Imagine being asked to shell out $40 for a port of a PlayStation 3 title that debuted in 2010, and the only thing you get is the original game with no added content or enhancements.
Activision is set to deliver that very scenario by bringing Call of Duty: Black Ops and its sequel to the PS5 this July. The two first‑person shooters won’t receive new Xbox Series X|S releases—likely because the backward‑compatible versions are already available on the Xbox Store—but the publisher has tweaked pricing, hinting at its broader strategy for the next‑gen console.
On the Xbox Store, both titles are listed at $39.99 for the base game, with no downloadable content included. The add‑ons, however, have seen a price drop: individual map packs have been slashed from $15 to $10 each, and the season pass that bundles all of them has fallen from $50 to $30.
While the price cuts for DLC are a welcome development, the core PS5 ports promise no technical upgrades whatsoever. The prospect of paying roughly $80 for two 15‑year‑old games is a hard sell for many fans.
Moreover, Call of Duty releases rarely see a substantial price cut. The franchise typically holds its titles above a 50% discount threshold, forcing fans to wait a year or more before a meaningful sale appears.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why are the PS5 ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops priced at $40 each with no DLC?
Activision has chosen to price the PS5 ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and its sequel at $40 each because they are simply re‑releases of the original 2010 PS3 titles, with no added content, enhancements, or technical upgrades. The publisher is following a strategy to match the Xbox Store price of $39.99 for the base game while keeping the DLC separate and discounted.
Will the PS5 versions receive any graphical or performance upgrades compared to the original PS3 releases?
No, the PS5 ports will not include any graphical or performance improvements. They are direct ports of the original games, so players will experience the same visuals, frame rates, and gameplay as they did on the PS3, with no new features or optimizations for the newer hardware.
How does the price reduction of DLC on Xbox affect the overall value proposition for players buying the PS5 ports?
The DLC price cuts—from $15 to $10 per map pack and from $50 to $30 for the season pass—make additional content more affordable for players, potentially easing backlash over the high base price of the PS5 ports. However, because the core games still lack upgrades and the base price remains high, the overall value proposition may still feel weak for fans who expect modern enhancements or bundled content.
News Source: Pushsquare
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