Call of Duty: Vanguard Teasers Sent to Influencers

Call of Duty influencers have received a short video from Activision teasing information about the upcoming (but still technically unannounced) Call of Duty: Vanguard.

The teaser, available via British Call of Duty content creator MrDalekJD, is a five-second clip titled "Western Front," that shows several scenes from what appears to be the aftermath of a battle. The sounds of gunfire and explosions play over images of barbed wire in a foggy forest.

Careful examination of the clip reveals a few key stills. One is a patch embedded in a tree that bears a striking resemblance to the Task Force 141 logo, the special forces unit that's appeared in several Call of Duty games to date. Although it's hard to read, the emblem appears to say Task Force Vanguard.

Another is a sign bearing the name "Merville," likely referring to the Battle of Merville Gun Battery. That battle took place in June 1944, and was part of the Allied invasion of Normandy.

During that battle, the United Kingdom deployed 600 paratroopers to take the battery, thinking it held heavy-calibre guns. Only 150 troops actually took part in the attack, which successfully took the battery and allowed the British to disable many of the guns. German soldiers retook the battery after the British left and repelled a second attack, keeping the battery under German control.

Fans speculate that as Captain Price, the version that appeared in the original Call of Duty, was a paratrooper, he will likely appear during this battle in-game. The exact relationship between that Captain Price and the one that appears in the Modern Warfare series is unknown.

Rumors suggest Activision and developer Sledgehammer Games plan to reveal Call of Duty: Vanguard on Aug. 19, likely via an in-game event set in Warzone. A leak earlier this week revealed the game would feature an open beta, and previewed what bonuses players would receive for buying the game's Ultimate Edition.