Audeze and Audiokinetic (both of which are owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment) have joined forces to provide native head tracking and spatial audio content creation capabilities using the Maxwell 2 ANC gaming headset through the Wwise Creation Suite.
This enables sound engineers and game developers to use the Maxwell 2 ANC as a calibration tool for improved spatial audio authoring and more accurate 3D sound placement during content creation.
Sound designers and game developers using Wwise can tap into the capabilities of the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC headset, now equipped with real-time, self-calibrating head-tracking technology, to achieve highly accurate 3D sound placement and enhanced spatial audio authoring. The setup is plug-and-play, with no external software required. Developers and content creators simply connect the Maxwell 2 ANC via USB-C or its ultra-low-latency wireless USB-C dongle to begin monitoring directly in Wwise.
The goal of this collaboration is to transform how game audio is created and experienced, from VR emulation and Tempest 3D AudioTech binauralization to non-standard speaker layouts for Location-Based Entertainment (LBE) using the AK Custom Panner.
“By natively integrating Maxwell 2 ANC’s self-calibrating head tracking directly into Wwise, we’re removing the friction between creator vision and spatial execution,” said Sankar Thiagasamudram, CEO of Audeze. “Game developers now have a portable, studio-grade reference system that lets them place, audition, and mix 3D audio effortlessly in any environment. Together with Audiokinetic, we’re establishing a new benchmark for spatial audio creation across the interactive media industry.”
With the Maxwell 2 ANC and Wwise, developers can take advantage of the headset’s hardware-based, low-latency head tracking for more accurate spatial audio placement when creating immersive video game soundscapes. Featuring Audeze’s advanced 90mm planar magnetic drivers with Uniforce, Fluxor, Fazor, and SLAM acoustic technologies, the headset also incorporates Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) designed to maintain a consistent frequency response. Together, these technologies allow the Maxwell 2 ANC to serve as a calibrated spatial audio reference system wherever creators work.
Under the Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) umbrella, Audiokinetic and Audeze are building an end-to-end audio workflow for PlayStation. Developers can create soundscapes in Wwise using Audeze headsets, while PlayStation audio products, including the upcoming Sony PULSE and PULSE Edge headsets and PULSE Elevate wireless speakers, use Audeze-made planar magnetic drivers to faithfully reproduce that audio for players.
“We’re unlocking new creative possibilities for developers, making it easier to implement vivid spatial audio that elevates player immersion,” said Martin Dufour, CTO of Audiokinetic.
The collaboration builds on Audeze’s previous spatial audio initiatives, expanding the Maxwell platform’s capabilities while giving developers new tools to create more immersive, lifelike gaming experiences. Native real-time head tracking for the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC is scheduled to become available in November 2026 with Wwise version 2026.1.4.
Comparison
| Audeze Model | Maxwell 2 ANC (2026) | Maxwell 2 (2026) | Maxwell (2023) |
| Product Type | Wireless and Wired Gaming Headset | Wireless and Wired Gaming Headset | Wireless and Wired Gaming Headset |
| Price | $429 (PlayStation) $449 (Xbox) | $329 (PlayStation) $349 (Xbox) | $299 (PlayStation) $329 (Xbox) |
| Wearing Style | Over-ear, Closed-Back | Over-ear, Closed-Back | Over-ear, Closed-Back |
| Transducer type. | Planar magnetic | Planar magnetic | Planar Magnetic |
| Transducer size | 90 mm | 90 mm | 90 mm |
| Magnet type | Neodymium N50 | Neodymium N50 | Neodymium N50 |
| Magnetic Structure. | Fluxor magnet array | Fluxor magnet array | Fluxor magnet array |
| Diaphragm type | Uniforce | Uniforce | Uniforce |
| Phase Management | Fazor | Fazor™ | Fazor™ |
| Acoustic management | SLAM™ | SLAM™ | N/A |
| Maximum SPL | > 115 dB | > 115 dB | > 120 dB |
| Frequency response. | 10Hz – 50kHz | 10Hz – 50kHz | 10Hz – 50kHz |
| THD | <0.1% @ 100dB | <0.1% @ 100dB | <0.1% (@ 1 kHz, 1mW) |
| Noise Reduction | ANC | N/A | N/A |
| Bluetooth 5.3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codec Support | LE Audio, LDAC, AAC, SBC | LE Audio, LDAC, AAC, SBC | LE Audio, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Multipoint | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Dongle | USB-C, ultra-low latency | USB-C, ultra-low latency | USB-C |
| Wired connection | USB-C digital, 3.5mm analog | USB-C digital, 3.5mm analog | USB-C with dual-audio endpoints and game-chat mix 3.5mm TRRS active |
| Audeze App | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Head Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes (as an update) |
| Wwise Compatibility (New – October 2026) | Yes | N/A | N/A |
| Battery | Lithium-polymer, 1800mAh | Lithium-polymer, 1800mAh | Lithium-polymer, 1800mAh |
| Battery life | 80 Hours | 80 Hours | 80 Hours |
| Fast charge | USB-C 5v 1.8A max | USB-C 5v 1.8A max | USB-C, 5v 1.8 Amp max |
The Bottom Line
The Audeze Maxwell platform has evolved beyond premium gaming headphones into a serious tool for spatial audio production. What began with Dolby Atmos Renderer support in 2023 and expanded through the Embody partnership in 2024 has now reached game development itself. The Wwise integration is particularly significant because it brings native, self-calibrating head tracking directly into the production workflow, allowing creators to monitor and refine immersive audio without additional tracking software. That’s a meaningful step forward, not another spatial audio logo to stick on the box.
For game audio engineers, independent developers, and VR content creators already working in Wwise, the Maxwell 2 ANC offers a portable alternative for monitoring complex 3D soundscapes. It won’t replace a properly calibrated multichannel studio, but it makes professional spatial audio tools more accessible outside one. Looking back at Sony’s acquisition of Audeze in 2023, the bigger picture is becoming clearer: Maxwell isn’t just about how gamers hear their games anymore. It’s increasingly about how those games are made to sound in the first place.
Price & Availability
- Maxwell 2 ANC for Xbox: $449 at Audeze | Amazon
- Maxwell 2 ANC for PlayStation: $429 at Audeze | Amazon
- Maxwell 2 for Xbox: $349 at Audeze | Amazon | Crutchfield
- Maxwell 2 for PlayStation: $329 at Audeze | Amazon | Crutchfield
All models support Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch.
Related Reading:
- Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC Debuts at CanJam London 2026 With Adaptive Noise Cancellation
- Audeze Maxwell 2 at CES 2026 — The Wireless Gaming Headset That Just Reset the Power Rankings
- Audeze Maxwell Wireless Gaming Headphones: Review
- Audeze ReSkin Lets Maxwell 2 Gamers Customize Their Headset Without Buying a New One
