The PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops II have become an unexpected commercial success. According to Alinea Analytics, the classic shooters from Activision and Treyarch outsold every new game released on PlayStation during July.
These are not remakes or remasters. Instead, both titles were simply adapted for modern Sony consoles and launched on the PlayStation Store for $40 each. Despite offering no graphical upgrades, the 2010 and 2012 releases quickly climbed to the top of the sales charts.
Alinea Analytics estimates that Call of Duty: Black Ops II sold 8.2 million copies, while the original Black Ops reached 3 million sales. By comparison, the Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake sold 1.6 million copies, and EA Sports FC 26 reached 1.3 million. Meanwhile, Halo: Campaign Evolved, the franchise's first PlayStation release, attracted just 351,000 players.
The analysts say July's PlayStation rankings demonstrate the power of nostalgia, a strong back catalog, and smart pricing.
«A proven, beloved game released at the right time and, just as importantly, at the right price can outperform almost any brand new release. Call of Duty proved that. Halo didn't. Charging $60 for what is essentially a graphical touch up of a 2001 game was always going to be a difficult sell, and players clearly weren't interested»
The original Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II remain two of the most successful shooters ever made. Both games earned praise for their spy thriller style campaigns, multiplayer modes, and record breaking sales. The first title has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, while the sequel has reached nearly 29 million. The PS4 and PS5 editions include the complete experience with both the single player campaign and multiplayer content.
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