Manipulating footstep audio is a powerful tactic in certain FPS games, allowing you to deceive and outmaneuver opponents. The first step is understanding how your own footsteps sound to enemies. Try crouch-walking – notice how much quieter you become at the cost of speed. You can even bait players by sprinting briefly followed by silence, luring them around a corner right into an ambush.
The other side of the strategy is paying close attention to enemy footsteps. With practice, you’ll learn to interpret not just the location, but the pace and intensity of the sounds. Is someone creeping up trying to be sneaky, or sprinting recklessly towards an objective? Keep in mind that terrain can drastically change audio cues. Steps on metal sound different than those on dirt, and sometimes walls may muffle footsteps entirely. Use this to your advantage by being extra cautious where you might be exposed and when sound cues seem unusually muffled.
Not all FPS games feature such detailed footstep audio. Experiment in your chosen game (like Call of Duty, The Finals, etc.) to discover how prominent this tactic is, and then tailor your playstyle accordingly.