18th June 2026; 07:03 IST
TL;DR: Treyarch has officially confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) and Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012) are receiving native ports for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in July 2026. Developed by Iron Galaxy, these direct ports will feature the full Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies modes, finally bringing two of the most beloved shooters of the seventh-generation console era to modern PlayStation hardware.
For over a decade, PlayStation fans have had a major grievance. While Xbox players have enjoyed backwards compatibility for the entire Call of Duty catalog, PS4 and PS5 owners have been locked out of the legendary seventh-generation classics due to the architectural differences of the PlayStation 3 Cell processor. That isolation is officially ending. In a surprise announcement, developer Treyarch has confirmed that the iconic Call of Duty: Black Ops and its record-breaking sequel Call of Duty: Black Ops II are landing on modern PlayStation consoles next month.
It is important to manage expectations: Treyarch has explicitly clarified that these releases are direct ports rather than full-blown remasters or remakes. The development is being led by Iron Galaxy, a studio renowned for porting complex titles to various platforms. Players can expect the original visual assets, matchmaking designs, and game feel to remain exactly as they were on the PS3 and Xbox 360, but running at native resolutions on modern screens.
By bypassing the need for a full remaster, the developer is aiming to deliver a pure, nostalgic experience. The ports will include:
The task of porting these games has been assigned to Iron Galaxy, a highly experienced support and porting studio. Their involvement gives fans peace of mind, as the studio has a long history of successfully translating demanding games to new hardware. Having a dedicated studio focus on optimization ensures that performance issues, server tick rates, and input latency—all critical for competitive shooters—are addressed specifically for the PS4 and PS5.
For years, Microsoft’s backwards compatibility program has been a major selling point for Xbox consoles, allowing players to insert their original Xbox 360 discs or buy legacy digital games directly from the Xbox Store. The Call of Duty servers on Xbox have remained active, even experiencing player count spikes when matchmaking fixes were implemented. PlayStation fans, however, had no native route to play these titles on modern consoles.
This port project is a direct response to this community divide, offering PlayStation users an official, optimized way to experience these legendary shooters without having to dust off their legacy hardware. For more context on PlayStation's current console ecosystem and upcoming plans, check out our report on Sony PlayStation's Big Move.
While the July 2026 release window is set, several key questions remain unanswered. Treyarch has not yet confirmed the pricing model—whether they will be sold as a bundle or individually, and if there will be any discount for players who already own the digital licenses on the PS3 store. Furthermore, details regarding cross-play with PC/Xbox or cross-generational multiplayer between PS4 and PS5 are still pending.
The return of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 & 2 to PlayStation is a massive win for game preservation and a nostalgic treat for millions of players. While some might have preferred a full-scale remaster with modernized visuals, direct ports ensure that the original gameplay mechanics, weapon balances, and maps remain untouched. Prepare to get back in the lobby this July.
Are Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 getting remade or remastered?
No, Treyarch has confirmed these are direct ports handled by Iron Galaxy, aiming to bring the original PS3/Xbox 360 experiences to PS4 and PS5 without significant visual or gameplay overhauls.
When will the Black Ops ports release on PS4 and PS5?
The ports are officially scheduled to launch in July 2026, though a specific day-of-month release date hasn't been announced yet.
Will all game modes, including Zombies, be available in these ports?
Yes, both ports will include the complete original packages: single-player Campaign, Multiplayer, and the legendary Zombies mode.
Official and reputable references used for this post:
GameSpot (Reporting on official announcements)
Push Square (PlayStation port details)
Kotaku (Developer confirmation updates)
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