Activision has confirmed that the recently released PlayStation ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 support crossplay between the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. The clarification comes after a period of player confusion following the games' surprise launch.
The official Call of Duty Updates account on X stated that players on PS4 and PS5 consoles will be able to matchmake with each other. The publisher also noted that owners of the games' Season Passes can play with those who do not own them.
However, Activision was clear that cross-platform play is not available with the original PlayStation 3 versions of the games or any other hardware platforms. This means crossplay is limited to the PS4 and PS5 versions of Black Ops 1 and 2.
When Iron Galaxy's development of PlayStation ports for the classic Black Ops titles was announced, there was little information provided about specific features. This lack of detail led to disappointment among some fans upon the games' surprise release last week, particularly concerning potential crossplay limitations.
Players and technical observers noted issues with a low frame-rate cap and reduced resolution in the new ports. The perceived absence of crossplay support was a significant concern for many.
Despite criticism of the ports being described as "bare-bones," the games have proven popular, quickly climbing to the top of the PlayStation Store's "Best Selling" list. Both titles are available for $39.99, with a limited-time PlayStation Plus discount bringing the price down to $19.99. Downloadable content for each game is priced at $29.99, or $9.89 for PS+ subscribers.
While Activision has focused on the re-releases of Black Ops 1 and 2, the company is also moving forward with its next mainline installment, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.