The best FoV (Field of View) for CoD Modern Warfare and Warzone
To determine the best Field of View in Call of Duty Modern Warfare and Warzone, I have surveyed 51 players on their preference. Find out pros and cons brought by a wide FoV.
Generally, there is not a “best” setting for the field of view, but it comes down to your personal preference, the size of your screen and how close you are to it.
You may think to the FoV as a camera zooming in and out. When you increase the FoV, the camera zooms out, improving your peripheral vision.
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FoV pros and cons
According to the PC gaming myth, a high FoV value is always the best choice in FPS games because you are able to look at a wider area, which helps to spot any incoming enemy.
The truth is that a high FoV brings both pros and cons.
A high FoV makes targeting more difficult. The wider the FoV, the smaller the enemy on the screen, so you need to be more accurate to hit them.
A low FoV helps your focus. Everything on the screen is bigger, so it is easier to focus on where you are aiming.
Very-low FoV values can also bring motion sickness and issues in close quarters combat as it is harder to keep a fast-moving target on your screen.
CoD uses a horizontal Field of View
It is important to point out that in some games (like Overwatch and Apex Legends) the FoV is calculated horizontally, while in others (such as R6: Siege) it is calculated vertically. Do not forget this difference if you are trying to set the same Field of View in all your games.
In specific, Call of Duty Modern Warfare and Warzone use a horizontal field of view based on the 16:9 aspect ratio.
80 horizontal FoV is equal to 65 vertical FoV with a 4:3 aspect ratio and to 51 with a 16:9 one.
90 horizontal FoV is equal to 74 vertical FoV with a 4:3 aspect ratio and to 59 with a 16:9 one.
110 horizontal FoV is equal to 94 vertical FoV with a 4:3 aspect ratio and to 78 with a 16:9 one.
120 horizontal FoV is equal to 105 vertical FoV with a 4:3 aspect ratio and to 89 with a 16:9 one.
Data
I have surveyed 51 PC players on their Field of View preference in Call of Duty. The results are displayed in the graph and table below.
| Field of View | Votes |
|---|---|
| 85 | 3 |
| 90 | 8 |
| 95 | 4 |
| 100 | 6 |
| 103 | 10 |
| 105 | 7 |
| 110 | 4 |
| 120 | 9 |
The minimum FoV is 60, the default on PC is 80, and the maximum is 120.
Among the surveyed, nobody uses the default 80 FoV. The number of players using the default FoV may be higher worldwide, but I gathered my data in Discord servers with many hardcore gamers who are used to adjust all the game options depending on their needs.
There is not a “best” field of view value, and the most popular ones are 90, 100, and 120.
The majority of players prefer a FoV of 100 or above. 103 is often considered the sweet spot (this is also the most popular choice in PUBG), and it is equal to 71 vertical FoV.
Note that if you play on PC with a controller, selecting any FoV value higher than 85 will break your aim assist.
I suggest using a very high FoV value (110-120) only if you have a great sight and reflexes. Generally, playing on a wide FoV also requires a better mouse control and speed in order to move faster across the screen, so you need a solid aim as well.
Instead, If you struggle at spotting and aiming enemies at a mid and long range, a lower FoV value will actually benefit your gameplay.
Finally, if performance is an issue, be aware that increasing the FoV will impact negatively your fps because your PC must work harder to render more on the screen.
FoV on ultrawide monitors
Call of Duty Modern Warfare and Warzone are powered by IW engine. The ultrawide support is excellent, and I believe this aspect ratio brings a huge advantage because it improves your view on the surroundings.
I play on a 34 inches ultrawide monitor at about 50-60 Centimeters / 1.6-1.9 Feet of distance, so I can share with you my personal experience.
In my opinion, the standard 80 FoV is a bit too low. After several tests, I believe a FoV around 100 is the best option for an ultrawide user as we already enjoy a huge horizontal view with this monitor aspect ratio.
I have detected the fisheye lens effect at 120 FoV. The fisheye effect is a strong visual distortion that in photography is produced with an ultra wide-angle lens. You can occur in it on PC when using a very-high FoV value.
FoV at 16:9 and 21:9
Below, you can find images of the same scene at 60 (console), 90, 100, and 120 FoV, both in 16:9 and 21:9 aspect ratio.
The 16:9 monitor is a standard 24 inches one with a resolution of 1920x1080, while the ultrawide one is a 34 inches display that runs at 2560x1080.
I took all the screens in the training area.
16:9
21:9
The FoV is locked on console
Call of Duty Modern Warfare and Warzone are also available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox one. The field of view on console is locked to about 60-65.
Several players asked for a FoV slider on console, claiming that PC players have a substantial advantage, but ultimately it was not implemented.
Ashton Williams, community manager at Infinity Ward, released the following statement on Reddit before the game release:
We can look into an ADS slider but no promises, so don’t hold me to that. I know a FoV slider on console is a huge point of conversation, but we won’t be having one in this game.
Most probably, the developers won’t add it because the hardware resources on console are limited, and thus their graphic engine may not be able to keep the game at 60 FPS in any situation if the FoV is increased.
This reasoning is understandable, but nowadays there are many games with a Field of View option on console, such as Doom, Rocket League, Apex Legends, Battlefield I and V.
In most of them, increasing the FoV doesn’t have a noticeable impact on the performance and the overall fluidity of the game, so I hope that someday Infinity Ward will consider this addition. Console players deserve respect and the opportunity to play as they prefer.
Moreover, many players tested Dead Silence on Xbox One, PS4, and PS4 Pro, and it does not affect performance negatively. Dead Silence is a field upgrade that reduces the user’s footstep noise. While active, the FoV is wider.
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Header image: Activision
