PlayStation players have spent more than a decade waiting for the first two classic Black Ops games to become playable on newer Sony consoles. Activision has now quietly released PS4 and PS5 versions of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops II, finally ending that long absence. The celebration did not last long, however, once fans noticed how much the publisher is charging for ports that arrive without any major technical improvements.
Rumors had circulated for weeks that the first two Black Ops titles were finally about to escape their PlayStation 3 confinement. Treyarch later confirmed that Iron Galaxy was preparing PS4 and PS5 ports, but no precise launch date followed. Instead, Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops II simply appeared on PlayStation Store without a major announcement.
The releases fill a long-standing gap on Sony hardware. PC players have continued to access the original versions, while Xbox owners have been able to play both games on modern consoles through backward compatibility. PlayStation fans, by contrast, still needed a working PS3 if they wanted to revisit Alex Mason’s story, the Cold War conspiracies of the original game, or the futuristic conflict of Black Ops II.
The Nostalgia Is Intact, but There Is No Remastering
Neither release is a remake or even a remaster. Iron Galaxy has produced direct ports without new textures, upgraded lighting, redesigned character models, modernized gameplay systems, or additional content. The PS4 and PS5 editions largely deliver the same campaigns, multiplayer modes, and Zombies experiences that appeared in the original releases.
Additional content also remains separate. Both Season Passes are available as individual purchases on PlayStation Store, while Black Ops II also offers its Ultimate Customization Bundle. Activision describes the releases as providing a “classic Call of Duty experience,” but multiplayer does not support cross-platform play, meaning PS4 and PS5 users cannot play against one another.
The Price Quickly Brought the Celebration to an End
The strongest criticism has focused not on the lack of improvements, but on the cost. Each game carries a regular price of €39.99, meaning anyone buying both at full price will spend almost €80 on two largely unchanged ports. PlayStation Plus members can currently purchase them for €19.99 each through a 50% launch discount available until August 6, but the temporary reduction has done little to silence criticism of the standard price.
Call of Duty: Black Ops originally launched in 2010, followed by Black Ops II in 2012, and both remain among the most highly regarded entries in the franchise. Their return is genuinely welcome news, particularly for players who no longer own a working PS3. Activision has nevertheless priced the two releases as though they were far more ambitious than straightforward ports, ensuring that the long-awaited PlayStation comeback is now being discussed almost as much for its bill as for Mason, Woods, or Zombies.
Source: 3DJuegos, Treyarch, Gematsu
