Hey friend! If you‘re wondering whether you can play Call of Duty: Vanguard for free on PC, the answer is yes! Vanguard offers limited-time free access trials that allow you to download and play a significant portion of the game‘s multiplayer and zombies modes without paying.
In this expanded guide, I‘ll give you all the details on how Vanguard‘s free trial works on PC, what‘s included, how to download it, and whether it‘s worth playing based on feedback from gaming industry experts. Let‘s dive in!
Getting Free Access to Vanguard – What You Need to Know
Here‘s a quick overview of how Vanguard‘s free trial works on PC via Battle.net:
- It‘s a limited-time event – usually about 1 week of free access
- You can download and play multiplayer and zombies completely free
- All multiplayer maps and modes included – over 20 maps and 12+ modes
- Zombies has 1 full map, Der Anfang, with additional areas unlocking over time
- Cross-platform support so you can play with friends on PC, PlayStation and Xbox
- All progression carries over if you upgrade to the full game later
So in summary, you get a solid chunk of Vanguard‘s core online modes available for a short period without paying anything!
Gaming industry veteran CharlieIntel confirms on Twitter that the trial includes: "Full Multiplayer experience and Zombies mode. Level up weapons, earn attachments, unlock new equipment…"
For a $70 AAA game like Vanguard, being able to try a sizeable portion of the experience risk-free is an awesome opportunity if you‘re still unsure about making the purchase.
Step-By-Step Download Instructions
Downloading and installing Vanguard on PC for the free access is quick and easy:
Open the Battle.net desktop app
Select Call of Duty: Vanguard
Look for the "Play Free" button and click it
The Vanguard content will start downloading – around 60-70GB total
Once finished, hit "Play" to start your free trial!
One key tip: the "Play Free" option won‘t always be there. It only appears during active free access periods.
Gaming site MP1st recommends checking Battle.net every few days to see if a new free trial has started if you don‘t see the "Play Free" button. Free access periods are frequent but time-limited.
Everything Included in the Free Trial
Now let‘s take a look at exactly what content and features you can access in the Vanguard free trial:
Multiplayer
- Over 20 maps across a variety of modes
- Core 6v6 modes – Team Deathmatch, Domination, Kill Confirmed, etc
- Bigger 12v12 modes like Patrol and Arms Race
- Fast-paced Champion Hill tournament
- Level 1-55 ranking with up to 70 levels per weapon
- Unlock new guns, camos, equipment, perks, killstreaks
- Play solo or squad up with friends
Zombies
- "Der Anfang" main zombies map
- Pack-a-Punch machine for upgraded weapons
- Covenants provide passive bonuses
- Altar of Covenants for upgrading skills
- Story-driven quests and Easter eggs
- Survive against increasingly difficult undead hordes
Progression Carryover
- All progression transfers if you upgrade later
- Level up military rank from 1 to 55
- Earn XP to level up weapons and unlock attachments
- Unlock new Operators, victory animations, skins, and more
So as you can see, you get a generous portion of Vanguard‘s multiplayer and zombies modes to play around in.
Popular Call of Duty YouTuber Drift0r estimates the free trial gives you access to about 75% of the full multiplayer experience, minus some modes like campaign.
Playing with Friends During the Free Trial
One of the best parts about Vanguard‘s free access is you can squad up and play with friends who already own the full game.
Vanguard has full cross-platform support between PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Your progression also carries over across platforms if you link your Activision account.
So if your buddies are enjoying Vanguard on console, no problem – you can still join up and play together even during your free trial period.
Party up to dominate team modes like Search & Destroy and Control, or battle it out in Free-for-All if you prefer solo matches.
Renowned Call of Duty leaker Tom Henderson confirms on Twitter that the only limitation is you can‘t invite non-trial players into certain modes like Zombies as a free trial user. Besides that, you‘re good to squad up!
What You Won‘t Get Access to During the Free Trial
While the Vanguard free trial gives you tons of content to enjoy, there are some parts of the full game that aren‘t included:
- Campaign mode – story-driven singleplayer
- Hardcore mode playlists with faster time-to-kill
- Ranked Play with competitive skill ranks
- Clan Wars and tournaments
- Some seasonal holiday-themed modes
So you won‘t be able to play through the cinematic singleplayer campaign or compete in hardcore Ranked Play matches. But multiplayer and zombies alone will keep you busy for dozens of hours!
End of the Trial – What Happens Next?
Sadly, all good things must come to an end! Here‘s what happens when Vanguard‘s free trial period finishes up:
- You‘ll need to purchase the game to keep playing
- All your progression and unlocks carry over if you upgrade
- You may need to redownload some content to access everything
- Previously installed free trial content won‘t be deleted
The good news is any XP you earned, weapon levels, skins unlocked, etc will remain if you decide to buy Vanguard after the trial.
Popular gaming deals account Wario64 confirms on Twitter that you just need to purchase any edition of Vanguard to permanently keep your progress.
So you can try before you buy without worrying about losing anything!
Is Vanguard Worth Buying After Trying the Free Trial?
The big question after sampling Vanguard‘s free trial is whether you should purchase the full game.
Here are the key factors multiplayer designer Joe Cecot recommends considering:
Fun Factor – Most importantly, were you having fun playing the trial? If the core gameplay hooked you, it‘s a good sign you‘ll enjoy the full package.
Progression – Check what level you reached and weapons/operators unlocked. If you‘ve already invested time progressing, you may want to keep it going.
Playing with Friends – Everything gets better playing with friends. If your crew is enjoying Vanguard, you‘ll want to join them.
Trying New Modes – You‘ll have lots left to explore like campaign, ranked, zombies Easter eggs, and seasonal events.
Ultimately it comes down to your personal enjoyment. If you‘re loving your time with the free trial, Vanguard could be worth the purchase.
Vanguard PC Specs – Can Your System Run It?
Before you download, make sure your PC meets Vanguard‘s minimum and recommended system requirements for a smooth experience:
Minimum Specs:
- Windows 10 64-bit
- Intel Core i3-4340 or AMD FX-6300 CPU
- Nvidia GTX 960 or AMD Radeon RX 470 GPU
- 8GB RAM
- 36GB storage space
Recommended Specs:
- Windows 10 64-bit
- Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X CPU
- Nvidia GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580 GPU
- 16GB RAM
- 61GB storage space
PC guide website Game Debate breaks it down – Vanguard demands a modern quad or six-core CPU, 8GB RAM, and a decent mid-range GPU from the last 5 years.
An SSD is also recommended for faster loading. But you can get away with a slower HDD if needed. Overall, fairly demanding but not unreasonable specs.
Use the free trial to see how your PC holds up. Upgrade your RAM or GPU if needed to improve performance before buying.
Vanguard Editions and Pricing – Best Value?
Okay, you‘ve tried the free trial and decide – I need this game! Here are the different Vanguard editions available:
- Standard Edition – $59.99
- Cross-Gen Bundle – $69.99 (includes Xbox + PC/PlayStation versions)
- Ultimate Edition – $99.99 (includes season pass + bonuses)
- Vault Edition – $99.99 (includes season pass + bonuses)
The Standard Edition is the base game for your platform of choice. It goes on sale frequently for around $40.
The Cross-Gen Bundle lets you play on both PC and console with shared progression.
The Ultimate and Vault editions cost more but include the season pass granting access to all planned post-launch multiplayer maps, zombies experiences, and bonus cosmetic packs.
Top Call of Duty news account CharlieIntel says the Standard Edition is the best value unless you really want the season pass content. Look for sales too – Black Friday or the holiday season are prime times to save big.
Third party key seller CDKeys often has discounted PC codes as well if you want to save some cash. But buying directly from Steam or Battle.net is the most reliable.
Expert Opinions – Is Vanguard‘s Free Trial Worth Playing?
Let‘s see what some top gaming sites and industry experts think about jumping into Vanguard‘s free trial:
"If you‘re a Multiplayer fan, it‘s absolutely worth trying out…you‘ve got nothing to lose by trying the trial but potentially hours of fun to gain." – PC Gamer
"The ability to try the game out for free is hugely valuable if you‘re unsure about buying it. Zombies is also a lot of fun." – Windows Central
"I recommend all Call of Duty players try it out and see if Vanguard‘s style is for you." – CharlieIntel
"You can level up, earn new gear, and get a great feel for the gameplay without spending a dime. Well worth checking out." – Dexerto
The consensus seems clear – if you enjoy Call of Duty‘s signature fast-paced multiplayer gameplay, Vanguard‘s free trial on PC is certainly worth checking out.
At the minimum, you can experience the newest entry risk-free. At best, you may discover a new multiplayer shooter to fall in love with.
Either way, you have nothing to lose and hours of fun frenetic gunplay to gain by downloading the trial from Battle.net when it‘s available. Gather your friends and give it a shot!
The Verdict: Yes, You Should Try Vanguard‘s Free Trial
In my opinion as a gaming enthusiast, taking advantage of Call of Duty: Vanguard‘s limited-time free trial on PC is absolutely worth it.
Here are some key reasons why it‘s recommended:
- Try a big chunk of Vanguard risk-free – Massive value in sampling a $70 game for free
- Multiplayer and Zombies – These modes offer dozens of hours of content
- Play with friends who own the full game – Cross-platform support makes it social
- Keep all progress if you upgrade to the full version later
- Fun, fast-paced gameplay – It‘s Call of Duty after all!
Ultimately there‘s very little downside to trying it out if you have a gaming PC. At worst, you invest some time downloading to check it out. At best, you discover an awesome new Call of Duty to enjoy for months.
Vanguard‘s critical reception has been just okay, but playing for yourself is the only way to know if it clicks with you. And you can do that without spending a dime on PC!
So whenever you see that "Play Free" button pop up on Battle.net, I‘d say go for it buddy! Hopefully this guide gave you all the info you need to enjoy your free Vanguard trial. Happy gaming!
