Do You Need the Vault Edition to Play the Modern Warfare III Campaign Early?
The short and direct answer is: no, you do not need the Vault Edition to play the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III campaign early. Early access to the campaign is a benefit extended to anyone who digitally preorders or prepurchases the game, regardless of whether they choose the standard edition or the premium Vault Edition. This means that whether you opt for the base game or the more feature-rich version, you will be granted access to the campaign a week before the official launch date, providing you digitally pre-ordered or prepurchased the game.
Understanding Early Access to the Modern Warfare III Campaign
The early access period for the Modern Warfare III campaign was designed as a bonus for players who commit to purchasing the game ahead of its general release. It’s a way for Activision to reward their dedicated fans. This early access perk was made available on November 2nd at 10 am PT, across all platforms including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Battle.net and Steam. The fact that this bonus was available across all platforms and for either the standard edition or the vault edition, meant that more fans were able to get into the action early.
This strategy differed slightly from past releases, which often tied early access perks to premium editions. This time around, Activision made the early access campaign available to a wider audience, making it a more inclusive offer for all those who made a pre-purchase. Essentially, pre-ordering digitally was the key to campaign early access, and not a specific edition.
Vault Edition Benefits: What You Do Get
While the Vault Edition isn’t necessary for early campaign access, it does come packed with several other valuable perks. If you’re considering the Vault Edition, you’re looking at a more premium experience. The Vault Edition is the premium option for Modern Warfare III and includes:
- Campaign Early Access (Preorder Benefit) – Importantly, this benefit is also included in digital preorders of the standard edition.
- Open Beta Early Access (Preorder Benefit) – Another benefit that is available for preorders of all digital editions.
- Soap Operator Pack (Preorder Benefit) – Includes the legendary character Soap as a playable operator.
- BlackCell Bundle: This includes the Season 01 Battle Pass, access to the BlackCell Sector which provides in-game currency (CP), Battle Token Tier Skips, and more. These are extremely useful in getting ahead in the game.
If you’re a fan of Call of Duty and you’re looking to get a lot of additional content, a head start with the battle pass, and premium cosmetic items, then the Vault Edition is likely to offer real value. If you are more focused on playing the campaign early and not bothered about these extras, then a standard digital preorder will be sufficient.
Upgrading to the Vault Edition
If you initially preordered or prepurchased the Standard or Cross-Gen Digital Edition and decide later that you want the benefits of the Vault Edition, you can upgrade at any time. The method for upgrading depends on your platform:
- PlayStation: The Vault Edition upgrade will be listed in the PlayStation Store at a reduced price if you have already preordered or prepurchased the digital cross-gen edition.
- Xbox: You’ll need to visit the Microsoft Store and purchase the Vault Edition Upgrade.
- PC (Steam and Battle.net): You can upgrade to the Vault Edition at any time on both platforms if you initially purchased the standard or cross-gen version.
Keep in mind, that if you’re on Xbox, the current process is to buy the Vault Edition which gives you both versions of the game, rather than an upgrade path. This means you might need to take into account the cost of buying the full version.
Modern Warfare III Campaign Length and Launch Times
The Modern Warfare III campaign generally takes about 5 to 8 hours to complete, based on previous Call of Duty titles. This can vary depending on the difficulty setting you choose and whether or not you plan on acquiring every collectible in the game. The campaign is designed to provide a solid narrative experience while also giving players a reason to engage in different styles of combat, including the new Open Combat Missions.
For those eager to dive in, here are the campaign launch times per timezone:
- U.S. West Coast: 10am PT (November 2nd)
- U.S. East Coast: 1pm ET (November 2nd)
- PC: 9 PM PST on November 9th (Los Angeles) / 12 AM EST November 10th (New York).
These launch times were critical in allowing players worldwide to join the action at relatively the same time, although note that there is a different launch date for the campaign early access and for the general release. The early access period gave players the opportunity to enjoy the campaign a week earlier than the full launch.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to further clarify the ins and outs of Modern Warfare III’s early access, the Vault Edition, and other relevant aspects:
1. Can I get early access to the MW3 campaign without pre-ordering?
No, early access to the MW3 campaign is exclusively for those who digitally pre-order or pre-purchase the game.
2. Does pre-ordering a physical copy of MW3 grant campaign early access?
No, the early access is specific to digital pre-orders and pre-purchases. Physical copies will not grant access to the campaign early.
3. Can I upgrade to the Vault Edition if I pre-ordered a physical copy?
You will not be able to upgrade a physical copy to the Vault Edition. You will need to purchase a digital copy of the Vault Edition.
4. What exactly is included in the MW3 Vault Edition?
The Vault Edition includes Campaign Early Access, Open Beta Early Access, Soap Operator Pack, and the Season 01 BlackCell bundle, which includes the Battle Pass, BlackCell Sector, CP and Battle Token Tier Skips.
5. Does the MW3 Vault Edition give me other perks in Modern Warfare II?
No, purchasing the Vault Edition for Modern Warfare III does not provide any direct perks in Modern Warfare II.
6. How much does the Modern Warfare III Standard Edition cost?
The Standard / Cross-Gen Edition is typically priced at $69.99 (or equivalent depending on region).
7. How much is the Modern Warfare III Vault Edition?
The Vault Edition has a suggested retail price of $99.99 (or equivalent depending on region).
8. When can I play the full game of Modern Warfare III?
The full game was released for PC on the 9th of November and on consoles on the 10th of November.
9. Do I get the price, Farah, Soap and Ghost operator skins with the Standard Edition?
No, these are included within the Vault Edition’s Red Team 141 pack, and not the standard. The only way to unlock these operators is through a special edition.
10. Is the Vault Edition of MW3 worth it for casual players?
For casual players who are not interested in the extra content like the battle pass or cosmetic items, the Standard Edition is a better value.
11. Is the Vault Edition the full game or just an upgrade?
The Vault Edition includes the full game as well as other additional content. You can purchase the standard or Vault Edition. The upgrade will upgrade a standard digital edition to the Vault Edition.
12. Can I buy the Red Team 141 Operator Pack separately?
No, the Red Team 141 Operator Pack is exclusive to the Vault Edition and cannot be purchased separately.
13. How long is the Modern Warfare III campaign?
The campaign typically takes 5 to 8 hours to complete, depending on the difficulty setting and whether you pursue all collectibles.
14. Is the Vault Edition only available digitally?
Yes, the Vault Edition is available as a digital-only offering across all platforms.
15. Will Modern Warfare III have Zombies?
Yes, Modern Warfare III does have a Zombies mode, which is available to play upon the full release of the game.
By understanding these points, you should be well-informed about the early access options, and benefits of the different editions, allowing you to make an informed choice for your purchase. Remember, a digital pre-order of either edition will get you early access, meaning that you do not need the Vault Edition to play the campaign early.