The first round of pre-release tests for Call of Duty: Vanguard begin next weekend with an alpha available exclusively on PlayStation 5 and PS4. Starting on Friday 27th August 2021 through until Sunday, it brings the new Champion Hill mode to everyone. A PS Plus subscription will not be needed to download and play the alpha. PS5 and PS4 pre-loads begin to go live on Monday.

Champion Hill will be played across two vs two, three vs three, and four vs four variants, with teaming competing to be the last ones standing in a series of rounds. You'll need to wipe out enemy life counts to win, and Cash can be collected along the way to buy upgrades. There are four maps in the alpha: Airstrip, Courtyard, Trainyard, and Market. "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 sight lines or catch a would-be camper by surprise."

Once the PS5, PS4 alpha is complete, a Call of Duty: Vanguard beta will be available for three days from 10th September 2021. You'll need to pre-order to access that one, but it then becomes available to everyone on 16th September 2021 for four full days. Its contents are currently unconfirmed.

[source twitter.com]