No, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is Not Playable on PS4
As an avid Call of Duty gamer and content creator, one of the most common questions I see is "Can I play Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 on my PlayStation 4?". So let‘s settle this once and for all – no, you cannot natively play Black Ops 2 on a PS4 console.
Released in November 2012 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii U, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 remains locked to these 7th generation platforms. I‘ll break down exactly why PS4 owners are out of luck if they want to revisit this iconic entry.
Why Can‘t PS4 Play This Last-Gen Call of Duty?
The PlayStation 4 lacks backward compatibility for direct PlayStation 3 disc and digital game playback. When designing the PS4, Sony did not incorporate PS3 chipsets or software emulation. So inserting your Black Ops 2 disc into a PS4 drive will simply not work.
You may recall the initial launch PlayStation 3 models did offer backwards compatibility for PS2 games. This was thanks to including the Emotion Engine chipset from PS2. However, the PS4 took a different direction focusing solely on next-gen development.
What Platforms Can Still Run Black Ops 2?
While PlayStation 4 and 5 owners are locked out, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is still playable on:
- PlayStation 3
- Xbox 360
- Microsoft Windows PCs (meeting minimum specs)
- Nintendo Wii U
Owners of these platforms can insert their Black Ops 2 discs or access digital purchases as normal. Live online services for the game are still active as well, though player counts have naturally declined over the years.
Can I Stream Black Ops 2 to PS4 via PlayStation Now?
PlayStation Now is Sony‘s cloud gaming service for streaming classic PlayStation games to PS4 and PS5 consoles. For a few years, streaming access to Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 was actually offered via a PlayStation Now subscription.
However, Activision removed Black Ops 2 from the PlayStation Now lineup on April 29th, 2022. So unfortunately, even this option to virtually access the title has been cut off.
Black Ops 2 Price Stays High Even in 2024
Typically, the retail cost of annual Call of Duty releases drops fast after launch. For example Call of Duty: Ghosts from 2013 is now $19.99 over at the PlayStation Store.
However, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has infamously retained a $59.99 price tag years after release:
| Game | Launch Date | 2023 Price |
|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 | Nov 2012 | $59.99 |
| Call of Duty: Ghosts | Nov 2013 | $19.99 |
Fans speculate Activision leaves the price intentionally high so they can offer steeper discounts during sales promotions. This sparks community interest and drives units as players feel they are getting an amazing bargain. Still, the lack of permanent price reduction is atypical.
Can Any PlayStation Consoles Play Black Ops 2?
As we‘ve covered, the PS4 and newer PlayStation 5 consoles cannot run Black Ops 2 natively or via streaming as of 2023. What about previous PlayStation family systems? Let‘s compare backwards compatibility across all Sony consoles:
| Console | PS1 | PS2 | PS3 | PS4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation (PSX) | – | No | No | No |
| PS2 (fat models) | Yes | – | Limited | No |
| PS3 (launch models) | Yes | Yes | – | No |
| PS4 | No | No | No | – |
| PS5 | No | Limited Streaming | Limited Streaming | Yes |
As shown, only PS3 and specific earlier models offer direct Black Ops 2 compatibility. Streaming provides minimal legacy title access across PS2/PS3 on premium PS Plus tiers.
Outside of these scenarios, playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 requires settling on platforms it originally released for back in 2012.
Will Next-Gen Remasters Come?
With Black Ops 2 stuck on 7th generation hardware, some fans continue to request or predict remastered versions for modern systems. After all, the original Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare received a current-gen remaster in 2016.
However, Activision has not indicated any plans to remaster Black Ops 2. And with access even vanishing from PlayStation Now streaming, the title risks fading further into the backdrop of new annual franchise releases.
For PS4 or PS5 owners itching for their retro Call of Duty fix, rebooting series entries like Black Ops 3 or Modern Warfare (2019) may remain the closest substitute experience. But these still can‘t fully replace the magic that was Black Ops 2 for many series veterans.
So in conclusion – no, you still cannot play Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 natively on PlayStation 4 even in 2024. And streaming access has recently been revoked as well. This leaves the iconic 2012 entry still locked to the aging last-gen platforms it initially released for.
