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Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 ports were both in the top 10 US PlayStation games last week despite cheating and DLC mess
Ports of the original Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) and Black Ops 2 (2012) both landed in the top 10 best-selling PlayStation games in the US last week, despite ongoing complaints from players about cheating problems and a messy approach to downloadable content. The strong chart performance suggests continued appetite for classic Call of Duty titles even as technical and fairness issues frustrate the community, underlining how enduring the franchise's back catalogue remains commercially.
Players have reported cheating issues affecting the online experience on the reworked ports, while the handling of DLC — such as previously free or bundled content now being sold separately, or confusion over what is included — has drawn further criticism. Despite these complaints, both games' commercial success in the same week indicates that nostalgia and demand for the older Black Ops entries has outweighed concerns for many buyers, at least in terms of sales performance.
In short
- Black Ops and Black Ops 2 ports both charted top 10 on US PlayStation
- Success came despite reported cheating problems on both titles
- DLC handling for the re-released games has also drawn criticism
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The strong sales demonstrate genuine consumer demand for these beloved classic titles, and the commercial success reflects legitimate market enthusiasm for nostalgia-driven gaming. Publishers are responding to what customers actively want, and even with some technical shortcomings, providing access to these older Call of Duty entries serves a real consumer appetite. The fact both games charted simultaneously shows the enduring value and appeal of these franchises.
The case against
Sales success despite documented cheating problems and controversial DLC practices removes any incentive for the publisher to address these issues, rewarding lower standards rather than quality. Many buyers likely make purchases without full awareness of the technical and fairness concerns, meaning this isn't truly informed consumer choice. The commercial performance sends a troubling message to the industry that poor accountability and exploitation can be profitable, encouraging similar practices rather than discouraging them.
Explained simply
Call of Duty is one of the biggest video game franchises, with new entries released regularly since 2003. Black Ops and Black Ops 2 were major entries from 2010 and 2012. Publisher Activision has recently re-released these older games for modern PlayStation consoles.
Both re-released games have reached the top 10 best-selling PlayStation titles in the US, despite complaints from players about cheating and the way downloadable content is being handled. Cheating occurs in online multiplayer, whilst some frustration has arisen over extras that were previously free or bundled now being sold separately. Despite these reported issues, the games have sold strongly.
These re-releases matter because they show that legacy games from a major franchise can still achieve strong sales years after their original release. Call of Duty is one of the industry's biggest franchises, so developments affecting its releases, including older entries, are of broader interest to the gaming market.
Americas Call of Duty Entertainment Gaming