Activision
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Expensive and pointless? Black Ops 1 and 2 PS4 and PS5 ports cost a lot of money and barely offer any upgrades over the originals
Activision has released ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, but players are criticizing the high price and lack of significant upgrades. The games do not support 4K resolution or 120Hz framerates on PS5, and offer minimal improvements over older versions. The DLC is also sold separately, increasing the total cost significantly, though discounts are available for PlayStation Plus members.
Call of Duty Black Ops 1 + 2 PS5 Are a Complete Mess
Activision has released Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 for $39.99 each, with Season Passes costing an additional $29.99. These ports are criticized for their high price, lack of modern features like FOV sliders or 120fps support, missing original game modes, and technical problems including input delay and server issues. The situation is particularly notable as Microsoft, which owns Activision, has not released comparable native versions for Xbox players.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Is Looking More Troubled Than Ever
Recent layoffs at Xbox-owned studios, including Bethesda Game Studios, are raising concerns about the development of The Elder Scrolls 6. The article suggests that the removal of experienced personnel and reliance on contractors could lead to further delays and negatively impact the game's quality. This situation is viewed as a "spreadsheet decision" by Xbox, prioritizing cost-cutting over the franchise's long-term success.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 Support Crossplay Between PS4 and PS5, Activision Confirms
Activision has confirmed that the recent ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 support crossplay between PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. This clarification addresses confusion among players regarding the feature.
Weekend Discussion - July 11, 2026
This weekend discussion covers various topics including free Slurpees on 7/11, clips from John-eral Hospital, the Meccha Chameleon craze, and things to note from the Among Us series. It also touches on events in My Adventures with Superman and music from Benny Blanco. The article emphasizes that Shacknews staff does not use AI in their content and reserves all rights.
Black Ops PS4 & PS5 players are already running into matchmaking woes
Players of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 are experiencing matchmaking issues. The rereleases lack cross-play between PS4 and PS5 versions, and the separate purchase of DLC further fragments the player pool. Activision is offering the base games and season passes at a discounted price until August 2026.
Evening Reading - July 10, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers various gaming news items, including a trailer for Dune 3, QuakeCon 2026 plans, a Pokemon GO anniversary event, and Id Software confirming layoffs. It also touches on business news like SK Hynix's stock performance, Apple suing OpenAI, Meta suspending an AI feature, and EA College Football 25 removing microtransactions. Additionally, it highlights deals for Nintendo and Square Enix games, Palworld exiting Early Access, and new map collections.
Call of Duty fans surprised to discover new Black Ops 2 port preserves the emblem editor, not surprised to find…
Activision has released updated ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 for PlayStation, featuring 1080p upscaling. Notably, the beloved emblem editor from both games has been preserved, leading to the creation of controversial and offensive designs by players, a situation the article suggests could have been mitigated with an option to disable custom emblems.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 10: Palworld exits Steam Early Access
Palworld has officially launched version 1.0 out of Early Access on Steam, accompanied by a launch discount. This article highlights various PC game deals available this weekend across multiple digital storefronts, including Steam, Epic Games Store, Amazon Luna, Fanatical, Gamebillet, GamesPlanet, GOG.com, Green Man Gaming, Humble Bundle, and 2K Publisher Sale.
Blaze's affordable Super Pocket handheld has been hit with a price hike due to AI component demand, despite absorbing "rising costs across manufacturing, components, and freight for as long as possible"
Blaze has announced a price increase for its Super Pocket handheld and Evercade cartridges in the UK and Europe, citing rising costs for manufacturing, components, and freight, particularly due to demand for AI components. The Super Pocket will now cost between £59.99 / €69.99, and Evercade cartridges will be £24.99 / €29.99. Prices remain unchanged in the US due to recent tariff reductions.
Xbox After The Layoffs: Studios Left And What They’re Making
Xbox has undergone significant restructuring, including layoffs and the divestment of five studios, as it aims to increase profitability and focus on major intellectual properties. This shake-up impacts numerous development teams and projects across Xbox Game Studios, Activision, Blizzard, and Bethesda, with a renewed focus on core franchises and a shift in business strategies like the exclusion of Call of Duty from Xbox Game Pass day-one launches.
'Sounds like the original launch' — Some fans think the new Black Ops PlayStation ports suffer from input lag but others argue they're the same as the original releases
Activision has released ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, featuring upgraded resolution. While some players report issues with controller input lag, others argue the ports feel similar to the original releases.
Spyro: A Realm Beyond gets lots of details – flight mechanics, development, more
Toys for Bob developers Paul Yan and Lou Studdert shared details about the upcoming game Spyro: A Realm Beyond, which is planned for a Spring 2027 release on Nintendo Switch. The game will feature both ground and active flight mechanics, building upon the fluid movement of Spyro Reignited Trilogy. The studio also discussed their transition to independence and their decision to pursue Spyro as a business case, while clarifying that the game is a continuation of the original trilogy's tone and not a reboot.
'This Is a Deeply Odd State of Affairs' — Tech Experts Slam Activision's 'Low Effort' Call of Duty: Black Ops PS5 Port
Activision's recent ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 have drawn criticism for their high price and disappointing graphics performance. Tech experts have described the situation as 'odd' and the ports as 'low effort'.
Black Ops ports are 50% cheaper on PS5 but not Xbox as fans fume over price
Ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 are now available on PlayStation 4 and 5, featuring single-player, multiplayer, and Zombies modes without graphical updates or included DLC. While priced at £34.99 each, PS Plus members receive a 50% discount, bringing the cost down to £17.49 per game. This pricing is significantly cheaper than the Xbox versions, despite Microsoft's ownership of Activision, leading to fan frustration over the cost of older titles.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 Have Just Been Shadow-Dropped For the PS4 and PS5
Activision has released Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. The ports lack dedicated servers, consistent 60 FPS gameplay, 120Hz or FoV options, and have mixed reports on 4K output. Cross-platform play is limited between PS4 and PS5. Both titles are priced at $40, with a discount for PlayStation Plus subscribers until August 6, 2026, and the Season Pass is also discounted.
Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 shadow drop on PS5, and you've got one month to get them at a good price
Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 have been released on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Both games and their respective season passes are available at a discounted price until August 6, with further reductions for PlayStation Plus subscribers. These new ports lack cross-platform multiplayer, Wager Matches, and Theatre mode.
Call Of Duty: Black Ops 1 And 2 Ports Are Out Now On PS5, But DLC Costs Extra
Ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 are now available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 for $40 each, with DLC sold separately for $30. Developed by Iron Galaxy, these are not remasters and do not support cross-platform multiplayer. PlayStation Plus members can purchase the games and DLC at a discounted price of $20 and $10 respectively until August 6.
5 Live Service Games to Quit in 2026 | TAG
This article provides a framework for players to quit live service games they no longer enjoy, arguing that obligation and FOMO should not dictate continued play. It identifies five specific games—Destiny 2, Diablo 4 seasonal, Warframe, Lost Ark, and older MMOs—as candidates for quitting in 2026, and offers a step-by-step guide to breaking free from the cycle of retention-engineered gameplay.
Report: Obsidian to work on Fallout title as unannounced projects cancelled
Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly developing a new Fallout game, led by Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer, as part of a wider Xbox restructuring that has led to the cancellation of several unannounced projects and layoffs. A small team will continue work on an Avowed sequel, while others focus on DLC for The Outer Worlds 2 and Grounded 2. This news follows a significant increase in Fallout game sales after the premiere of the Prime Video adaptation.
