Medal Of Honor: Above And Beyond - What We Know So Far

At the tail end of the 20th century, EA published a World War II-themed first-person shooter developed by DreamWorks Interactive and designed by Steven Spielberg known as Medal of Honor. The series launched numerous sequels, but entered what many saw as permanent hibernation in 2012. However, that changed in 2019 when Apex Legends and Titanfall developer Respawn Entertainment revealed the existence of Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond.

If you grew up with the Medal of Honor franchise, you probably want to know as much about the upcoming title as possible. What is it all about? Where does it fit into the Medal of Honor timeline? How does it differ from previous Medal of Honor titles? When can you pre-order it? Here's what EA and Respawn have established about Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond so far.

It's been almost a decade since Medal of Honor graced a console, and little over two decades since the franchise started. Gamers won't have to wait long to play Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, though, since the game will launch this holiday season.

Interestingly, while the developers have known for a while the game will launch in 2020, Respawn Entertainment could have released it sooner if not for VR functionality. Peter Hirschmann, game director for Above and Beyond (and writer for the original Medal of Honor) was in talks with EA to resurrect the franchise before Oculus approached them with an idea to turn Above and Beyond into a VR title. When Oculus pitched the project, Hirschmann believed it would add years to development, but he went ahead and did it anyway.

While it's unclear if the VR gameplay of Above and Beyond actually lengthened development by years as predicted, at least gamers can experience the fruits of Respawn's labors in time for the holidays.

There are two trailers for Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, though the most recent addition may have reached a greater audience.

The Gamescom 2020 trailer provides a brief but in-depth glimpse into Above and Beyond's gameplay and story, all while orchestral music that screams "triumph during World War II" builds in the background. This video shows off plenty of Nazi-shooting action that takes players through the French countryside, the beaches of Normandy, and other historically accurate locations.

The original trailer, which aired in 2019, is a behind-the-scenes look that provides insight into Above and Beyond's development. Throughout, Respawn Entertainment's leading members discuss the game and why they are looking forward to its release. The film also explains how games like Above and Beyond are produced. This includes riding and firing real World War II tanks to record the noises they made, as well as interviewing veterans to ensure authenticity.

In Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, players will join the ranks of the Office of Strategic Services, or OSS (which preceded the CIA), as they sneak and shoot their way through Nazi forces. At first, players will participate in some good old sabotage and espionage, aiding the French Resistance to prepare for D-Day. Eventually, gamers will get to participate in D-Day, but then again, no self-respecting World War II video game would be caught dead without a D-Day level.

After storming the beaches of Normandy, players will once again get to throw an explosive wrench into the Nazi war machine by taking out various secret weapons that could have turned the tide of the war. These will include the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet and V-2 rocket.

While Above and Beyond will take some artistic liberties, it will primarily stick to the historical events of World War II.