A new update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has sparked criticism after Activision added a Modern Warfare 4 pre-order button directly to the game’s menu. The change comes while players are still waiting for further improvements to technical and security problems affecting the recently released PS4 and PS5 ports.
Black Ops 2 arrived on modern PlayStation consoles on July 9, bringing its Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies modes to PS4 and PS5. The release gave PlayStation players a new way to experience the 2012 classic, but the ports have also faced their share of problems since launch.
Treyarch and Iron Galaxy have continued releasing updates for the modern versions of Black Ops and Black Ops 2. However, the latest addition has left some players questioning Activision’s priorities.
Modern Warfare 4 Pre-Order Button Appears in Black Ops 2
Following the latest Black Ops 2 update, players discovered that a Modern Warfare 4 pre-order option had been added to the game’s menu.
Instead of being another gameplay improvement, security fix, or quality-of-life feature, the new button effectively turns part of the Black Ops 2 interface into an advertisement for Activision’s upcoming Call of Duty release.
That decision has attracted criticism, particularly because Black Ops 2 is a paid game rather than a free-to-play title.
Players who purchased the new PS4 or PS5 version are now being presented with a pre-order promotion inside a game that originally launched more than a decade ago.
For some fans, that feels unnecessary.
Players Still Want More Black Ops 2 Fixes
The timing also plays a major role in the negative reaction.
Treyarch and Iron Galaxy have been working on the modern Black Ops ports since their release. Previous updates introduced additional security changes, bug fixes, and other improvements.
One welcome addition was a Depth of Field toggle for Custom Games, giving players more control over the visual presentation.
However, multiplayer complaints have not disappeared.
Players have continued reporting frustrations involving cheating, security concerns, and other problems within the multiplayer experience. As a result, every new update attracts attention from fans hoping that another round of fixes has arrived.
Finding a Modern Warfare 4 advertisement among those changes was therefore unlikely to receive an enthusiastic response.
Activision’s Priorities Are Being Questioned
Advertising a new game inside an older title is nothing new for the Call of Duty franchise. Activision regularly uses its existing player base to promote upcoming releases, seasonal content, bundles, and other products.
However, Black Ops 2 is a different situation.
The game has only recently returned to PlayStation through its PS4 and PS5 ports. Many players purchased it specifically because they wanted to return to its classic Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies experiences.
Those players understandably want continued development resources focused on making the ports as stable, secure, and polished as possible.
Adding a pre-order button does not necessarily mean that security or technical work has stopped. The studios can obviously work on several areas simultaneously. Even so, perception matters.
When players are still discussing cheating and technical issues, adding a prominent advertisement for the next Call of Duty can easily look like monetization has received attention before existing problems have been completely addressed.
Black Ops 2 Support Needs to Remain the Priority
The continued support for Black Ops 2 is encouraging. Treyarch and Iron Galaxy have already demonstrated that the ports have not simply been released and abandoned.
That support now needs to continue.
Players returning to Black Ops 2 deserve a multiplayer environment that receives proper security improvements, bug fixes, and technical maintenance. Those areas should remain more important than promoting another game.
Activision naturally wants millions of existing Call of Duty players to purchase Modern Warfare 4. Using older games to advertise it may help achieve that goal.
However, inserting a pre-order promotion into a recently released paid port while its community is still asking for fixes was always going to attract criticism.
For Black Ops 2 players, the message appears simple: fix and protect the game they already paid for before pushing them toward the next one.
