Activision has released enhanced ports for two of the most beloved Call of Duty titles on PS5, reigniting nostalgia and building hype for Modern Warfare 4's impending reveal.
In a move that has sent Call of Duty fans into a frenzy, Activision has officially released enhanced PlayStation 5 ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, delivering full 4K resolution at a buttery-smooth 120 frames per second. The surprise release gives PS5 players the definitive way to experience two of the most critically acclaimed entries in the franchise's storied history.
The enhanced ports, which went live on the PlayStation Store earlier this week, offer native PS5 support including full 4K rendering, 120 FPS gameplay for compatible displays, and optimized loading times thanks to the console's ultra-fast SSD. Both games also support the DualSense controller's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, adding a tactile dimension to gameplay that was absent in the original releases.
"Black Ops 2 is widely considered the peak of the franchise by many fans — the Pick 10 create-a-class system, the branching campaign storyline, the iconic maps like Raid and Standoff," said a Call of Duty historian and content creator. "To have it running at 4K 120FPS on modern hardware is a dream come true for the community. It plays like a completely different beast."
The pricing, however, has been a point of contention. Each title is priced at $39.99, and neither includes the original DLC map packs, which must be purchased separately. This brings the total cost for the full experience — both games plus all DLC — to over $140, a figure that has drawn criticism from parts of the community given the games are over a decade old. The controversy echoes earlier complaints about bare-bones ports that arrived on PS4 in recent months without significant visual upgrades.
But beyond the nostalgia trip, the timing of these releases is significant. With the Modern Warfare 4 early access beta already underway and the full launch scheduled for November 6, Activision appears to be stoking the fires of Call of Duty fandom with a one-two punch of classic titles and the hotly anticipated new entry. The Black Ops series, in particular, shares DNA with the Modern Warfare franchise through Treyarch's and Infinity Ward's interconnected storytelling universe.
MW4's beta, which entered early access on July 10 with full open access beginning July 17, has already drawn record pre-load numbers, with over 8 million players signing up in the first 24 hours. The Gunsmith 2.0 attachment system, Omnimovement mechanics, and a deep roster of remastered classic maps have generated overwhelmingly positive first impressions from beta participants.
For players who missed the Black Ops era or veterans looking to relive the golden age, these 4K 120FPS ports offer the best possible way to revisit iconic campaigns and timeless multiplayer maps — just be prepared to dig deep into your wallet for the full package.