Activision has finally brought the iconic Xbox 360 first‑person shooters Call of Duty: Black Ops and its sequel to the PlayStation ecosystem, launching on both PS4 and PS5. While Xbox One and Series X/S users have long enjoyed these titles through backward compatibility, PlayStation owners now face a steep price tag—over $60 for the full package, including all downloadable content, even with the temporary PS Plus discount. Once the promotion lapses, the cost is set to double, pushing the total to roughly $140.
In a highly anticipated move, Activision confirmed last month that it would port Call of Duty: Black Ops (originally released in 2010) and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012) to PS4 and PS5 after a sustained fan campaign. This marks a significant expansion of the franchise’s reach beyond the Xbox family.
Pricing details are as follows: each base game is listed at $40 but is currently discounted to $20 through August 6. The season pass for each port is $10 during the sale, but will jump to $30 once the discount ends. The DLC cost structure mirrors the original releases, meaning players will need to purchase additional content separately.
Reddit users reacted with a mix of excitement and frustration, with one comment simply stating, “Bruh, you have to buy the DLC again?”—a reminder that the franchise’s monetization model remains unchanged. Despite the price shock, the ports do include all original modes, ensuring fans can experience the full breadth of the series on their preferred platform.
The high price is compounded by the fact that these ports are essentially stripped‑down replicas. They offer no extra content, behind‑the‑scenes extras, or fresh maps. Even more disappointing is the absence of an FOV slider, 120‑FPS support, and meaningful visual enhancements—only modest upscaling to better fill a 4K screen. In short, they are the original titles simply transplanted onto PS4 and PS5 for a premium fee, with no added value.
Another Reddit user slammed the decision to resell DLC, calling it “greedy and annoying” because it fractures the community between those who own the content and those who don’t. The commenter noted that this is no longer 2010, when the game was a perennial multiplayer juggernaut with an evergreen player base.
Some observers noted that the pricing mirrors that of the Xbox releases, which likewise lack new features or significant visual upgrades on Series consoles. While accurate, this represents a missed chance for Activision to regain fans and generate positive buzz. A modestly enhanced port—complete with all DLC, cross‑play, and a bundled price of around $30 for both platforms—could have delighted players. Instead, Activision opted for the most exploitative re‑release strategy, leaving the community furious.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why are the Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 ports on PS5 priced at $40 each and not including DLC?
Activision set the base price to $40 to match the standard pricing for new console releases while keeping the downloadable content (DLC) separate. The DLC was originally sold as a separate purchase on Xbox, and Activision chose to maintain that model on PlayStation to avoid bundling all content into one expensive package. This allows players to buy only the core game if they prefer, or add the DLC later if they want the full experience.
Will the current discount on the Black Ops ports last forever?
No. The $20 discount on each base game and the $10 season pass discount are temporary promotions that end on August 6. After that date, the base game price will rise to $40 and the season pass will increase to $30, mirroring the pricing structure of the original releases.
How does the pricing of the Black Ops ports on PlayStation compare to the Xbox One/Series X/S versions?
On Xbox, the Black Ops titles are available through backward compatibility at no additional cost to owners of Xbox One or Series X/S. On PlayStation, however, the base games cost $40 each (currently discounted to $20), and the DLC must be purchased separately. Even with the temporary discount, the total cost for a full package on PlayStation can exceed $60, and after the promotion it can rise to around $140, making it significantly more expensive than the free Xbox versions.
News Source: Kotaku
Comments
Be the first to comment.