Right now, gamers are stuck in that awkward in-between phase where the lucky few have access to PlayStation 5s and Xbox Series Xs, but a good proportion of gamers are still stuck playing on their last-gen consoles. Due to the limited stock of next-gen consoles, developers are still having to produce cross-gen versions of their titles, which can often make some big releases feel restricted. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, however, is trying its best to still make its next-gen versions feel like true upgrades, and its implementation of the PS5's DualSense controller is the perfect example of this.
Before launch, the PlayStation 5's DualSense was a big part of the initial marketing push. A real step-up from the traditional DualShock design that had been used for well over a decade, the DualSense had built-in haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, a speaker, mic, and touchpad. While some gamers still see the DualSense as a gimmick, games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 go a long way in showcasing just how much the controller's bold features can elevate the experience.
Modern Warfare 2 Makes Great Use of the DualSense
Over the last week, PlayStation players have been able to hop into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's Beta. As well as showcasing a handful of exciting new maps, game modes, and the new Gunsmith 2.0 system, the Modern Warfare 2 Beta has also shown off the game's DualSense integration, and it may just be some of the best seen in a PS5 game thus far.
The feature that most fans will notice first is the DualSense's adaptive triggers, and how they function with each of Modern Warfare 2's weapons. On the left trigger, there's a light resistance to aim down sights, and on the right trigger, there's quite a bit of resistance determined by the specific weapon the player is wielding. For instance, if the player is shooting a pistol, then the right trigger will have a low resistance, imitating the real in-game weight of the trigger. For a heavier assault rifle, the resistance is much higher, requiring more effort to pull the trigger. Each weapon class, and even each individual weapon within that class, has its own distinct trigger resistance, making each gun feel even more unique.
When the weapon is fired, the left trigger then starts to fight back, pushing back against the player's finger perfectly in time with each bullet leaving the barrel. Subtle details like this only help to make Modern Warfare 2's combat feel even more grounded and realistic, which is something Infinity Ward is really trying to achieve this time round.
Haptic feedback is the other big player when it comes to the DualSense's integration in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Every single character movement and animation has its own distinctive haptic feedback rumble, closely echoing the character's in-game motions. Similarly, every weapon's firing animation, every gadget's throwing animation, and every killstreak also feels completely unique and accurate to how it would feel in real life. Clearly, a lot of effort and time has gone into making each and every animation and gunshot feel realistic and weighty, and it does truly elevate the experience, making it feel like a genuine next-generation AAA game.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 releases October 28 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.