Recent PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops are facing significant player backlash, with many deeming the multiplayer experience "unplayable" due to rampant exploits. Released last week, the ports were met with excitement from fans eager to revisit the classic titles, despite their premium price point and lack of substantial updates.
However, the experience has been marred by technical issues including server problems and hit registration inconsistencies, alongside compromised multiplayer lobbies. Players have discovered methods to easily host modded lobbies in Black Ops 1, allowing for exploits that instantly grant maximum rank. By detonating a grenade immediately after spawning and leaving the match, players can achieve max rank. This has led to a situation where players enter lobbies solely to self-destruct and exit, with the opposing team winning by default through forfeit when the entire enemy team quits. This phenomenon has left many players frustrated, unable to engage in genuine gameplay.
"So [Black Ops 1] is now infected with the XP thing where you max level by nading yourself then leaving," one player stated. "It's leading to unplayable lobbies." Another echoed this sentiment, noting, "[Black Ops 1 Ground War] is literally ruined with this XP glitch. Cannot play a lobby without 6 people leaving, rejoining, and killing themselves over and over again. What a joke."
Some observers have pointed out the perceived hypocrisy of the player base, which had long petitioned Activision for re-releases of older Call of Duty titles. "I don’t know what’s people obsession with getting into EXP lobbies or paying money for an UNLOCKALL like we all moaned about how s**t the current state of COD was and then as soon as we get something good, you find the quickest way to exploit the ports… hasn’t even been a week."
While some functional lobbies still exist, instances of players intentionally self-destructing to exploit the system are reportedly still present, detracting from the overall experience. The drive to reach the highest rank quickly, even through illicit means, has overshadowed the intended enjoyment of these re-released games. Given the minimal effort reportedly invested in these ports, the likelihood of swift moderation or significant updates to address these exploits appears low. The situation may resolve organically once a large portion of the player base achieves maximum rank, but the current progression issues could also lead to players abandoning the games prematurely if there is nothing left to unlock.