Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 just shadow dropped on PS4 and PS5. No trailer. No countdown. The games simply appeared on the PlayStation Store, and fans are not happy about what they found.
The Ports Are Live Right Now
Activision quietly pushed out both games on July 9. The PS Store listings call them the “original” versions of Black Ops (2010) and Black Ops 2 (2012). That wording matters, because there is no remaster here. This is a straight port.
Each game costs $40 on its own. PS Plus subscribers get a 50% discount until August 6, 2026, bringing the price down to $20 per game for a limited time.
Why Fans Are Upset
The backlash started almost immediately, and it comes down to three things.
First, the base games do not include any DLC. If you want the map packs, you need the season pass, which costs $30 on its own (or $10 with the PS Plus discount). Buy everything without a discount and you are looking at $70 per game, or $140 for the full set of both titles.
Second, there are no upgrades to speak of. No 120FPS support, no FOV sliders, and no graphical improvements over the decade-old originals. Some players have also pointed out that theater mode is missing compared to the versions already available through Xbox backward compatibility.
Third, hackers showed up fast. Players jumping into multiplayer lobbies are already reporting wallhacking, one-shot rocket kills, and matches ending in under a minute because of cheaters, a problem that has haunted these older CoD ports before.
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The One Bright Spot
It is not all bad news. Activision did bring over every original DLC map pack for both games. That means Black Ops 2 fan favorites like the Mob of the Dead Zombies map and the Origins map are back, along with multiplayer maps like Grind and Buried.
For players who loved the Black Ops 2 era, that DLC content was often where the game peaked. Having it available again, even at a cost, is a win for longtime fans of the series.
Should You Buy It?
If you already own these games through Xbox backward compatibility, there is not much reason to double dip on PS5 unless you specifically want the platform switch or the DLC maps. If you are new to the series or missed it the first time around, the PS Plus discount window through August 6 is the best time to jump in before prices double.
Black Ops 2 is still considered one of the best multiplayer entries in Call of Duty history, and this is the first time either game has been available on PS4 or PS5. Whether that is worth $40 a game with no DLC included is really up to how much nostalgia is worth to you.
Got a hot take on the Black Ops ports? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know if you are picking these up before the PS Plus discount ends.
