Hey friend, if you‘re trying to decide whether to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, you‘ve come to the right place. I‘ve played MW2 extensively on both consoles, and I‘m here to give you the full breakdown so you can make the best choice for your situation. Let‘s dive in!
The Short Answer
Overall, MW2 looks, runs, and plays noticeably better on PS5 compared to PS4. You get a significant visual upgrade, much faster load times, improved framerates up to 120fps, new haptic feedback features, larger multiplayer matches, and other next-gen enhancements. If you have the option, playing MW2 on a PS5 is definitely the way to go for the best experience.
That said, MW2 is still very solid on PS4, running smoothly at 60fps in multiplayer with crisp visuals and fast loads. So if you haven‘t managed to get a PS5 yet, you can absolutely still enjoy MW2 on PS4. Cross-play is also supported between PS4 and PS5, so you can squad up with friends no matter which console you‘re on.
Now let‘s get into the details…
Visuals and Performance
On PlayStation 5, MW2 displays at a full native 4K resolution at 60 frames per second in the single player campaign. This provides insanely detailed visuals and butter smooth performance that simply isn‘t possible on PS4.
In multiplayer, PS5 gives you the choice between prioritizing either resolution or frame rate:
- Resolution Mode: Native 4K at 60fps
- Performance Mode: 1440p at 120fps
PS4 multiplayer runs at a lower 1080p resolution and is capped at 60fps. While still smooth, visuals appear slightly blurred in motion compared to the PS5‘s sharp clarity.
Here‘s a visual comparison:
In addition, ray tracing is only available when playing MW2 on PS5. This next-gen lighting technology enables ultra realistic shadows, reflections, and overall enhanced image quality. PS4 lacks any ray tracing support.
According to analysis by Digital Foundry, PS5 also has advantages in texture filtering, ambient occlusion, and more advanced particle effects over PS4.
Loading Times
The PlayStation 5‘s ultra fast custom SSD drastically reduces loading times in MW2.
When booting up the game, PS5 loads the initial menu almost twice as fast as PS4 – 14 seconds on PS5 versus 27 seconds on PS4, according to tests.
Loading into multiplayer matches is also much snappier on PS5. Here‘s an example from ElAnalistaDeBits:
- PS5: 25 seconds from menu to match start
- PS4: 42 seconds from menu to match start
That‘s a 40% faster load time on PS5. You‘ll be able to get into the action quicker and spend less time looking at loading screens.
DualSense Controller Features
The PS5‘s DualSense controller adds to the immersion with innovative haptic feedback and adaptive trigger support in MW2.
You‘ll feel unique sensory feedback through the controller as you fire different weapons, reload, walk across various terrain, trigger contextual actions, and more. The tension in the trigger adapters also changes based on the weapon you‘re using.
This advanced haptics and feedback brings the experience to life in your hands. Unfortunately, these features are only available when playing on PS5.
Higher Player Counts
Thanks to its faster processing power, PS5 supports larger player counts in MW2‘s multiplayer modes compared to PS4:
- Ground War: 64 players on PS5, only 32 players on PS4
- Invasion: 20 v 20 on PS5, 16 v 16 on PS4
These higher counts result in bigger, grander battles on PS5. Modes like Ground War feel a bit empty on PS4 by comparison.
Cross-Generation Multiplayer
One major advantage is that MW2 fully supports cross-play between PS4 and PS5.
So if you have friends who are playing on PS4, you can still squad up and play together even if you‘re on PS5. Your progression and unlocks are linked across both consoles via your Activision account.
This makes upgrading less painful since you won‘t get split up from your regular teammates who haven‘t got a PS5 yet.
Recommendation
While PS4 players can still enjoy MW2, I highly recommend playing on PS5 if possible. You get a big leap in visual quality, buttery smooth 120fps performance in multiplayer, faster loading, bigger player counts, and innovative DualSense controller features that increase the immersion.
MW2 was designed first and foremost with next-gen consoles in mind. The PS5 experience is simply on another level compared to PS4. Upgrading to PS5 will let you experience MW2 to its fullest potential.
But if PS5 isn‘t an option yet, PS4 still delivers solid 60fps gameplay and cross-play with PS5. So don‘t worry, you‘ll still have an awesome time with MW2!
Let me know if you have any other questions!
