Black Ops 1 and Black Ops 2 Arrive on PS5 as Early Gameplay Comparison Draws Attention
Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and Black Ops 2 are now officially available digitally on PS4 and PS5 after being shadow dropped without any prior release announcement. The long-rumored PlayStation ports bring back the complete Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies experience, with each game priced at $39.99. PlayStation Plus members, however, can grab both titles at a much lower launch price through a limited-time offer that runs until August 6.
PS Plus Discount Makes the New PlayStation Ports Much Cheaper
Activision has priced both games in line with their Xbox versions. Each base game costs $39.99, meaning buying both titles totals $80. In addition, each game has its own Season Pass priced at $29.99, pushing the complete package to roughly $140 for players who want every multiplayer map and Zombies expansion.
The launch discount significantly reduces that cost for PlayStation Plus subscribers. During the promotional period, each game is available for $20, while each Season Pass drops to $9. That brings the total price for both games and both Season Passes to around $60, making the discount one of the biggest launch incentives for subscribers.
Unlike Xbox players, PlayStation owners must repurchase the games even if they previously owned them on PS3. Xbox users can still access the original Xbox 360 versions through backward compatibility on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
Missing Features But Core Gameplay Remains Intact
The PlayStation releases are straight ports developed by Iron Galaxy, with Treyarch confirming there are no remastered graphics or major gameplay improvements. Early gameplay comparisons also suggest the PS5 versions closely match the original Xbox 360 releases.
According to CharlieIntel, two notable features have been removed from the ports: Wager Matches and Theater Mode. The changes were widely expected after leaked trophy lists revealed that trophies connected to those modes had been removed before launch.
Black Ops 2 also appears to have dropped its original League Mode requirement, as the “Big Leagues” trophy has been changed to simply require starting the campaign. While this fueled speculation that ranked multiplayer may be missing, Treyarch and Iron Galaxy have not officially confirmed every removed feature.
Despite those omissions, players still receive the complete core experience, including the single-player Campaign, Multiplayer, Zombies, and the popular Emblem Editor. Black Ops 2 additionally includes a free customization pack that unlocks cosmetic items that were originally sold separately.
The ports also introduce new PS4 and PS5 trophy lists, DLC support, and updated game builds, confirming that native PlayStation versions were developed rather than relying on backward compatibility. Another potential benefit is a cleaner multiplayer environment, as the original Xbox 360 servers have long struggled with hackers. These PlayStation releases also do not support crossplay, meaning players will compete only with others on the new PlayStation versions. Early impressions suggest the games remain faithful to the originals, with additional testing expected to uncover any further differences in the coming days.
Sources
- IGN – Black Ops 1 and Black Ops 2 are now on PS4 and PS5 for $39.99 each, with a PS Plus bundle discount to about $60 until August 6. Both games include Campaign, Multiplayer, Zombies, and the Emblem Editor. There is no crossplay or new features, and Wager Matches and Theater Mode are missing.
- Pure Xbox – The PS4 and PS5 versions were shadow dropped and are mostly straight ports. Xbox supports backward compatibility, while PlayStation players must repurchase the games. The PlayStation versions may avoid the hacker issues found on older Xbox 360 servers.
- MSN – Treyarch confirmed Black Ops 1 and Black Ops 2 are coming to PS4 and PS5, with Iron Galaxy handling the ports. The games are making their first appearance on PS4 and PS5, after previously being limited to PS3 on PlayStation. Both releases include the full Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies package.
- Facebook – A new update added trophy lists, DLC packs, and new game builds for both ports. The update indicated the PlayStation versions were in the final stages before launch. These additions effectively confirmed the release was imminent.
- Level up – Leaked trophy lists suggested League Mode may be absent in Black Ops 2, but this was never officially confirmed. Each DLC expansion has its own separate trophy set, similar to the original PS3 releases. Separate PS4 and PS5 trophy lists confirm a native PS5 version, not just backward compatibility.
