What is the Black Ops 6 Enhanced Headphone Mode and why is it controversial?-Kenneth Andersen-Entertainment – Metro

Hear your enemies coming (Activision)

A new customisable audio feature in Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 is sparking debate on social media, but what is it and is it free to use?

This year’s Call Of Duty is doing many things right, including a fast levelling system, new maps, and the innovative new omnimovement system, which lets you run and dive in any direction.

But it’s been revealed that Black Ops 6 also comes with an enhanced audio option for those who use headphones; one which hasn’t been received well by fans.

There’s been a lot of confusion as to what Enhanced Headphone Mode is, with complaints of it encouraging a pay-to-win element in the game, but the truth isn’t necessarily as bad as some are making out.

What is the Enhanced Headphone Mode in Black Ops 6?

The Enhanced Headphone Mode is a third party audio option you’ll be able to buy within Black Ops 6 and is compatible with ‘any headphone or earbud’.

A Call Of Duty blog post says that the feature uses Embody’s Immerse Spatial Audio technology ‘to increase the directional accuracy of sounds played in the world’.

Additionally, it will prioritise ‘the most important sounds to the player at any given moment’. For example, the sounds of enemies will be emphasised more than teammates.

The Enhanced Headphone Mode also comes with a Head Related Transfer Function, which ’emulates the way that sounds are affected by the shape of your head and your ears before you actually hear them.’

Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 – get ready (Activision Blizzard)

How much does Enhanced Headphone Mode cost in Black Ops 6?

Many Black Ops 6 fans aren’t happy about the new feature, as the customisable option costs £15 to unlock – on top of the £70 cost of the game itself.

Activision didn’t mention the price in the blog post, but fans soon found out that to get the customisable version of the Enhanced Headphone Mode you have to sign up for a five-year-long subscription.

This has rubbed many fans the wrong way, with Dirty Dog saying on Twitter, ‘Someone is taking the p***. COD has the worst audio in gaming history but now they have enhanced audio in BO6, but you have to pay $20 to use it.’

‘Pay to win audio,’ says BlackSSBlue.

That being said, the ‘universal profile’ – the standard version – of the Enhanced Headphone Mode feature is free for all players. There’s also a 30-day free trial of the customisable version.

Do I need Enhanced Headphone Mode in Black Ops 6?

Like all microtransactions and third party features, the Enhanced Headphone Mode is an embellishment and is not necessary to play the game.

That’s especially true considering the standard version of the feature is free at launch for everyone and many high-end headphones feature similar audio options.

If the Enhanced Headphone Mode does what it says on the tin, then it will probably make the audio in Black Ops 6 clearer, but people have been playing Call Of Duty for decades now without it and you won’t be left behind if you don’t use it.

Will you use the Enhanced Headphone Mode? (Activision Blizzard)

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