Treyarch finally enabled cross-platform multiplayer between the PS4 and PS5 versions of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2. The original duology recently made a surprise debut on modern PlayStation consoles. Consequently, the entire Black Ops saga is now available on current platforms. Iron Galaxy launched the ports just a few days ago on July 9, 2026. Fans quickly noticed a massive oversight. The studio launched the games completely without cross-generation matchmaking. Fortunately, developers remedied this misstep with a new update.
PS4 & PS5 Players Can Now Play Call of Duty: Black Ops Together
The official Call of Duty Updates Twitter account posted the highly requested fix on July 11. As a result, PS4 and PS5 players can now matchmake with each other. Furthermore, Season Pass holders can finally join games with non-Season Pass holders in both titles. This was an odd omission at launch because prior Call of Duty games never had this problem.
📢 Call of Duty: #BlackOps & #BlackOps2 on PS4 / PS5
PS4 and PS5 players are able to matchmake with one another. There is no cross-platform play with PS3 or other hardware platforms.
Also, Season Pass owners are able to matchmake with non-Season Pass owners in both titles.
— Call of Duty Updates (@CODUpdates) July 11, 2026
However, the update does not include the PS3. PS3 versions of Black Ops 1 and 2 cannot join PS4 and PS5 lobbies. This limitation makes sense. The PS3 is a 20-year-old console. Therefore, most of its active player base migrated to newer consoles long before 2026. Ultimately, creating a shared pool of players will reduce matchmaking times and drastically increase the longevity of these releases.
High Prices & Input Lag Spark Outcry
Despite the recent matchmaking fix, players still face several frustrating issues. Right now, players are reporting significant input lag. Many claim the games do not play well with the PS5 DualSense controller. Additionally, fans are unhappy about the steep pricing. Both almost two-decade-old games cost $40 apiece. Moreover, players must buy the DLC separately.
Fans also miss classic legacy content. Currently, Theater Mode, Wager Matches, and League Play remain missing from these re-releases. Fans aggressively want these features back.
Regardless of these complaints, the PlayStation Black Ops community secured a huge win with this update. The games are currently massive commercial hits. In fact, they are outselling GTA 6 on the PlayStation Store despite their higher prices. Fans flocked back to these titles very quickly. Clearly, players willingly support the original Black Ops games long-term. Hopefully, the developers will add the missing fan-favorite features soon to round out the full nostalgic experience.
