Fourteen years after its original release, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has emerged as one of the best-selling games of 2026, according to recent analysis. The unexpected success follows the recent launch of ports for both Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 on modern PlayStation consoles.
Activision's decision to bring these older titles to current-generation platforms was somewhat surprising, given the publisher's typical focus on newer, more lucrative entries in the franchise. However, following what analysts described as a disappointing performance from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 last year, these re-releases appear to have been strategically deployed to recoup player trust and generate immediate revenue.
The strategy has proven exceptionally effective. Alinea Analytics estimates that Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 sold 8.2 million copies on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 last month alone. Its predecessor, Call of Duty: Black Ops 1, sold an additional 3 million units. Collectively, the two titles are estimated to have generated $435 million on PlayStation. This performance has positioned them as the two highest-selling PlayStation titles for July, significantly outselling other games, including Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced, which sold 1.6 million copies.
With these sales figures, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is now considered among the top five best-selling games of 2026. This places it in the company of titles like Mecha Chameleon, EA's FC 26, and Resident Evil Requiem, with Requiem having recently surpassed 8 million units sold. The strong performance of the Black Ops ports underscores the enduring appeal of older Call of Duty titles.
Notably, these ports have made minimal changes from their original versions, featuring no new content or significant technical enhancements. While the exact cost of development by Iron Galaxy is unknown, it is presumed to be substantially less than what a full remaster or remake would require. It remains to be seen if this success will prompt Activision to release further ports of classic Call of Duty games, though fans are vocal in their desire for a return of the original Modern Warfare 2.
Activision is also preparing for the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 this October. Despite launching during a crowded period, the Modern Warfare sub-franchise's strong reputation suggests that the new installment is likely to achieve considerable sales success.