Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has built-in support for a third-party audio tool that charges $20 for improved sound.
In a blog post, Activision said Black Ops 6 launches with an Enhanced Headphone Mode that makes use of Embody's Immerse Spatial Audio technology “to increase the directional accuracy of sounds played in the world.”
Embody is a personalized audio company that’s already worked with the likes of Final Fantasy 14 and Cyberpunk 2077 to integrate its technology into video games. Immerse Spatial Audio works with any headphone or earbud model and is said to “greatly improves the player’s spatial audio experience.”
Included as part of Black Ops 6’s Enhanced Headphone Mode is a Universal Head Related Transfer Function (HRTF) profile which has been “specifically created for the Call of Duty soundscape.”
Optionally, Activision said, players can “choose to enhance this HRTF 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. This customization is accessed in-game and completed by using Embody’s personalization portal.”
What Activision’s blog post failed to mention is that enabling Embody’s personalized audio in Black Ops 6 costs real-world money ($20 for five years, although there's a free trial), and it’s this revelation that has caught some Call of Duty fans off-guard, leading to complaints across social media and subreddits and accusations that Black Ops 6 is “pay-to-hear.”
You have to pay for good audio in call of duty black ops 6. ?????? pic.twitter.com/BiMbkW6Ox6
— Omeqa (@Omeqa_) October 21, 2024
Embody's push into the world of video games has mostly flown under the radar, with puzzled queries from players of Final Fantasy 14 and Cyberpunk 2077 mostly relegated to their forums. Embody staff have spent time addressing concerns, pointing out there’s a free trial, and extolling the benefits of their tech. Improved audio tech is nothing new, of course, but it’s rare to see it integrated directly into a video game’s settings, especially when it costs more money to unlock.
Call of Duty leans more heavily on audio in a competitive gameplay sense than Final Fantasy 14 and Cyberpunk 2077, so there’s a genuine sense that any audio advantage, whether it’s paid for or free, will have a meaningful impact on the virtual battlefield. It’s also worth noting that Call of Duty players have for years complained about the game's audio, and been able to splash out on fancy headphones in a bid to hear exactly where those enemy footsteps are coming from.
We’re nearing the October 25 release date for Black Ops 6 and so we have plenty of information on what to expect. We've got confirmation of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's launch Multiplayer maps, modes, and Operators, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's preload and global launch times. Activision has also said it wants to catch and remove Call of Duty cheaters within one hour of them being in their first match, and confirmed Black Ops 6 ditches the controversial Riot Shield.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
