The rumours were true – the latest chapter in the Call of Duty franchise is indeed set during the Second World War – nearly 10 years since Call of Duty last visited this era.

Transformers actor Josh Duhamel plays technical sergeant William Pierson.

A lot has changed in gaming since 2008, when World at War was released, let alone the previous WWII-themed Call of Duty games, so players should experience the cinematic intensity and the gritty authenticity of D-Day and the Allied invasion like never before. Two-and-a-half years of work has gone into Call of Duty: WWII and painstaking attention to detail has been paid at every stage – from the weapons, sound effects and high-definition graphics to the geography of the regions and the historical accuracy of events portrayed.

Nazi zombies invade the multiplayer co-op mode.

Players will follow the story of Ronald ‘Red’ Daniels, a young US Army private in the famed 1st Infantry Division, as he and his squad land on the beaches of Normandy and then fight their way through France, Belgium and Nazi Germany. Along the way, they’ll join Allied forces from the UK and the French Resistance, making their way across the continent to witness the liberation of Paris and ultimately enter the Third Reich.

Two-and-a-half years of research and development ensures the historical details will be accurate.

Details shared by Activision include…
Headquarters: Unlike anything experienced in the franchise to date, this sounds like it’s comparable to the safe houses in The Division. It’s a social space dedicated to player interaction away from the frontlines and potentially sets the path for all-new avenues of multiplayer meet-ups, recognition, awards and swapping weapons.
Divisions: Players can enlist in a particular unit of their choice, including infantry and armoured divisions.
War Mode: This new narrative-driven, multiplayer experience aims to immerse players in iconic WWII battles, where Allied and Axis clash in team-driven gameplay in the fight for strategic objectives.
‘Boots-on-the-ground’ gameplay: Both the campaign and multiplayer modes mark a return to the iconic gameplay that Call of Duty fans know and love, featuring an arsenal of WWII-era weapons and intense run-and-gun action.
Third Reich Research: Finally, a sneak peek at the multiplayer co-op mode showed us an entirely new story – at least for this game – where the Third Reich’s desperate attempt to create an army before it collapses results in… you guessed it, Nazi zombies. Not exactly on the cutting edge of new ideas, but it should still be fun.

Along the way, you’ll join Allied forces from the UK and the French Resistance.

The cast includes Josh Duhamel (Transformers), who plays technical sergeant William Pierson. Joining him is Jonathan Tucker (Neil Gaiman’s American Gods) as private first class Robert Zussman; and Jeffrey Pierce (no stranger to video game voice work having been in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and Medal of Honor: Warfighter) as first lieutenant Joseph Turner.

A big focus of the game is on the bond that forms between soldiers.

Call of Duty: WWII is released on 3 November 2017, and pre-ordering the game will also get you access to the closed beta. The game is coming first to PS4, continuing the franchise’s ‘PlayStation First’ approach. It’s possible that the closed beta will be followed by an open beta, but there’s no official word on that yet. Previewed by Scott Snowden 

The action starts on the beaches of Normandy, continuing through Belgium and Nazi Germany.

INFO
Developer: Activision
Publisher: Sledgehammer Games
Release: 3 November, 2017
Formats: PS4, Xbox One, PC

The Divisions mode allows you to enlist in a unit of your choice, including infantry and armoured divisions.