July 2026 Release for PlayStation 5

Treyarch officially announced on June 17, 2026, that Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II will launch for PlayStation 5 in July 2026, according to Observatório do Cinema and Eurogamer.es. The ports. Developed by Iron Galaxy. Include all core content: campaign. Multiplayer, and zombies modes, and While the exact release date has not been specified, PlayStation users will soon be able to play these classic titles natively on their consoles. Activision and Treyarch confirmed the collaboration, with the goal of bringing these iconic games to the latest console generation.

According to Nintenderos. The original Black Ops titles launched in 2010 and 2012 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, but However, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 users could not play them due to the lack of PS3 backward compatibility. PlayStation users have long been unable to access the games natively, unlike Xbox users who could play them via Microsoft’s backward compatibility program.

Iron Galaxy Handles the Ports

Iron Galaxy. Known for re-releasing classic titles such as the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, has been tasked with porting the games to PlayStation 5, according to Observatório do Cinema. This is the same studio that previously worked on re-releases of Overwatch, Fallout 76, and Skyrim, and the studio has a strong track record in preserving the original feel of the games while ensuring they run smoothly on modern hardware. This move is expected to expand PlayStation’s game library and satisfy long-time fans who missed out on the PS3-era titles.

Activision confirmed that the ports will not be remasters but rather direct ports of the original games. No graphical or gameplay upgrades have been announced, according to TweakTown. The strategy is to provide a nostalgic experience while capitalizing on the continued popularity of the Call of Duty franchise. Black Ops II, in particular, remains the fastest-earning Call of Duty title in history, having made $500 million in just one day of sales.

Microsoft’s Strategy vs. PlayStation’s Sales-Only Model

According to TweakTown, Activision is using this move to take advantage of Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription model, which rotates older Call of Duty games for free play. PlayStation, however, does not have an equivalent service, meaning Call of Duty games remain strictly sales-based on that platform. This decision highlights a strategic difference between the two platforms—Microsoft aims to drive Game Pass subscriptions through nostalgia, while Activision seeks to maximize direct sales on PlayStation.

Microsoft and Activision are hoping that re-releasing these games will attract new and returning players and generate high-margin revenue, as Call of Duty games tend to deliver strong sales. With Xbox’s current profit margin at just 3%, the company is looking for ways to increase higher-margin earnings, according to TweakTown. The success of these ports could provide a significant boost for both Activision and Xbox, while PlayStation users finally gain access to two of the most iconic Call of Duty titles.

Playday.one noted that PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 users have long been unable to play the titles natively since the end of the PlayStation 3 generation. The new ports will now allow both PS4 and PS5 users to play these classic titles, although it is still unclear whether the ports will be native to both systems or just one. Meanwhile, Xbox Series X/S users can already play the games via Microsoft’s backward compatibility program, which began with the Xbox One generation.