Activision Says Classic Black Ops Games Exceeded Expectations

Activision has revealed that the recent PlayStation re-releases of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 performed significantly better than expected, highlighting continued demand for classic Call of Duty experiences.

In an interview with The Game Business, Activision chief marketing officer Tyler Bahl described the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 ports as major successes.

Although the publisher anticipated a positive response, the popularity of both games exceeded its internal expectations.

Bahl explained that the response demonstrated how much players missed the social multiplayer experiences associated with older Call of Duty releases.

The success of these re-releases has also influenced Activision's approach to future installments, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.

According to Bahl, the upcoming shooter aims to capture some of the familiar multiplayer atmosphere that made earlier entries popular among groups of friends.

However, Activision is not simply attempting to recreate its older games. The publisher is also considering how to combine familiar gameplay elements with modern improvements and changing player expectations.

The renewed popularity of Black Ops and Black Ops 2 comes as Activision works to address criticism surrounding recent Call of Duty releases.

Modern Warfare 4 is scheduled to launch on October 23, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

While Activision has not disclosed specific sales figures for the classic Black Ops ports, their performance appears to have reinforced the publisher's interest in revisiting the franchise's earlier multiplayer formula.