Call of Duty: Black Ops Ports Surge to Top Sales in July on PlayStation
Recent ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and Black Ops 2 for the PS4 and PS5 have quickly become some of the year’s best-selling games, according to analysts. Activision’s surprise release of these titles last month has generated significant revenue for the publisher.
Activision’s Unexpected Move and Player Trust
Activision has historically been hesitant to re-release older Call of Duty titles, a strategy that has often been speculated to divert attention from newer, more profitable games. However, following the underwhelming performance of Black Ops 7 last year, the company reportedly initiated production on these ports to regain player confidence and quickly generate revenue.
Sales Figures Reveal Massive Success
Alinea Analytics estimates that Black Ops 2 sold a remarkable 8.2 million copies on PS4 and PS5 in July alone, while Black Ops 1 sold 3 million. Collectively, the two games are projected to have generated $435 million in revenue on PlayStation, placing them as the top-selling titles for the month, surpassing Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced with 1.6 million copies.
Looking Ahead to 2026 Sales Estimates
Looking further ahead, Alinea Analytics predicted that by the beginning of July, the top three best-selling games of 2026 would be Mecha Chameleon (12.6 million), EA’s FC 26 (9.1 million), and Resident Evil Requiem (7.5 million). As of the end of July, Capcom confirmed that Requiem had surpassed 8 million units sold, suggesting these estimates are accurate.
Minimal Changes to Original Versions
Notably, these ports haven’t included any significant changes from the original versions, lacking new features or content. Technical aspects have largely remained unchanged, indicating a cost-effective approach by Activision. The decision to release these ports remains to be seen, but fans are hopeful for a potential return of the original Modern Warfare 2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is slated for release this October, and is expected to perform well due to the popularity of the Modern Warfare sub-franchise.