Summary
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will feature a paid audio setting that is customized to the individual's physiology.
- Enhanced Headphone Mode increases the directional accuracy of sounds in Black Ops 6.
- Players can pay $19.99 USD for a personalized profile for the Enhanced Headphone Mode that takes into account the player's physical attributes.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will feature paid audio profiles at launch, allowing players to take their tactical hearing to the next level with personalized profiles that are customized to each individual's unique physiology. While, at a glance, this may seem like a "pay-to-win" audio feature for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, it's actually not as controversial as it may initially seem and is even available for other triple-a titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Final Fantasy XIV.
It's no secret that having the correct audio settings is a vital element in every Call of Duty game. Being able to not only hear enemy footsteps approaching but to also differentiate them from your teammates is a key factor in taking down an enemy and securing a win in multiplayer matches. Pinpointing gunfire and locating the enemy operator's callouts are also important elements when it comes to Call of Duty's audio, and Black Ops 6 is improving all of the above with plenty of new audio upgrades.
In the build-up to the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, developer Treyarch Studios has pulled back the curtain on all of the shooter's new features, including all the advancements being made to the game's audio. A new feature known as Enhanced Headphone Mode makes use of Embody's Immerse Spatial Audio technology to increase the directional accuracy of sounds and is compatible with any headphone or earbuds, greatly improving the player's spatial audio experience. However, Black Ops 6 also includes the option to pay for a personalized profile setting via Embody, which has caused confusion and controversy in the community.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Paid Audio Profiles Explained
As detailed in a Call of Duty blog post, players have the option to enhance their audio experience even further by creating a personalized profile that "takes into account the player's physical attributes, such as the shape of their ear or head." More details can then be found on Embody's website, the company behind Black Ops 6's Enhanced Headphone Mode, which states that a universal profile is available for free to all players, featuring fine-tuned sounds with every explosion and footstep being perfectly balanced. Players also have the option to purchase a personalized profile for $19.99 USD that is customized to the player's unique physiology and is available for 5 years via a one-time payment.
Purchasing the profile comes down to personal preference and is in no way a pay-to-win element as the feature is available to everybody via a universal profile. But for those who want a more personalized experience, it can be purchased on Embody's website for Steam or Battle.net, while PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S users can make the purchase in-game. Unfortunately, it looks like this is another feature not available on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One version of Black Ops 6.
Black Ops 6 is due to launch on October 25, with some major changes being made to Call of Duty ready for the game's release later this week. One of the community's biggest complaints surrounding the series was the clunky UI, which has now been updated with a fresh new look thanks to a new patch earlier this week. However, Modern Warfare 3 players were left angry after the update deleted all of their game files.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- October 25, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch, Raven Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Engine
- IW 9.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes - PlayStation, Xbox, PC
WHERE TO PLAY
Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.
The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.
In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.
Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
- Franchise
- Call of Duty
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- FPS
