Microsoft Just Authorized Call of Duty’s Biggest Return on PlayStation, But There’s a Catch

By Lionel Gen Bernard Allkeyshop Gaming News
20 June 2026 no comments

Microsoft-owned Activision has put Black Ops II back on PlayStation’s roadmap for July 2026, but the comeback is a port, not the remaster many fans imagined.

As of 20 Jun 2026, Call of Duty®: Black Ops II is still an evergreen PC shooter with a Steam price of 59,99€, which makes the PlayStation announcement relevant for PC players too. If nostalgia is about to spike again, the smarter question is not whether the name still matters. It is whether the classic campaign, Zombies and multiplayer package is worth paying full Steam price today, or whether the Black Ops II price page gives you a better route.

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Pushing the boundaries of what fans have come to expect from the record-setting entertainment franchise, Call of Duty®: Black Ops II propels players into a near future Cold War Compare Call of Duty®: Black Ops II deals

Released

Nov 12, 2012

Developer

Treyarch

Publisher

Activision

Available on

PC

Tags

Action

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Here’s what changed: Microsoft-owned Activision has authorized new PlayStation versions of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops II for PS4 and PS5 in July 2026. IGN reports the two classics are being ported to new platforms next month, while Eurogamer underlines the catch: these are ports, not remasters.

That distinction matters because Black Ops II has a different status from a normal back-catalog shooter. It is one of the series entries fans still use as shorthand for peak Call of Duty: a branching campaign, aggressive multiplayer pacing and Zombies content that helped define the modern co-op ritual. A PlayStation return can reignite demand, but it does not automatically make every version the best buy.

Why Black Ops II Is Returning, But Not Reborn

This is not being framed as a rebuilt Black Ops II. Push Square describes the PS4 and PS5 releases as official July ports, which means the announcement is about access and preservation more than a new technical showcase. For fans who wanted modern lighting, reworked assets or a competitive relaunch, that is the first reality check.

The second catch is content. Game Rant notes that players may need to buy DLC maps again for the Black Ops 1 and 2 ports. That matters because Black Ops II nostalgia is inseparable from the wider package: Nuketown, Zombies maps and the multiplayer rotation people actually remember. A base port can be welcome and still feel incomplete if the extras are split away.

The Black Ops II Hook Is Bigger Than Nostalgia

Black Ops II remains a talking point because it sits at a rare intersection for the series. The campaign pushed branching choices and future-war paranoia, multiplayer had a clean identity, and Zombies had enough personality to live outside the campaign’s shadow. It is not just a famous logo returning to PlayStation. It is one of the games people still use to measure later Call of Duty entries. Links to the Call of Duty®: Black Ops II price page where they can see all offers live.

That is why PC players should watch this PlayStation announcement even if they never plan to buy the new ports. A platform return usually restarts clips, guides, tier lists and server chatter. If your interest is on PC, check whether the old Steam version, CD-key route or Steam Account route makes sense before the nostalgia wave pushes everyone back toward the same page.

Steam Still Lists Black Ops II at 59,99€

The PC catch is blunt: Steam still lists Call of Duty®: Black Ops II at 59,99€, with no discount in the resolver data. For a game with an evergreen community and a fresh PlayStation news cycle, that price can look stubborn rather than nostalgic. It is exactly the kind of situation where checking the Black Ops II CD-key offers before buying is sensible.

The same caution applies to Steam Account offers. A CD-key usually activates on your own Steam profile, while a Steam Account means using a separate account that already owns the game. AllKeyShop lists both product routes, so the buying decision should be deliberate: lower price can be attractive, but ownership format matters as much as the number next to the € symbol.

Who Should Actually Jump Back In Now

If you want Black Ops II for campaign replay, Zombies nights or the comfort of an older Call of Duty rhythm, the PlayStation news is a good reminder that the game still carries weight. It is not a reason to ignore price, though. The smart move is to compare the current Steam price against the AllKeyShop Black Ops II page and decide which format matches how you play.

If you were hoping for a true remaster, wait before treating this as a revival. The July PlayStation ports may be useful for preservation and console access, but they do not reset Black Ops II as a modern release. On PC, the evergreen version is already here. The real win is paying the right price for the version you actually want. The price page is where the real decision happens, and it is already worth checking.

Lionel Gen Bernard

Competitive gaming veteran and Infographics Creator at AllKeyShop, Lionel 'Gen' Bernard made his name in the early days of esports as a professional Unreal Tournament player, competing at the highest level when competitive FPS was still in its infancy. Founder of AllKeyShop, he now brings his competitive DNA to data-driven visual storytelling, producing original infographics and editorial content. His work maps the global gaming landscape through the lens of someone who's lived it from both sides: the arena and the industry.