Xbox Ports 2 Classic Call of Duty Games to PlayStation, Ignores Fixes for Xbox, PC
▼ Summary
– Treyarch announced that Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) and Black Ops 2 (2012) will be ported to PlayStation 4 and 5 in July, with Iron Galaxy Studios handling the development.
– The games were previously unplayable natively on modern PlayStation consoles due to a lack of PS3 backward compatibility, requiring streaming through PlayStation Plus Premium.
– It is unclear if PS3 owners will receive free upgrades or be able to transfer progress to the new ports.
– Xbox and PC players are frustrated that the ports were announced without fixes for issues like 720p resolution locks and hacker infestations in the existing versions.
– The ports are expected to use the games’ existing server networks, though this has not been confirmed.
Treyarch has officially confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will arrive on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 next month. The announcement came via a social media post on Wednesday afternoon, revealing that Iron Galaxy Studios , a developer known for its porting and support work , is handling the conversion of these classic shooters for Sony’s modern hardware.
Originally released for the Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3, both titles have been playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S since 2016 thanks to Microsoft’s Backwards Compatibility Program. PlayStation users, however, have been unable to play native versions on the PS4 or PS5 because those consoles lack PS3 backward compatibility. Until now, the only option for Sony owners was streaming through PlayStation Plus Premium.
It remains unclear whether players who already own digital copies of Black Ops or Black Ops 2 on PS3 will receive the new native ports for free or be able to transfer their progress. If any such benefits exist, they are likely limited to those with digital purchases. Additionally, it is assumed , though not yet confirmed , that these ports will connect to the existing server infrastructure rather than establishing new dedicated servers.
The news is undoubtedly welcome for PlayStation fans who have long waited to play two of the most beloved entries in the Call of Duty series without relying on streaming. The ports are expected to launch in just a few weeks, which is a surprisingly fast turnaround.
However, the announcement has sparked frustration among Xbox and PC players, who feel neglected by the lack of attention given to longstanding issues on their platforms. Complaints have mounted for years about the Xbox backward compatible versions of both games, which remain locked at a 720p resolution. Furthermore, hacker infestations have plagued multiplayer servers across Xbox and PC for years, making online play nearly unplayable at times. Players are also disappointed that the titles are still absent from Xbox Game Pass and that the downloadable content remains separate, requiring additional purchases.
One disgruntled fan wrote, “Microsoft and Xbox really hate their own customers. Yes an Xbox 360 version exists. But they are locked at 720p. They are full of hackers. After 2.75 years of the ABK acquisition they still aren’t even on Game Pass. The DLCs aren’t bundled in. What the fNone* man.”
This situation reinforces a growing perception that Xbox players are treated as secondary to those on rival platforms. It is a troubling signal for the brand. At a minimum, Xbox, Treyarch, and Iron Galaxy should prioritize updating the Xbox and PC versions of Black Ops and Black Ops 2 to match the quality of the incoming PlayStation ports. Hopefully, that update is on the horizon.
(Source: Windows Central)
