Call of Duty fans surprised to discover new Black Ops 2 port preserves the emblem editor, not surprised to find swastikas being made with it
Activision has released updated PlayStation ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) and Black Ops 2 (2012), preserving the classic shooters’ core features and gameplay. Priced at $40 each, the ports are exclusive to PlayStation, disappointing the millions of players who originally experienced these titles on PC.
The decision to preserve the emblem editor—a beloved customization tool from the originals—has proven contentious. Players have immediately begun exploiting the feature to create hateful symbols, including swastikas, highlighting the persistent moderation challenges developers face with user-generated content tools. This reflects an ongoing tension between preserving authentic features from legacy titles and preventing their misuse for offensive purposes.
The release arrives during a turbulent period for the gaming industry, marked by significant layoffs and studio restructuring at Microsoft. For Activision, these ports represent an effort to monetize its back catalog while potentially revitalizing communities around these older entries. While the nearly complete recreations maintain fidelity to the originals—a win for game preservation enthusiasts—the platform exclusivity and pricing strategy limit their accessibility compared to the broader audiences these games originally commanded.