Call of Duty: Black Ops II Is Among the Best-Selling Games of 2026, 14 Years After Launch

Call of Duty: Black Ops II, a game that first launched in November 2012, is the sixth best-selling game of 2026 in the US so far. Circana’s year-to-date chart through September puts it ahead of Forza Horizon 6, Tomodachi Life and Pokemon Pokopia, almost entirely on the back of the PS4 and PS5 port that Activision released on July 9. Those new PlayStation versions sent a 14-year-old shooter to the top of the US monthly chart in July.

Here is where it sits, how it got there so fast and why it matters for Call of Duty.

What are the best-selling games of 2026 in the US so far?

These are Circana’s projected US best-sellers for January to September 2026, ranked by dollar sales across physical and full-game digital purchases. Mobile games and add-on content are not counted.

Marvel’s Wolverine, which topped September after launching mid-month, sits 11th for the year. We covered that launch and the PS5 hardware bump in our September Circana breakdown.

Why is Black Ops II selling so well in 2026?

Because PlayStation owners could not buy it before July. Black Ops II originally came out on PS3, Xbox 360, PC and Wii U, and the PS3 version never ran on PS4 or PS5. Xbox players kept access through backward compatibility, and PC players through Steam. Anyone on a modern PlayStation was locked out for over a decade.

Activision fixed that on July 9 with surprise PS4 and PS5 releases of both Black Ops and Black Ops II. Treyarch and Iron Galaxy handled the ports. Each game includes the campaign, multiplayer and Zombies, while the original map packs are sold separately through a season pass. Launch pricing was $19.99 per game until August 6, after which the standard price became $39.99.

Activision also confirmed cross-play between PS4 and PS5 for both games shortly after launch, which kept the lobbies on the two consoles from splitting.

How fast did it climb the charts?

The jump was absurd. In June, Black Ops II was ranked 67th on Circana’s monthly chart, a long-tail seller from older platforms. In July it was number one, beating EA Sports College Football 27, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced and Halo: Campaign Evolved. The original Black Ops landed fifth that same month, up from 150th.

By our count, that is a climb of 125 places on the year-to-date list in a single month, built on about three weeks of sales. The only game to pass it since is NBA 2K27, which went straight to first place for the year after launching in September.

How many people are playing the Black Ops ports?

Activision has not released official sales or player numbers for the ports. Within their first week, figures from a weekly player tracker shared by beta program members suggested about 5.25 million Black Ops II players and nearly 2 million for the original Black Ops. Treat those as unconfirmed. The scale is believable given the Circana rankings, but the tracker’s exact scope (US only or worldwide, PS5 only or both consoles) was never made clear.

The interest extended beyond the official release too. Fans had already been running unofficial versions of older Call of Duty titles, and Activision moved against some of them in October, as we reported when the company shut down AI-built browser ports of Call of Duty games.

Is Black Ops II on Xbox Series X|S?

There is no native Xbox Series X|S version. Xbox owners play the 2012 Xbox 360 release through backward compatibility, so Microsoft’s chart entry for Black Ops II is driven almost entirely by PlayStation buyers. That is an odd result for a game Microsoft now owns after the Activision Blizzard deal. Two Microsoft titles sit in the top 10, Black Ops II and Forza Horizon 6, and one of them sold mostly on Sony’s console.

It also lands during a rough year for Xbox hardware. Circana’s August report showed Xbox Series hardware at a record low in the US, which we covered in our August sales story, and September units were down 27% year on year.

What does this mean for Call of Duty?

A straight port with no remaster work and a $39.99 list price outsold every new release in its launch month and is still in the yearly top 10 three months later. That is a clear signal about the value of the back catalogue. Older Call of Duty games that never reached PS4 or PS5, such as World at War or the 2011 Modern Warfare 3, are obvious candidates if Activision wants to repeat it.

For players focused on the current game, Black Ops 7 continues alongside the ports. Our guide to Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 6 has the latest schedule. Circana’s full monthly and yearly charts are on its top 10 video games page, and the PlayStation version of Black Ops II is listed on the official PlayStation game page.

FAQ

What is the best-selling game of 2026 in the US so far?

NBA 2K27 leads Circana’s US year-to-date chart through September 2026, ahead of Resident Evil Requiem and 007 First Light.

Where does Black Ops II rank in 2026?

Call of Duty: Black Ops II is sixth on Circana’s US year-to-date chart through September 2026. It was fifth through July.

When did Black Ops II come out on PS5?

Black Ops II and the original Black Ops released on PS4 and PS5 on July 9, 2026, ported by Treyarch and Iron Galaxy.

How much does Black Ops II cost on PS5?

The standard price is $39.99. It launched at $19.99 until August 6, 2026. Season passes with the original DLC maps are sold separately.

Is Black Ops II available on Xbox Series X|S?

Only through backward compatibility. Xbox Series X|S players run the original Xbox 360 version, and no new Xbox port has been released.