Sony PS5, Xbox audio features gives gamers an edge in Call of Duty
The latest addition to the iconic franchise doesn’t take advantage of all the next-gen features but one could give you the edge.
Online
Don't miss out on the headlines from Online. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The latest iteration in the Call of Duty franchise has landed, and the new PS5 and Xbox consoles’ features can help gamers get an advantage.
While the loading times in between multiplayer rounds are being held back by the last generation consoles, the Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X both feature advanced new audio capabilities.
The developers of Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War focused intently on them while working on the new game, with more nuanced audio that can help you figure out if shots are coming from the floor below the building you are in or from outside.
Taking advantage of their work is a great way to get the drop on your opps and start ranking up faster.
The Xbox Series X has Dolby Atmos as well as DTS surround sound, while PS5 talks up its own 3D Audio engine.
RELATED: Fury at JB Hi-Fi as PS5s sell out
RELATED: Xbox warns about console ‘smoking’ videos
It comes in handy for Call of Duty and games like it by giving you advanced warning there’s enemies in your area because not only can you hear them, you can hear where they’re coming from.
In the tight closed-quarters gameplay of first person shooters it can be the difference between life and death.
If you want to take advantage of the improved audio features it’s best to do it with headphones, but the good news is you don’t necessarily need a new pair.
The Dolby sound on the Xbox will require Dolby-approved sound devices that support it but DTS should work with what you already have.
On PS5, you can just plug a pair of headphones into the controller or you can also get a wireless pair that will connect to the PS5 via USB dongle.
RELATED: New Spider-Man’s main message
Sony actually makes a headset specifically for the PS5, no doubt drawing on some of its well-known audio expertise.
Its headset is specifically tuned for 3D audio and aesthetically matches the PS5.
The PS5 Pulse 3D wireless headset goes on sale in December for $159 (you can pre-order already).
Microsoft doesn’t appear to be making its own headset so if you want one for that console (that you can also get for PS5 if you don’t want to wait for Sony) you’ll have to look to a third party.
Turtle Beach is known primarily for its gaming headsets and for not too much more than the PS5 offering you can pick up its Stealth 600 Gen2 wireless cans ($169).
They connect via USB on PS5 and on Xbox they connect automatically using the same technology as the controller.
Turtle Beach also has its own “Superhuman Hearing” technology which the company claims will give you a competitive advantage by boosting important sounds.
The Stealth 600 also has a hinged mic that automatically mutes when you fold it away (when you do it’s easy to forget it’s there and for some people hard to find the first time).
There are also four different presets to experiment with and independent controls for speaker and mic volume, and the company promises 15 hours of battery.
Originally published as Sony PS5, Xbox audio features gives gamers an edge in Call of Duty
Aussie parents enforce school mobile phone ban at home
There are growing calls to limit over-use of mobile phones as an Aussie father and ex-NRL wife reveal why their kids do not have phones at home, as schools ban the device.
‘Liberate our kids’: Why Aussie mum wants social media age limit
An Aussie mum whose daughter suffered from an eating disorder is concerned the pressure young people feel to present a perfect image online is dragging them further into a deep pit of anxiety.