Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 are coming to PlayStation in July

Treyarch has confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 are being ported to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, arriving in July 2026. The developer announced the news on X, stating the ports are being handled by Iron Galaxy. Both games have been locked to PS3 and Xbox 360 hardware for over a decade — until now.

What are the Black Ops PlayStation ports?

According to Treyarch's official announcement on X, Black Ops and Black Ops 2 are coming to PlayStation specifically — with Iron Galaxy leading the porting work. "It's official: the original Black Ops and Black Ops 2 are being ported to PlayStation in July, courtesy of our partners at Iron Galaxy," Treyarch said.

Iron Galaxy has handled ports for a range of high-profile titles, making them a credible choice for bringing these legacy games to modern hardware. The exact release date within July has not been confirmed.

As reported by Insider Gaming, these are straight ports of the original games — not remasters or remakes. Fans should not expect updated visuals, reworked mechanics, or any of the changes that come with a full remaster treatment.

Why this matters for Call of Duty fans

Call of Duty: Black Ops launched in November 2010, with Black Ops 2 following in November 2012. Both games are widely regarded as some of the strongest entries in the franchise — Black Ops 2 in particular is often cited by the community as the series peak for competitive multiplayer.

For over a decade, playing either game on console meant digging out ageing PS3 or Xbox 360 hardware. Their arrival on PS4 and PS5 ends a long wait for fans who have wanted to revisit these titles on current-generation systems.

Call of Duty remains one of the most popular franchises in the UAE gaming market, and this announcement follows a busy period for the series — including Call of Duty 2026 dropping PS4 and Xbox One support entirely. Bringing back two fan-favourite entries in the same year as the franchise moves forward is an interesting move from Activision.

• Black Ops (2010): Cold War-era campaign and the game that established Zombies as a fan staple
• Black Ops 2 (2012): Near-future setting, branching campaign missions, and arguably the franchise's best competitive multiplayer
• Port developer: Iron Galaxy, experienced third-party porting studio
• Platforms: PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
• Release window: July 2026

What we don't know yet

Several key questions remain unanswered. Activision has not confirmed how multiplayer servers will be handled for either game — both titles' original online infrastructure is long out of date, and it's unclear whether new servers will be stood up or whether the ports will run on legacy systems.

There's also no word on pricing in USD or AED, no specific release date within July, and no confirmation of file sizes or any technical enhancements for PS5 hardware specifically.

Perhaps most notable is the Xbox and PC question. As of writing, Treyarch has made no mention of versions for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or PC. Whether those platforms are coming later — or not at all — hasn't been addressed. There is no official confirmation for Xbox or PC versions at this time.

It's also worth watching where the broader franchise goes from here. Rumours suggest Call of Duty on Nintendo Switch 2 could be imminent, which would represent another significant platform expansion for the series.

Should you get excited about these ports?

If you played either game on last-generation hardware, yes — with some caution. Ports without remaster treatment can vary in quality, and without clarity on server infrastructure, it's hard to say how the multiplayer experience will hold up.

Iron Galaxy's track record is solid. The studio has handled technically demanding ports before, so the base experience should be competent. But the lack of detail on multiplayer is the biggest open question for anyone whose main interest is online play.

In our view, even a straight port of Black Ops 2 on PS5 is a worthwhile proposition for fans who missed it or want to revisit it — the campaign and Zombies mode hold up well. Whether the multiplayer functions properly will determine how much replay value these ports actually deliver.

Pricing will also matter. If Activision prices these at full current-generation rates, that's a harder sell for games from 2010 and 2012. If they come in at a budget tier, the value proposition improves considerably. We'll update when pricing is confirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Black Ops PlayStation ports remasters or remakes?

No. Treyarch confirmed these are ports of the original games, not remasters or remakes. Players should expect the same experience as the 2010 and 2012 originals, without updated visuals or reworked gameplay. Iron Galaxy is handling the porting work.

Will Black Ops 1 and 2 ports come to Xbox or PC?

As of writing, there is no official confirmation of Xbox or PC versions. Treyarch's announcement specifically named PlayStation. It's unknown whether other platforms will follow later or if this remains a PlayStation-exclusive arrangement.

When do the Black Ops PlayStation ports release?

Both <em>Call of Duty: Black Ops</em> and <em>Black Ops 2</em> are scheduled to launch in July 2026 on PS4 and PS5. The exact release date within July has not been confirmed by Treyarch or Activision.

How much will the Black Ops ports cost in the UAE?

Pricing has not been announced for any region, including the UAE. Both games will be available through the PlayStation Store. We'll update when AED pricing is confirmed.

Will multiplayer work in the Black Ops PS4 and PS5 ports?

Activision has not confirmed how multiplayer servers will be handled for either port. The original server infrastructure is outdated. Whether new servers will be set up or legacy systems retained remains unclear — this is one of the biggest open questions ahead of launch.

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