Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War shows stunning ray tracing in PS5 and Xbox Series X comparison

Call of Duty: black Ops Cold War
(Image credit: Activision)

Digital Foundry has put the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War under the microscope, analyzing ray tracing, 120Hz modes, and more.

You can check out the full video from Digital Foundry just below, in which the ray tracing feature for Black Ops Cold War is firstly put to the test. While reflections might immediately spring to mind, Black Ops Cold War instead uses ray tracing for shadows, and the PS5 and Xbox Series X shadow versions look really impressive.

The verdict for the 120Hz mode is equally impressive. Whether you're playing Black Ops Cold War on the PS5 or Xbox Series X, you're going to have a "really good time" with the enhanced refresh rates, according to Digital Foundry.

The Digital Foundry video also spends some time parsing the Xbox Series S version of Black Ops Cold War. While this version of the game doesn't have the 120Hz mode or ray tracing features of the more expensive consoles, it's certainly a step up from the game compared to the PS4 and Xbox One versions.

Outside of detailed technical analysis and performance, you can see what we made of the new Call of Duty in our Black Ops Cold War campaign review, and our Black Ops Cold War multiplayer review. There's a lot to like with this year's Call of Duty, even if the multiplayer is a slightly back-to-basics affair.

If you're still ploughing through the latest entry in the Call of Duty franchise and need a hand completing challenges in any of the game's modes, head over to our Black Ops Cold War Dark Ops challenges guide for more.

Hirun Cryer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.

Latest in Call of Duty
A player wearing a gasmask and holding a gun during the shooter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Call of Duty season 2 brings back Gun Game and a fan-favorite Zombies weapon we haven't seen in 10 years
A player wearing a gasmask and holding a gun during the shooter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
136,000 Call of Duty accounts have gotten banned since ranked launched for Black Ops 6: "We’re not slowing down in our mission to shut down cheaters"
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War reportedly surpasses Red Dead Redemption 2's huge development costs, with a massive $700 million budget
Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 makes headshots deadlier while cutting back on weapon sway and recoil: "We will be keeping a close eye on sniper balance after this change"
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 movement.
Black Ops 6 player spent nearly 20 hours grinding to Prestige without getting a single kill, all by spamming Spy Cams
Black Ops 6 Zombies
Call of Duty hacker says "I had my fun" after reportedly getting thousands of Warzone and Modern Warfare 3 players falsely banned
Latest in News
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
I've found my Assassin's Creed Shadows playstyle, thanks to this clip of Yasuke smashing dudes with a huge club instead of sneaking around
World of Warcraft housing
World of Warcraft's new housing system lets you decorate without the floating hacks I've been using in Final Fantasy 14 for 11 years, and I weep
Gemma Chan in Eternals
Eternals star Gemma Chan is hopeful she'll return to the MCU someday: "There's unfinished business there"
two aliens firing miniguns
4 years after shutting down, this dead sci-fi MMO is being brought back to life, but there's no word on its canceled TV show tie-in
Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Netflix wants Daniel Craig to join the cast of Greta Gerwig's Narnia movie – but it's not certain if he'll take it
The Last of Us
The Last of Us season 2 trailer breaks HBO viewing records, becoming the network's most-watched trailer