Activision recently dropped a controversial update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Last month, on July 9, the publisher brought the classic title to PlayStation 4 (PS4) and PlayStation 5 (PS5). The game immediately dominated the charts. It became the most-downloaded game across both major PlayStation regions in July. Naturally, this massive success attracted a newly active audience. However, the latest patch has left a bitter taste in the community’s mouth. Instead of resolving ongoing Black Ops 2 multiplayer frustrations, the new update introduced a massive in-game Modern Warfare 4 (MW4) advertisement.
Intrusive MW4 Ads Take Center Stage in Black Ops 2
Following Version 1.008 for PS5 and 1.08 for PS4, players spotted an unexpected addition. The Black Ops 2 multiplayer main menu now features a prominent “Pre-Order MW4” button. This advertisement sits directly alongside standard options like Play Online, LAN Party, Local, Options, and Store. Screenshots shared by CharlieIntel on Twitter highlight the promotion heavily displayed at the bottom of the screen.
A new update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 port on PS5 and PS4 added in a "Pre-Order MW4" ad in the main menu pic.twitter.com/w6xLobKRvF
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) August 19, 2026
The timing of this update is completely deliberate. Modern Warfare 4 kicks off its Early Access beta tomorrow, August 21. Following this, the open beta begins on August 28. Consequently, Activision clearly wants to leverage the newly revitalized Black Ops 2 player base to market its upcoming title.
Misplaced Priorities & Platform Oddities
Players quickly voiced their frustration online. Currently, the Black Ops 2 community faces rampant cheating and suspicious modified accounts. Many fans feel that Treyarch and Iron Galaxy are ignoring these pressing security vulnerabilities. Instead, the developers prioritized a marketing campaign for a 2026 release inside a title originally launched 14 years ago.
Furthermore, the advertisement creates a bizarre platform oddity. The pre-order option actively appears in the PS4 version of Black Ops 2. However, PS4 owners cannot actually play Modern Warfare 4 on their older consoles. Gamers on Reddit and X heavily mocked this specific inclusion.
adding a pre-order button on the PS4 version when the game can’t be played on a PS4 pic.twitter.com/mLYEj74rAl
— Xen HunterTV☄️ (@itsHunterTV) August 19, 2026
A Predictable Marketing Move
Activision has used cross-promotions inside Call of Duty menus for years. Therefore, this strategy is hardly unprecedented. The developers previously released patches for the ports featuring minor security updates, bug fixes, and a Depth of Field toggle for Custom Games. They showed a willingness to support the multiplayer experience.
However, fans specifically flocked to the ports to enjoy a classic experience free of heavy live-service elements. Advertising Modern Warfare 4 right before its beta makes absolute business sense for a massive publisher. Yet, until the studios address the serious cheating complaints, this new pre-order button will simply remind players of the security updates they actually need.
