Sometimes I find it really frustrating that it takes me ages to find specific information I'm looking for on the internet. Earlier today, I was looking for reviews of CoD MW2 that go in depth on the SMS protect feature that requires users to tie a post paid cell number to their online multiplayer account. I'm not a gamer in that sense and thought this would be a terrible inconvenience as I don't play online games. I stick to single player campaigns and in the few instances I've dabbled in multiplayer titles its often against AI(Bots).
After much agonising I was able to find the link to Activision's FAQs about this:
"A text-enabled mobile phone number is required to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II on PC. Existing Call of Duty®: Warzone™ players that have previously verified their account will not be required to provide any additional information to access Modern Warfare II and Warzone™ 2.0."- CoD Blog
While I'm not a huge fan of these anti-cheat measures I am glad that it is not on console.
While I had already determing I would not be purchasing this title if the SMS Protect feature was not removed, as with the recent Overwatch 2 controversy, I was relieved to find out it won't be applicable to console gamers. However, it does seem that it has been a PC requirement from 2020. This then let me with one question: Which console to purchase it on. My default for cross platform titles will always be the Xbox unless the PlayStation version is a more compelling purchase in terms of extra features offered. In this case, support for the Dual Sense controller. Furthermore Sony's anticonsumer refund and return policies mean that once I've downloaded the title to my console, even if I haven't played it or if there's some issue with it, it's nigh on impossible to get a refund.
Here I hit my second snag while trying to find an indepth review of Dual Sense controller adoption for the PS5. Many websites and youtube channels I came across only focus on the adaptive triggers. Most even mash haptic feedback with adapative triggers as if they are the same thing. They are not which was incredibly frustrating as watching/reading an article would just focus on the triggers and not really the haptic feedback. While these may be good for noncompetitive titles not so much with ultra competitive titles where trigger respsonse matters and short trigger travel is essential. For casuals like me, its a good addition that aids in the immersion but not a deal maker. I've been greatly enamoured with the haptic feedback which when properly implemented/utilised adds an extra layer of immersion that complements controller vibration. Because of the nature of the hardware, specific "vibrations" can be calibrated for different actions on screen. A useful analogy here is how directors would focus on specific items in camera/on screen and make them pop in 3D movies. These can be things from the gentle pitter patter of raindrops to glass cracking or even a cellphone buzzing in a character's pocket.
This has been used to great effect by PlayStation first party titles. Both third party titles I've tried with these features enabled have handled it so badly I stopped playing the one and want to turn off the effect completely in the other, sadly its not an option.This being said, I was finally able to track down information that seems to indicate a great deal of time and effort was put into Dual Sense support fo the PlayStation version of MW2 and in particular haptic feedback. To be precise here the specific language used in one particular review of the multiplayer Beta from a few weeks back points to an understanding of the impact of haptic feedback and what it will be tied to. It does seem copy-pasted from marketing material but I could be wrong. This being said, it does seem to be an accurate descritpion of what haptic feedback should be doing:
"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."-Gamerant.
This seems to have satisfied my itch and I have purchsed the title on PlayStation 5. I will revisit this once I start playing the title later tonight barring any glitches or bugs.
