehammer has said in the past that the story is “rooted but not beholden” to the actual events of WWII.

This was emphasized recently when a viral TikTok pointed out that the game features red dot sights, which weren’t introduced until 30 years after the war ended. With this in mind, it’s also possible that Vanguard’s version of WWII doesn’t line up exactly with real historical dates.

That’s not to say the game won’t be historically accurate. Dave Swenson, Campaign Creative Director, did say that the team looked at real “tide-turning battles” during development.

We’ll have to wait until we get our hands on Call of Duty: Vanguard to pinpoint exactly when it is set in the Second World War, but we will be sure to update you once we have.

For more on Call of Duty: Vanguard, check out the full weapons list and every confirmed change after the Alpha.

Image credits: Activision

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About The Author

Nathan is a Senior Writer for CharlieIntel and Dexerto, primarily covering FIFA and Call of Duty, as well as general gaming news and guides. After leaving university with a degree in Sports Studies and a master's degree in Magazine Journalism, he took on a role as a local news reporter before moving into games media. You can contact Nathan by email at [email protected].