Activision has brought Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and Black Ops 2 to PlayStation 5, but early technical analysis suggests the release is a major letdown for those expecting a modern remaster. Digital Foundry, which recently put the new Black Ops 1 port under the microscope, has criticized the project for a lack of meaningful technical improvements and a steep $40/£35 price point.

Quick Facts

  • The new PS5 port of Black Ops 1 lacks significant graphical updates, preserving original visual blemishes like low-resolution shadow maps.
  • The release is priced at $40/£35 and does not include any of the original DLC content.
  • Black Ops 1 and 2 remain available on Xbox via backward compatibility, which does not require a new purchase.
  • The Xbox backward compatibility version is limited to the original 608p resolution, whereas the new PS5 version offers a 1080p upgrade.

A "Deeply Odd" Release

In its initial report, Digital Foundry expressed frustration with the state of the port, noting that it reflects a project where Activision invested very little time, resources, or expertise. While the PS5 version does technically outperform the original 360-era release—which runs on Xbox at 608p with darker presentation and lower-res shadow maps—the outlet argues that for a native PS5 title, the result is underwhelming.

"Even the game's obvious visual blemishes are preserved: shadow quality was necessarily poor back in the day, but why preserve that problem in the present day when so much more graphics horsepower is available?" the report asks. Digital Foundry suggests that given the hardware available on modern consoles, the game should have either received a full 4K-capable remaster or seen improvements to the existing backward compatibility framework on Xbox.

The Xbox Dilemma

A significant point of contention is the difference in how the games are accessed across platforms. Xbox owners can currently play Black Ops 1 and 2 through backward compatibility without needing to pay for a new release. However, this version remains locked to older technical specifications, and players have reported ongoing issues with "hackers" in the legacy matchmaking pools.

Digital Foundry posits that Activision may have avoided a full remaster for both platforms to prevent angering Xbox owners, who might feel forced to repurchase a game they already own. Regardless of the reasoning, the consensus from the analysis is clear: the current offering is not "good enough" for the premium price tag attached to the new PlayStation release.