Black Ops 1 And 2 Ports Sold 11 Million Copies Combined On PlayStation, Benefitting Both Xbox And Sony
Activision surprised the gaming community by shadow-dropping ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on July 9. The ports, developed by Iron Galaxy, have become unexpected commercial successes, selling over 11 million combined copies and generating nearly half a billion dollars according to industry analyst Rhys Elliott.
The $40 ports include the original campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies modes, presented as “straight 1080p ports” with minimal technical improvements. Rather than remakes with enhanced graphics or new features, the ports preserve the original experience that players have requested for years. Technical analysis found barely any noticeable improvements—which was intentional, as the community wanted the authentic original games on modern systems.
The exceptional sales figures appear driven by massive pent-up demand from PlayStation players unable to access these classic titles on current-generation consoles. The ports are also available to PlayStation Plus subscribers, further expanding their reach. At 14 years old, Black Ops 2 is already one of 2026’s best-selling games according to analysts.
This release marks a strategic reversal for Activision, which has historically avoided re-releasing older Call of Duty titles, fearing they would cannibalize sales of newer entries. However, after Black Ops 7 failed to meet sales expectations in 2025, the publisher greenlit the ports as both a trust-building measure with the community and a quick revenue generator.