01What happened
The story, straight
Activision's recently confirmed PS4 and PS5 ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 are drawing criticism over their combined $160 price tag. The two games, originally released in 2010 and 2012, were confirmed as ports rather than remasters, a distinction that has fueled backlash among players who expected enhanced editions at lower price points. Fan reactions on social media have framed the pricing as emblematic of broader gaming price inflation.
Activision wants $160 for Black Ops and Black Ops 2 on PS5 — two games from 2010 and 2012 that are ports, not remasters. People on Mastodon are calling it insane. The ports were just confirmed this week and the price point is already the story, not the games themselves.
02Spread timeline
Where it actually started
03Source receipts
Every claim, linked
04What's solid, what isn't
What's solid and what isn't
- Activision confirmed Black Ops 1 & 2 are coming to PS4 and PS5 as ports, not remasters.
- The combined price for both titles is $160.
- Exact individual pricing breakdowns for each title on PS5.
- Whether Xbox pricing follows the same structure.
- Fan backlash over pricing may push Activision to adjust or offer bundles.
05Why it matters
The editorial take
The pricing controversy highlights a growing tension between publishers re-releasing legacy titles and players' expectations of value. With retro and classic game ports increasingly common, the $160 price for two PS3-era shooters sets a benchmark that could influence how future backward-compatible titles are priced across the industry.
Activision already confirmed these are straight ports, not remasters. Charging $160 for two 15-year-old games sets a wild precedent. If this sells, expect every publisher to dust off old catalogs and charge full price for them.