Older ‘Bare Bones’ PS5 Ports Outselling & Outplaying Latest Black Ops Game
▼ Summary
– According to Charlie Intel, more players are on PS5 ports of Black Ops 1 and 2 than on the latest Black Ops 7 across all consoles.
– Both titles have reached the top of the PS Store best sellers list in several major territories, including the US, UK, France, and Germany.
– These re-releases are outselling major new titles like Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced and pre-orders for GTA 6.
– Black Ops 2 is the better seller of the two, though each costs $39.99/£34.99 with no DLC and a 50% discount for PS Plus members.
– Despite criticism of the ports as overpriced and lacking improvements, Activision’s pricing strategy appears successful, driving strong sales.
According to sources from the Call of Duty fan site Charlie Intel, more players are currently engaging with the “bare bones” PS5 ports of Black Ops 1 and 2 than with the latest franchise entry, Black Ops 7, across all platforms.
While I cannot independently verify that claim, the trend is hardly shocking. Here at Push Square, we have seen skyrocketing engagement for these titles. Both have vaulted to the top of the PS Store’s best-sellers list, a position I confirmed in major markets like the US, UK, France, and Germany.
This means these stripped-down re-releases are outselling high-profile new games like Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced and EA Sports College Football 27, and even surpassing pre-orders for GTA 6.
Black Ops 2 appears to be the stronger performer of the two, but both are moving units at an impressive clip. PS Plus members receive a 50% discount, yet the standard price of $39.99/£34.99 remains a point of contention, especially given the absence of any included DLC.
In our review of the original Black Ops, colleague Liam Croft labeled the port a “rip off,” blasting its price tag for offering zero meaningful upgrades. The visual presentation is nearly identical to what we saw on the PS3 over a decade ago.
Despite the widespread criticism of Activision’s pricing strategy, the gamble has clearly paid off. The tactic of selling these minimalist ports at a premium appears to have worked flawlessly, driving remarkable sales for what are essentially last-gen throwbacks.
(Source: Push Square)
