The recent ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 are already facing significant disruption from hackers. Players are reporting instances where malicious actors are targeting Black Ops 2, resetting player accounts, altering in-game settings, and causing a general disruption to the gameplay experience. These intrusive hacks go beyond typical cheating methods like aimbots and wallhacks, affecting the core integrity of player progress and game stability.
Reports indicate encounters with player accounts using gamertags such as "C Isn't Sharp" and "Who Isn't Sharp." Interaction with these accounts in Black Ops 2 lobbies has led to players being kicked from matches, experiencing changes to their rank, and having their custom weapon loadouts modified. More severe accusations include complete account resets and game "bricking," rendering the game unplayable for affected individuals.
During a livestream, streamer TimTheTatman appeared to be a victim of the "C Isn't Sharp" hacker, as documented in a clip shared by ModernWarzone. The accounts responsible for these disruptions are reportedly distinguished by brightly colored text, contrasting with the standard white text used by normal player accounts. While some players suggest backing out of lobbies upon seeing these names as a preventative measure, others claim that even quick exits do not guarantee immunity from the hacks.
Activision has not yet issued a formal statement regarding this specific hacking issue. However, the company has released several updates to address prior technical problems encountered with both Black Ops ports. The ports themselves have been commercially successful, with reports suggesting combined sales exceeding 7 million units. Despite this success, the technical implementation of the Black Ops 1 and Black Ops 2 ports has been described as fulfilling only the minimum requirements.