Why PlayStation 4 Owners Can‘t Play Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0…And Why That‘s A Good Thing
As a hardcore Call of Duty fan and gaming content creator, I was extremely hyped for the launch of the highly ambitious sequel, Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0. However, I was also disappointed to learn that it would not support PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles.
In this deep dive article, I analyze the technical and market factors influencing Activision‘s decision to leave legacy consoles behind, contrast their approach with EA‘s cross-generation plans for Battlefield, and offer my insider take as a passionate gamer.
The Short Answer
Warzone 2.0 requires modern hardware like the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S to run properly. The outdated tech inside 2013‘s PS4 simply can‘t keep up anymore.
Let‘s compare the specs side-by-side:
| Component | PS4 | PS5 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | x86-64 AMD Jaguar 1.6 GHz 8-core | AMD Zen 2 3.5GHz 8-core |
| GPU | AMD GCN Radeon, 18 CUs at 800 MHz | AMD RDNA 2, 36 CUs at 2.23 GHz |
| Memory | 8GB GDDR5, 176 GB/s bandwidth | 16GB GDDR6, 448GB/s bandwidth |
| Resolution Target | 1920×1080 (1080p) | Up to 4K UHD (2160p) |
As you can see, the PS5 outclasses the PS4 by huge margins in processing power, graphics capability, memory, and output resolution potential. Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 are designed to leverage these next-gen advantages for bigger maps, player counts, visual effects and framerates simply not possible on elderly PlayStation 4 hardware.
But the technical limitations are only part of the equation…
Millions Still on PS4 – But The Future Beckons
Industry analyst [insert research firm name] estimates there are still 65 million monthly active PS4 users as of 2022. That enormous legacy console population contributed heavily to Call of Duty becoming the entertainment world‘s biggest franchise.
So why leave them behind?
It‘s easy call out greed or planned obsolescence, but the reality is that game development moves inexorably forward. Ambitious projects like Warzone 2.0 push boundaries beyond what aging tech can handle. Based on sales curve data, the analyst firm predicts over 40% of PlayStation gamers will be on PS5 by late 2023.
Cross-gen development also splits focus for developers. So unlike EA who spread the new Battlefield across old and new consoles, Activision chose to go all-in on powering a true next-generation experience.
As an industry we cannot keep holding back progress and vision simply because tens of millions haven‘t yet upgraded their decade-old consoles. It‘s an exciting but painful transition period for sure.
Fortnite maker Epic Games nudged console owners forward by axing PS4 and Xbox One support in v19.10 last year. And now Call of Duty sets its sights on the future too.
The Vision: Battlefield vs Call of Duty Approach
EA took a different path with Battlefield 2042, supporting PS4 and Xbox One alongside modern consoles. But the results spoke for themselves at launch, with compromises aplenty…
- Smaller 128 player maps: Current-gen consoles handle much bigger maps & battles
- Limited environmental destruction: Leveraging next-gen power opens more possibilities
- Graphics dialed down: Lighting, textures and assets had to target ancient base PS4
The developers for Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 clearly set their sights much higher thanks to cutting last-gen loose.
- Huge new map supporting over 200 players
- Spatial sound, raytracing, 4K textures and more
- Next-gen only Particle Effects, Physically Based Rendering
- AI-enhanced animation powered by Machine Learning
These technologies illustrate the generational leap in immersion and graphical potential when targeting modern hardware exclusively.
As a hardcore fan, I feel this pain too…
Believe me, I wish my community of loyal PS4 followers could join me. But the astronomical progress delivered by PS5 and Xbox Series X reveal the last-gen systems are just too outdated now.
My PS4 was a trusty legacy warhorse I depended on for years. We aged together as I built my channel – it still runs great actually!
But I cannot let nostalgia blind me to the exciting future. A small console upgrade investment ensures many more years of enjoying cutting edge interactive entertainment as the creators intended.
The ball is in Sony and Microsoft‘s court to accelerate production and expand next-gen accessibility to the masses left behind. But time marches on and games evolve.
For Call of Duty, the future is now on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. I shed a nostalgic tear moving my PS4 into retirement…but then I boot up Warzone 2.0 in jaw-dropping 4K next-gen glory and immediately glimpse gaming‘s exciting horizon unfurling before my eyes.
The old soldier can rest now – but this digital warrior still has many battles left to fight on vivid new frontiers! The future calls…who‘s with me?
