Modern Warfare 4's 120FPS Mode Has a Major Catch: Your 120Hz Monitor Might Not Be Enough

Before assuming that Modern Warfare 4 is limited to 60FPS on your setup, check whether your console recognizes both capabilities.

On PlayStation 5:

1. Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
2. Check that 120 Hz Output is enabled or set to Automatic.
3. Check whether VRR is available and enabled.
4. Review the connected HDMI device information to verify the display's supported features.
5. Return to Modern Warfare 4 and check whether Performance Mode is available.

Sony provides additional information about these settings in its official PS5 video output guide.

On Xbox Series X|S:

1. Open Settings > General > TV & display options.
2. Check whether your display supports a 120Hz refresh rate.
3. Open the video mode settings and verify that Variable Refresh Rate is supported and enabled.
4. Make sure VRR is also activated in your TV or monitor's settings, where applicable.
5. Restart Modern Warfare 4 and check the available performance options.

Display compatibility can depend on the HDMI connection and supported video modes. A monitor advertising 120Hz or 144Hz does not automatically guarantee compatible VRR functionality over HDMI.

Does the restriction affect DMZ, Campaign and Multiplayer?

The immediate concern involves Modern Warfare 4's Campaign and DMZ modes, both of which became available before the game's full October 23 launch.

Players have reported difficulty accessing the 120Hz performance option in these modes, with some discovering that enabling VRR makes the setting available.

However, the available evidence does not establish that the same restriction will apply identically to every Multiplayer playlist.

It is also important to distinguish 120Hz output from actual gameplay performance. Enabling a high-refresh-rate mode does not guarantee a constant 120FPS, particularly when a game's frame rate is unlocked and varies according to the scene.

For players using a 120Hz display without VRR, the key question is therefore not whether their console supports high-frame-rate gaming, but whether Modern Warfare 4 will permit that output in the mode they want to play.

Until the requirements are clarified for every mode, checking display compatibility and the game's available performance settings is the most reliable starting point.

Infinity Ward has revealed a new DMZ Worldbuilder trailer for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, teasing a world packed with hidden stories, mysterious clues and secrets waiting to be uncovered.

By Marco “Stak” Cresta