Hearing footsteps in Call of Duty can feel vital to success, especially in the game’s more competitive modes. Thankfully, the latest system software update for PlayStation 5 makes hearing footsteps much easier in those crucial moments on Black Ops 6 and Warzone. Here, we guide you through the new setting and provide recommendations for using the Audio Focus feature on PS5.
What is PS5 Audio Focus?
Sony’s latest system software update arrived to PlayStation 5 on April 24, 2025, and this included the addition of Audio Focus, which is an accessibility feature that lets you amplify and more clearly hear certain parts of game audio.
PS5’s Audio Focus works similar to the Loudness Equalization setting that Call of Duty PC players use. Loudness EQ levels out the game’s high and low audio, minimizing loud and unnecessary sounds while amplifying quieter ones, such as enemy footsteps. This has kept console players at an audio disadvantage for the last several years.
Thankfully, the PC advantage is now minimized if you’re a PlayStation 5 player. All you need to do is turn on the Audio Focus and make a few selections.
How to use Audio Focus
First, ensure that you’re updated to the latest system update on PS5.
- Then go to your PlayStation 5 settings
- Select the Sound settings
- Scroll all the way down to the Volume settings
- Select Audio Focus
You’ll find four Focus Type presets: Boost Low Pitch, Boost Voices, Boost High Pitch, and Boost Quiet Sounds. Each preset can then be adjusted to weak, medium, and strong levels, and there’s even an option to set both the left and right audio channels separately.
Audio Focus Recommendations
Boost High Pitch
The Boost High Pitch setting is specifically designed to help with footstep audio, as it details amplifying “high-frequency sounds like footsteps and metallic noises.”
While it can be used by anyone to gain a competitive advantage, it’s important to note that Audio Focus is an accessibility feature designed more for players with actual hearing loss. There are going to be streamers and content creators using this on strong settings to try to maximize their competitive advantage, but if you’re not hard of hearing, you may find you don’t need this setting turned to the highest option to use it as an optional sound enhancement.
I recommend starting with weak or medium strength for this setting. I am thankful to have both good hearing and a solid headset, so I found using the strong setting for Boost High Pitch was way too much for me. The footsteps didn’t sound painfully loud, but some of the metallic sounds included in the setting were often ear-piercing. Some of the vehicle noises and the creaky metal from the planes in Boneyard were almost unbearable for me.
I played Warzone for a few hours with Boost High Pitch on various strengths. It definitely helped boost the footstep audio in an impressive way, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I got reported as a cheater. There were times I could hear enemies walking from the other side of a large hill, and once I was able to hear an enemy approaching behind me while I was already in a gunfight, which would’ve been difficult to hear on the normal sound settings.
Boost Quiet Sounds
The Boost Quiet Sounds preset says it amplifies “low-volume sounds in a wide range of frequencies.” Technically, footstep audio can sound low in Call of Duty, so I decided to try this out as a milder alternative to the Boost High Pitch setting.
I tried playing Warzone with this setting on medium and strong. I was still able to hear footsteps louder than the normal settings, but it didn’t quite sound as impactful as using Boost High Pitch. The most impactful audio was when enemies were creeping through the grassy areas of Verdansk. I could hear the rustling of the grass more clearly which allowed me to better pinpoint their location.
So, this could be a milder alternative if you want to amplify sound, but you find that Boost High Pitch is too much for your ears. This setting also lets you hear more atmospheric sounds like wind and rustling leaves that you’d likely never hear otherwise, but that’s not intel that will help you win matches.
Audio Focus only works with headphones. If you can’t adjust the Audio Focus settings, it is likely not detecting a headset, so make sure you have your headset connected. This setting should also work for other games on PlayStation 5, as well.
For more adjustments, we also have a guide for recommended settings to use in Black Ops 6 and Warzone. This includes controller layouts, audio, graphics, and advanced game settings.
