Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has added dedicated multiplayer servers to its PS4 and PS5 versions, addressing one of the biggest requests from players since the new ports launched. Originally debuting in 2012, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 remains one of the franchise’s most celebrated entries thanks to its highly praised campaign, Zombies mode, and competitive multiplayer.
Black Ops 2 returned to modern PlayStation consoles earlier this year with new PS4 and PS5 ports, giving players another way to revisit the classic Treyarch shooter without relying on its original PS3 hardware. The ports have received several updates since launch, addressing stability, security, controls, and other quality-of-life issues, but multiplayer still had one notable shortcoming. Matches continued to rely on less-stable player-hosted connections, leading dedicated servers to quickly become one of the most requested improvements among returning Call of Duty players.
Black Ops 2 Gets Dedicated Servers on PS4 and PS5
That request has been answered in the latest Black Ops 2 update. The official Call of Duty Updates account on Twitter confirmed that dedicated multiplayer servers are live for Black Ops 2 on PS4 and PS5, with the change intended to improve match stability and security. Dedicated servers had been gradually rolling out over several days, but the latest update completed the transition, meaning 100% of multiplayer matches on the two PlayStation versions have now migrated to the new infrastructure. The update also improves support for joining friends and fixes issues involving Custom Emblems, the user interface, and the multiplayer heatmap globe.
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bo2 soldier light shining on image via activision
Dedicated servers should provide a more consistent foundation for Black Ops 2 multiplayer than the previous player-hosted setup. With peer-to-peer hosting, one player’s connection can play a major role in how smoothly a match runs, and losing the host can disrupt the session or trigger the infamous host migration sequence. Dedicated servers instead move that responsibility onto centralized infrastructure, reducing the dependence on any single player and the reliability of their internet connection. The official post specifically points to stability and security as reasons for the change, two particularly important areas for a multiplayer game that originally launched nearly 14 years ago.
The update has been met with an enthusiastic response from longtime players on Reddit and Twitter, many of whom had been asking for dedicated servers since the PS4 and PS5 ports arrived. Some players have said the change is enough to convince them to revisit Black Ops 2 and return to multiplayer, while others are hopeful it will make matches feel more consistent. Security is another major part of the excitement given the problems older Call of Duty games have historically faced with modified lobbies and exploits. Dedicated servers likely will not eliminate every possible form of cheating, but removing reliance on player-hosted matches is still a substantial infrastructure upgrade for the modern ports.
For now, the dedicated-server upgrade is specifically confirmed for the PS4 and PS5 versions of Black Ops 2. There has been no equivalent announcement for Xbox, where the original release remains playable on newer consoles through Xbox backward compatibility. That has already left some players hoping the improvement will eventually expand to other platforms, especially the PC version, which just received a patch to improve compatibility with newer computers. Whether that happens remains unclear, but moving every multiplayer match on modern PlayStation hardware to dedicated servers represents one of the most meaningful updates Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has received since returning to current consoles.
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November 13, 2012
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
- Engine
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