Understanding sound is key to success in Warzone, as detecting enemy footsteps gives you a massive advantage on the battlefield, but you’ll need the best audio settings possible to do so.
Black Ops 6 overhauled audio by making it easier to hear enemy footsteps and locate the speed, direction, and distance of gunshots and grenade explosions.
In addition, Treyarch introduced the Head Related Transfer Function, which creates a custom audio mix based on the shape of your head and ears. Although there is a free version, some community members called out the development team for charging $20 for personalized profiles.
Warzone’s launch didn’t help silence criticism because players complained that hearing nearby enemies is near impossible.
Thankfully, there are setting changes that help address these issues.
How to change Audio Settings
Changing your Audio Settings in Warzone isn’t difficult at all. All you need to do is follow these instructions to find the correct menu:
- From the Call of Duty launch go into Warzone
- Then, press start on your controller or use your mouse to navigate to the settings tab, represented by a white cog in the top right corner. Those playing on a controller can use RB/R1 to navigate to this tab
- Finally, select ‘Audio’ to access audio settings
Best Audio Settings
These are the best audio settings to use to make hearing enemy footsteps as easy as possible:
Volumes
Master Game Volume | 90 |
Gameplay Music Volume | 0 |
Dialogue Volume | 40 |
Effects Volume | 80 |
Cinematic Music Volume | 0 |
Audio Device
Enhanced Headphone Mode | On |
Global
Audio Mix | Sucker Punch |
Mono Audio | Off |
Mute Licensed Music | Off |
Asymmetrical Hearing Compensation | On |
Functionality
Reduce Tinnitus Sound | On |
Hitmarker Preset | Classic |
Voice Chat
Voice Chat Volume | 40 |
Voice Chat | On |
Proximity Chat | On |
Body Shield Chat | On |
Last Worst Chat | On |
Game Voice Channel | All Lobby |
Microphone
Microphone level | 100 |
Open Mic Sensitivity | 70 |
How to improve audio in Warzone
If you’ve adjusted your Warzone audio settings to our recommended values and you still find yourself struggling in the game, then chances are your equipment might be to blame.
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Whether you’re serious about improving in Warzone or just playing casually, there are a few key things you can do to boost audio quality:
Invest in a good headset
Many great gaming headsets provide improved audio for a relatively inexpensive price. If you’ve gotten accustomed to playing using the audio from your TV or monitor, then upgrading to a dedicated headset for gaming is the biggest upgrade you can make to improve audio in Warzone.
How much you should spend depends on how much audio matters to you. If you just want to be able to hear footsteps better, headphones in the $50 – $60 price range will suffice. Those wanting the best audio possible can expect to pay over $200, though this won’t be necessary for most players.
Minimize surrounding noise
While this may sound obvious, surrounding noise from devices and other sources can have a negative impact on your ability to hear in-game sounds. Minimizing that noise as much as possible will allow you to pinpoint audio cues better.
Listen out for specific audio cues
Even if you have the best audio settings and equipment possible, you still need to know what to listen out for. This comes with practice, but train yourself to recognize distinct audio cues and their meanings.
While enemy footsteps will always sound vaguely similar, there are subtle cues you can pick up on that provide additional information. These cues can be used to judge an enemy player’s distance, whether they are running or walking, and if they are above or below you. More information is always a good thing, and audio is no exception.
Having the best audio settings certainly helps, but there’s more to Warzone than just sound. You’ll also want to use the best PC Settings and Controller Settings to streamline your experience