Treyarch has confirmed that native PlayStation 5 versions of the classic shooters Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 are on the way this July, though the studio stopped short of providing a specific launch date or price point for the former PS3-era titles. The announcement, made on June 17, left fans eagerly watching for further signals.
Fresh Backend Activity Hints at Imminent Launch
New movement on Sony’s backend infrastructure now suggests the wait could be measured in days rather than weeks. According to tracking account PlayStation Game Size, multiple patches for both Call of Duty titles surfaced on July 2 and July 3. Update version 1.02 appeared first, followed swiftly by version 1.03—a build number commonly associated with the final pre-release update for PS4 and PS5 software. The sudden cluster of new files has drawn the attention of industry insiders, including prominent Call of Duty commentator CharlieIntel, who has a track record of accurately leaking details related to the Activision franchise. CharlieIntel noted on social media that the release dates “should be relatively soon,” though they also pointed out that a U.S. holiday weekend would be an unusual launch window.
Community Debates Possible Timelines
Players have developed their own theories about when the ports might drop. One viewpoint is that the publisher may choose to wait until after the ongoing Black Ops 7 free trial period concludes on July 6. A separate theory posits that the titles will not become available until the Call of Duty League Championship Weekend wraps up on July 19. Followers are closely monitoring every official channel for a definitive update.
Pricing Questions and What to Expect
Beyond the release timing, the cost of the PS5 ports remains an open question. CharlieIntel previously offered insight into potential pricing, observing that the Xbox Store had updated its listings for the two games to show a price of $40 each. If downloadable content is not bundled for free, PlayStation owners could need to budget more than they originally expected. Treyarch has made clear that these releases are straightforward ports, not full remakes or remasters. Buyers can anticipate the complete suite of original modes, including a single-player campaign, multiplayer, and zombies, with any technical enhancements likely kept to a minimum. For many Call of Duty fans, the simple prospect of being able to play the foundational Black Ops entries natively on current hardware is worth the investment.