In a simultaneously strange but exciting move, Activision randomly ported Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 & 2 to PS4 and PS5 on July 9, charging $39.99 for each game. To be fair, PS Plus subscribers can pick them up for $19.99 until August 6th, so you can get them for a more reasonable price. While STAY is loved, BO2 is more highly regarded and seems to get more attention. But the question remains: should you buy Black Ops 2 on PS5?
Black Ops 2 is an undisputed masterpiece and among the best FPS games of the 2010swhich represents one of the highest peaks in Call of Duty franchise. The fact that it's readily available on PS5 and PS4 is an absolute boon, and this port is ultimately good news. But, push past the nostalgic shot this release might trigger, and The reality is we're talking about releasing either $19.99 or $39.99 on a PS3 game in 2026.
Just to be clear, you are the only person who can decide Black Ops 2 is worth $20 or $40. If the answer is “yes”, then it is not a mistake.
BO2 comes with the campaign, PvP multiplayer and Zombies.
A straight port with a 1080p upgrade
Not a remaster
Before considering anything, everyone should know exactly what they are signing up for. Black Ops 1 and 2 has been ported to PS4 and PS5 with basically no changes except for a graphics boost to 1080pwhich is the bare minimum that could have been done except for literally nothing. You also can't increase the resolution to 1440p or 4K; 1080p is max.
Both games are also locked at 60fps, as they only support up to 60Hz displays. It doesn't matter if you have a 120hz 4K TV; you will play a 1080p 60 fps shooter in 2026.
Finally, these are not the complete versions with all the DLC. No, this is just Black Ops and its sequels in their base forms, untouched. On the one hand, it's kind of cool to have authentic versions of these essential FPS games available on PS5; on the other hand, they cost $39.99!
On a positive note, cross-gen between PS4 and PS5 seems to work, so at least there's that. Crossplay with Xbox and PC doesn't seem to be available though.
Actually, the PS5 port has a big advantage over the PC version
That's for sure
While this article is pretty negative, I want to mention one thing that gives the PS4 and PS5 ports an edge over The PC versions. Because it uses insecure P2P networking, the Steam version is vulnerable to remote code execution exploits, rendering its public servers completely unusable. If you are not playing through the Plutonium client, players should avoid 100% BO2s multiplayer; frankly, they should avoid going online altogether.
Because they run on Sony's closed network, the PlayStation ports are free of this problem, allowing gamers to jump online without worrying about their systems being attacked.
The $19.99 sale only looks good because of the full price
Even then, it doesn't look very good
Like Nintendo, Activision doesn't often offer deep discounts on Call of Duty game, nor does the publisher love to reduce its MSRP. For example, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 still costs $39.99 on Steamand its all-time low price is just $12.88, according to IsThereAnyDeal. That's astonishing for a game that turns 14 this November, especially considering there are 13 newer Call of Duty games, all of which are also quite expensive.
Activision's 50% launch discount for the PS5 version may well attract a knee-jerk reaction from die-hard fans who grew up with Black Ops 2and they may do so without reading the fine print. You're paying $19.99 for a mostly unenhanced port meant to tap into your nostalgia. So many indie games that can be bought for about the same price, and they came out in the last decade.
The immediate discount also suggests that Activision may be aware that $39.99 is a tough sell for Black Ops 2.
BO2's season pass costs $29.99
Yes, there is a season pass
As previously mentioned, the DLC — “Revolution,” “Uprising,” “Vengeance,” and “Apocalypse” — doesn't come with the $39.99 price tag; instead, players must drop extra cash to retrieve everything. As bizarre as it is to see a PS3 game with a season pass, you can find just that on the PS Store for both Black Ops game.
Confusing title aside, BO2s season pass is simply a collection of 21 DLC mapswhich is by no means insignificant. On Steam, BO2s season pass is still available for $29.99, suggesting that these ports were primarily designed to simply offer the PC experience on PS4 and PS5. They were made to do STAY and BO2 accessible to modern audiences and nothing more.
One thing to keep in mind is that Black Ops 2 uses fragmented matchmaking, separating the DLC map packs from the base content and dividing the player base in the process. BO2s multiplayer is still on fire, but its longevity is hard to predict, especially since crossplay with Xbox and PC isn't available.
The game is not perfectly optimized for PS5
A true “play a 2012 game on a 2026 system” experience
Take a quick walk through Black Ops 2 or Call of Duty subreddit, and you'll find quite a few posts discussing technical issues with both ports. One of the biggest reported problems is input delay and dead zone, which BO2 doesn't seem to fit well with DualSense.
Fortunately, there are workarounds that can mitigate the problem, although their success rates vary or require you to pick up a DualSense Edge. People seem to have very different experiences, with some going through matches without any major problems.
You cannot transfer your PS3 Multiplayer Progression
A level playing field
This might be the biggest dealbreaker for some people: You can't continue your PS3 development. The PS4 and PS5 versions operate on completely different servers than the 2012 original, meaning players must start from scratch and unlock every perk or weapon again.
The “positive” argument for a complete refresh is that it forces everyone to be on a level playing field, but that doesn't really hold much water. We're ultimately talking about a retroport that will primarily attract older players, who will naturally have an edge over complete newcomers or casual players. By starting everyone at level 1, the matchmaking system will pair up seasoned veterans with fresh newbies, allowing the former to stomp the latter into oblivion.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
8/10
- Released
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November 13, 2012
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
- Engine
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iw
