Unlock Hidden Gains in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s PS5 Pro Upgrades – Enhanced Performance Unleashed!
PlayStation 5 Pro Unlocks Next Level Visuals in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
As we gear up for the release of the PlayStation 5 Pro, we’re excited to dive into the world of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, a game that’s pushing the boundaries of visual fidelity and technical innovation. In this article, we sit down with the developers at Infinity Ward to explore the latest advancements in their engine, including the new features that are exclusive to the PS5 Pro.
A Tour of the Infinity Ward Poland Office
Recently, we had the chance to visit the Infinity Ward Poland office, where we got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the tools used to create Black Ops 6. This article serves two purposes: to discuss the Pro upgrades with input from the developers, and to shed some light on the broader enhancements made to the engine.
PlayStation 5 Pro Enhancements
The PlayStation 5 Pro’s update has been out for a while now, and it’s evident that Black Ops 6’s upgrades run deeper than you might think. Some tweaks are subtle, while others make a significant difference to frame-rate performance. To summarize, PS5 Pro users get improved visual settings at 60Hz, plus the adoption of PSSR to boost image quality at 4K resolution. An anti-lag VRR feature is also added on PS5 Pro, allowing us to run above 60fps while using the default graphics mode. Additionally, there’s a broad performance boost with the 120Hz mode enabled, where PS5 Pro reverts to base PS5 visual settings to deliver a higher frame-rate.
Visual Enhancements
Starting with the 60Hz mode, there are four improved visual settings, beginning with a 2-4x increase in shadow resolution, depending on the shadow type and your distance to it. This primarily affects environmental shadow maps, where quality is boosted across near and far shadows, reducing stair-stepping across hard shadow lines. Next, we have the improved global illumination. Specifically, a screen-space GI method is added exclusively for PS5 Pro, simulating light bounce between surfaces. Again, it’s subtle in some areas, but the payoff is a more accurate light interaction between characters and nearby, brightly lit surfaces.
SSGI, SSAO, and SSR Enhancements
The team is especially proud of their SSGI setting, a rasterized technique that attempts to mimic the quality of path tracing. It’s calibrated to create a comparable result to the team’s internal, path-traced reference, though at a fraction of the cost. This also extends to the way ambient shade is implemented. With the improved SSAO on Pro, there’s a richer bed of shade added to the scene, creating a more lifelike final frame.
What’s Next?
In a recent interview, Michal Drobot confirmed that a fix is already in the pipeline for the PSSR artefacts, with the relevant patch set to roll out soon. The cause, it turns out, is simply that PSSR wasn’t fine-tuned for denoising the image in its current state. The team’s own TAA still has its advantages here: it’s substantially faster, and tailor-made for denoising the specific output this engine generates. PSSR, it seems, works well in anti-aliasing the image but less so in denoising the flicker created by the game’s shadows, variable rate shading, and especially its SSR.
Additional Features and Technologies
One notable addition to the game is weather-grade volumes, or WGVs. In a nutshell, WGVs allow mud, water, oil, or snow to leave a persistent mark on a player’s body – with only the specific body part coming into contact being affected. It’s best shown off in third-person view, though in practice, you’ll see it on enemies during gameplay. Another great dev footage example sent by the team has a player stood next to a 4×4 vehicle; the acceleration of the rear wheels causes mud to spray upwards, with the momentum of the car and the velocity of the spray simulated by large spherical volumes. These WGVs constantly adjust and change based on the position and then measure the point of that mud’s impact on the player.
Conclusion
As we’ve explored the latest advancements in Black Ops 6, one thing is clear: the team at Infinity Ward is committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in their engine. With the launch of the PlayStation 5 Pro, they’ve taken advantage of new features to add some impressive visual enhancements, further refining the game’s performance and visuals. Whether it’s the improved SSGI, SSAO, or SSR, the team is constantly striving to create a more immersive experience for players. As we look to the future, it’s clear that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the series.
