- PS4/PS5 Release: Launching on July 9, 2026, as an official digital port of the original masterpiece.
- No Crossplay: Multiplayer supports up to 18 players online but does not support cross-platform matchmaking.
- Pick 10 Meta: Create-a-Class returns with the classic 10-point allocation system for ultimate loadout freedom.
- Zombies Access: Experience iconic maps from TranZit to Origins with separate DLC or the Season Pass.
Call of Duty Black Ops II PS4 and PS5 Buying Guide
The legendary near-future military shooter has arrived on modern PlayStation consoles. Released digitally on July 9, 2026, this version brings the authentic, unaltered gameplay of the original release directly to the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Unlike a remastered edition, this is a faithful port designed to preserve the exact weapon handling, movement mechanics, and competitive balance that defined an entire era of first-person shooters.
Before purchasing, it is essential to understand the platform requirements, online subscription needs, and content availability to ensure a smooth deployment.
| Platform | How to Buy | Online Requirements | Included Content | Performance Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | PlayStation Store Digital Purchase | PS Plus & Activision Account | Base Campaign, MP, Zombies | Native 60 FPS, Fast Loading |
| PlayStation 4 | PlayStation Store Digital Purchase | PS Plus & Activision Account | Base Campaign, MP, Zombies | Stable 1080p Performance |
| Xbox Series X/S | Digital Store or Physical 360 Disc | Xbox Game Pass Core/Ultimate | Base Campaign, MP, Zombies | Runs via Backward Compatibility |
| PC (Steam) | Steam Store Digital Purchase | Steam Account & Internet | Base Campaign, MP, Zombies | Original Windows PC Version |
While the PS4 and PS5 versions support up to 18 players in online lobbies, cross-platform multiplayer between PlayStation, Xbox, and PC is not supported. Ensure your squad is on the same console family before coordinate-based matches.
Multiplayer Class Setups and the Pick 10 System
The groundbreaking Pick 10 system offers unprecedented loadout customization. Instead of forcing players into rigid weapon and equipment categories, you are allocated exactly ten points to spend across primary weapons, secondary weapons, attachments, perks, and tactical gear. Every selection costs exactly one point, allowing you to completely skip secondary weapons or tactical items to load up on extra perks or weapon attachments.
To help you dominate the online arena, we have compiled the absolute best competitive builds for the current multiplayer meta.
Close-Range Rusher
- Primary Weapon: MSMC SMG
- Attachments: Quickdraw, Fast Mag
- Key Perks: Lightweight, Toughness, Dexterity
- Playstyle: Aggressive flanking and rapid objective entry.
Long-Range Anchor
- Primary Weapon: AN-94 AR
- Attachments: Stock, FMJ, Quickdraw
- Key Perks: Flak Jacket, Toughness, Dexterity
- Playstyle: Holding long lanes and firing through thin cover.
Objective Defender
- Primary Weapon: M8A1 Assault Rifle
- Attachments: Reflex Sight, Stock
- Key Perks: Flak Jacket, Tactical Mask, Engineer
- Playstyle: Securing Hardpoints while resisting tactical grenades.
If you want to equip a third attachment on your primary weapon or select a second perk from the same category, you must use a Wildcard. Remember that the Wildcard itself costs one Pick 10 point, and the extra item costs another.
How to Build Your First Class: Step-by-Step
Creating an efficient loadout is the first step toward climbing the multiplayer ranks. Follow these steps to build a balanced, beginner-friendly class once you unlock Create-a-Class at Level 4.
Select a Versatile Primary Weapon
Choose a highly reliable weapon like the MTAR or MP7. These firearms offer predictable recoil patterns and balanced damage profiles that perform well across close, medium, and long-range engagements.
Equip Crucial Handling Attachments
Spend your next two points on a Reflex Sight and a Quickdraw Handle. The Reflex Sight provides a clean, unobstructed view of your targets, while the Quickdraw Handle significantly decreases your aim-down-sights (ADS) time.
Allocate Points to Survival Perks
Equip Flak Jacket (Perk 1) to survive explosive spam, Toughness (Perk 2) to reduce flinch when shot, and Dexterity (Perk 3) to aim faster after sprinting. These three perks form the absolute foundation of competitive survival.
Add Lethal and Tactical Utility
Fill your remaining slots with a Semtex grenade for reliable explosive damage and a Concussion Grenade to disorient defenders before pushing high-traffic objective zones.
As a beginner, equip low-cost Scorestreaks like the UAV, Hunter Killer Drone, and Care Package. These are much easier to earn consistently and provide massive utility to your entire team.
Zombies Maps, Survival, and Easter Eggs
The round-based Zombies mode offers some of the most complex, atmospheric, and rewarding cooperative experiences in gaming history. From the massive, fog-covered highways of TranZit to the dieselpunk trenches of Origins, players must manage their points, construct buildable equipment, and unlock the devastating Pack-a-Punch machine to survive high-round onslaughts.
| Zombies Map | Setting & Location | Pack-a-Punch Access Method | Wonder Weapon | Buildables |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TranZit | Post-Apocalyptic Green Run | Power Bank vault with Turbine | Jet Gun | Zombie Shield, Turret, Electric Trap |
| Die Rise | Ruined Chinese Skyscrapers | Travel on the moving elevators | Sliquifier | Trample Steam, Sliquifier |
| Mob of the Dead | 1930s Alcatraz Island | Build plane and fly to Golden Gate | Blundergat | Acid Gat Kit, Zombie Shield |
| Buried | Underground Old West Town | Traverse Haunted Mansion & Maze | Paralyzer | Subsurface Resonator, Head Chopper |
| Origins | WWI Alternate Battlefield | Power all six map generators | Elemental Staffs | Maxis Drone, Zombie Shield |
Do not rush to open every door in the early rounds. Maximize your points by shooting zombies in the leg 5 to 6 times with your starting pistol before finishing them with a melee knife strike.
Campaign Missions and Decision Checklist
The single-player campaign features a branching narrative split between the 1980s Cold War and a second cyber-warfare Cold War in 2025. Your performance in optional Strike Force missions and critical character choices directly shape the global outcome, resulting in multiple wildly different endings.
Favorable Ending Requirements:
- Successfully complete all five optional Strike Force tactical missions.
- Interrogate Kravchenko and successfully resist the Numbers conditioning.
- Shoot Alex Mason in the legs rather than the head during Suffer with Me.
- Shoot Harper to keep Farid undercover during the Achilles' Veil mission.
- Wound Admiral Briggs on the USS Barack Obama to preserve carrier defenses.
- Capture Raul Menendez at the end of Judgment Day instead of executing him.
If you make a mistake, you can use the Replay Story option from the main menu. However, rewinding to an earlier mission will overwrite all subsequent campaign progress from that point forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Call of Duty Black Ops II PS4 support local split-screen play?
Yes, the PS4 and PS5 versions support local offline split-screen play for up to two players in both Multiplayer and Zombies modes.
Q: Is the Peacekeeper SMG included in the base game?
No, the Peacekeeper SMG is tied directly to the Revolution DLC pack. It becomes available for use in Create-a-Class once the DLC or Season Pass is purchased and installed.
Q: Can I transfer my old PS3 or Xbox 360 progress to the PS4 version?
No, progress transfer is not supported. All players on the PS4 and PS5 versions will start fresh at Level 1, allowing everyone to experience the classic progression loop together.
Q: How do I access the Ray Gun Mark II in Zombies?
The Ray Gun Mark II is added to the Mystery Box rotation across all Zombies maps once you purchase and install the Vengeance DLC pack or the Season Pass.