By Detecting footsteps in Call of Duty can be essential for triumph, particularly in the game’s competitive scenarios. Fortunately, the recent system software upgrade for PlayStation 5 enhances the ability to hear footsteps during those crucial instances in Black Ops 6 and Warzone. Here, we walk you through the new feature and offer suggestions for utilizing the Audio Focus option on PS5.
What is PS5 Audio Focus?
Sony’s latest system software update for PlayStation 5 rolled out on April 24, 2025, introducing Audio Focus, an accessibility feature that allows you to enhance and better perceive specific elements of game audio.
The Audio Focus on PS5 functions similarly to the Loudness Equalization feature utilized by Call of Duty PC gamers. Loudness EQ balances the game’s audio output, reducing abrupt and disruptive sounds while boosting softer ones, like adversary footsteps. This has put console players at a sound disadvantage for several years.
Fortunately, if you’re a PS5 player, this audio advantage is now considerably reduced. Simply activate Audio Focus and make a few selections.
How to use Audio Focus
First, verify that your PS5 is updated to the latest system version.
- Next, navigate to your PlayStation 5 settings
- Choose the Sound settings
- Scroll down to the Volume settings
- Select Audio Focus
You’ll encounter four Focus Type presets: Boost Low Pitch, Boost Voices, Boost High Pitch, and Boost Quiet Sounds. Each preset can be adjusted to weak, medium, and strong levels, with an option for separately setting both left and right audio channels.
Audio Focus Recommendations
Boost High Pitch
The Boost High Pitch option is specifically tailored to assist with footstep sounds, focusing on amplifying “high-frequency audio like footsteps and metallic sounds.”
While everyone can use it for a competitive edge, it’s crucial to recognize that Audio Focus is primarily designed for players with genuine hearing impairments. Streamers and content creators may utilize this at high settings to maximize their competition advantage, but if you have normal hearing, you might find the highest setting unnecessary for sound enhancement.
I suggest beginning with weak or medium strength for this particular setting. With good hearing and a decent headset, I discovered that the strong setting for Boost High Pitch was overwhelming. The footsteps were not excessively loud, but some included metallic sounds were often piercing. Sounds from vehicles and the creaking metal of planes in Boneyard were nearly intolerable for me.
I played Warzone for several hours with Boost High Pitch set at various strengths. It significantly improved my ability to hear footsteps, and I might have been reported as a cheater. On multiple occasions, I detected enemies walking from across a large hill, and I could even hear an enemy approaching behind me while engaged in a gunfight, which would have been tough to catch with the standard sound settings.
Boost Quiet Sounds
The Boost Quiet Sounds preset indicates it enhances “low-volume sounds across a wide frequency range.” Since footstep audio can occasionally seem low in Call of Duty, I decided to test this as a gentler alternative to the Boost High Pitch setting.
I experimented with Warzone using this setting on medium and strong. I could still hear footsteps more clearly than with the standard settings, though it lacked the impact of the Boost High Pitch. The most significant audio came when enemies traversed the grassy areas of Verdansk, allowing me to detect their movements more accurately.
So, this is a subtler alternative to boost sound if you find Boost High Pitch too intense for your ears. This setting also enables you to hear environmental details like wind and rustling leaves that would typically go unnoticed, though that information won’t necessarily lead to victories.
Audio Focus requires headphones for functioning. If you can’t change the Audio Focus settings, it likely isn’t detecting your headset, so ensure it’s properly connected. This setting should also work on other games for PlayStation 5.
For additional configurations, we provide a guide on recommended settings for Black Ops 6 and Warzone. This encompasses controller layouts, audio adjustments, graphics, and advanced gameplay configurations.
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