In an unexpected but welcome move, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 recently received an update from Microsoft that has revived some of its most cherished features, including Theatre Mode and the Emblem Editor. This update is seen as a precursor to the game’s anticipated arrival on Xbox Game Pass, although no official announcement has been made yet, the game itself can already be bought on the Xbox store for a whopping 49.99.
Theatre Mode, which allows players to replay and record their gameplay, and the Emblem Editor, which enables the creation of custom player avatars, had been dormant for years. Their sudden revival has sparked excitement among fans, especially as Microsoft appears to be quietly updating older Call of Duty titles following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Why was it disabled in the first place?
Theatre Mode and the Emblem Editor were disabled in the game due to several reasons related to technical and policy considerations.
- Technical Issues: Both features can be quite demanding on server resources and storage. Theatre Mode requires recording and replaying gameplay, which can consume significant bandwidth and storage, especially in a game with a large player base. Similarly, the Emblem Editor, which allows players to create and share custom emblems, can lead to performance issues and increased moderation needs.
- Moderation and Content Control: Custom content such as emblems can sometimes be used to create inappropriate or offensive material. Managing and moderating this content can be a substantial burden. In the context of Black Ops 2, the developers had opted to disable these features to avoid issues with inappropriate content and to reduce the need for extensive moderation.
- Game Balance and Fair Play: There have been concerns about how these features could affect the game balance or player experience. For example, certain emblem designs or Theatre Mode footage could potentially be used to exploit the game or disrupt fair play. Hacks, mod menus and even nudity were spread trough the theatre mode.
What about black ops 3?
Given that other classic titles in the series have also seen updates, many are speculating that Black Ops 3, another fan favourite, could soon receive similar treatment, making it fully playable and perhaps preparing it for its addition to Xbox Game Pass
