The PlayStation 5 port of "Call of Duty: Black Ops 1", released at the same time as "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2", apparently suffers from a faulty implementation of the controller deadzones and insufficient server capacity.
While the sequel is playable, initial feedback indicates that a noticeable lag in stick inputs in the original game is causing massive problems in multiplayer. Iron Galaxy and Activision have delivered a technically flawed product.
The deadzone dilemma of the DualSense controller
The port's engine is incorrectly scaling input from modern controllers. Players are reporting widespread sluggish, imprecise controls that were not present on the original 2010 hardware. The problem lies in the adaptation of the analog dead zones to the PS5's DualSense controller. The game reacts with a delay to minimal stick movements or breaks linear aiming movements into digital fragments. This makes precise weapon aiming impossible in competitive matches.
The community has already identified hardware-related workarounds that highlight the developers' failure. Forcing a fixed 1080p resolution in the PS5 system menu and disabling variable refresh rate (VRR) significantly reduces latency.
However, as soon as the console attempts to natively upscale the old footage to 4K, the engine crashes. The fact that end users have to globally manipulate system settings to make a paid port playable is a disgrace.
The first feedback from users:
- Incompatible stick dead zones: The analog dead zones were not adapted to the PS5 DualSense controller, resulting in sluggish and imprecise aiming movements in multiplayer.
- Latency due to 4K upscaling: Automatic upscaling overloads the old engine; the only solution is to manually lower the PS5 system resolution to 1080p and disable VRR.
- Artificial 60 FPS limit without FOV slider: Despite minimal hardware requirements, the ports refuse to support a smooth 120Hz mode and offer no options for adjusting the severely restricted field of view.
- Poor video resolution: While the game graphics are calculated more sharply, the pre-rendered cutscenes and intros remain untouched and appear extremely blurry on modern displays.
- Outdated P2P network and missing modes: The pure peer-to-peer connections cause overloaded lobbies and broken party matchmaking, while wager matches and the cinema mode have been completely removed.
The myth of the new multiplayer servers
The previously suggested modernization of the infrastructure apparently hasn't happened. Treyarch and Iron Galaxy are still using the outdated peer-to-peer structure for matchmaking, where one player acts as the host.
There was only a global reset of the leaderboards and server states. The result is constant error messages indicating "Server full" and frequent crashes when trying to form lobbies with friends. Parties are systematically broken up and split into opposing teams at the start of a match.
At the same time, essential content from the original is missing. The popular Wager Matches and Theater Mode have been completely removed without official explanation. However, the Emblem Editor returns in "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2." Given the unmoderated history of this feature, this poses a significant risk for Activision. The only bright spot in the multiplayer arena: the modern, extremely manipulative Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) is entirely absent. Lobbys rotate completely randomly, just like they did 16 years ago. Nostalgia won't save this one.
The Launch of these classic ports In its current state, it's unacceptable. Anyone wanting to buy "Call of Duty: Black Ops 1" on PS5 specifically for the multiplayer will have to wait for updates. The controls are currently unusable. Black Ops 2 runs much more smoothly and is currently the only acceptable option for returning players.
And how do the same maps play over and over again for what feels like 20 years? 😂🤮
For BO2, switching to 1080p is sufficient.
I'm not buying that crap anyway.
Peter Birkner, we're not interested in your crap….
Christoph Lieber, I'll still write it, bad luck.
Peter Birkner only shows how hollow and pathetic your life is.
Why are you so triggered?? xD
The matchmaking in BO2 is completely awful. It's a real shame, because this is my first time playing…
Okan Saglam, how is the matchmaking?
Michél Weise, that's awful! As a beginner, you're immediately thrown into a party with high-level players, and they're all on the enemy team. I have no experience with shooter games, so I don't stand a chance.
Okan Saglam Oh, well, that's just how it was in the early days.
Okan Saglam, yeah, because of people like you there are only crappy Call of Duty games left 😂 sbmm crap
It's just the same old reheated garbage. And then they even want money for it. People are actually buying it. And bam, I've been ripped off again. And nobody cares about Rita.
Jan Brenzel is like that everywhere...
No matter which game gets a port, it's 90% likely not to be free.
Nintendo released Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen just a few months ago and charged €20 even though nothing had changed…
They could just as easily have included it in the GBA expansion.
The game will be dead in 2-3 months.
Gary Eberius will probably only be gone for 2-3 weeks. This is just a short-lived hype...
Tobias Dressler, that won't happen 😉
Gary Eberius says they should release old parts, they should bring back BO1 and BO2, and now there's whining too 🤣🤣🤣
I always have the problem that when I try to invite someone to my lobby, the game always crashes. Why?
Niki Nikinich, you just need to change your NAT type. It's not too difficult. Do you have a Fritz!Box?
Benedict Schulz: Unfortunately not.
I've added DMZ, enabled UPnP, opened ports, and it still doesn't work 😣 Playstation shows NAT Type 2 (moderate), but the game shows Strict 😔
Niki Nikinich is happening to me in BO2 too, unfortunately. Really annoying.
Niki Nikinich That's strange, and I haven't encountered that before, to be honest. Have you considered trying a VPN? Or different DNS servers? You could try Cloudflare (primary 1.1.1.1 and secondary 1.0.0.1).
Benedikt Schulz: No, the problem lies with the provider, since several people have the same IP address, so port forwarding doesn't help for many. I have the same problem; only a VPN or a static IP would help. Of course, the providers charge for that. That's why I contacted PŸUR.
Felix Starostzik: Hi, that's not quite right. Only with DualStack Lite do multiple people share the same public IP address. You alone can have your connection switched to full DualStack for free; it takes a maximum of one hour, including making a call, and then it's done.
Depending on the router and provider, it is sufficient to activate UpNP so that the PS5 can automatically open the necessary ports.
Then you can set your PS5 in the DMZ mode or as an extended host in the network, making the PS5 a publicly accessible network device that then has NAT TYPE1/open.
Alternatively, you can try the old-fashioned trick and enter your public IPv4 address (ending in .99) as your PS5 IP address. This will also give you an open NAT.
Benedikt Schulz's extended host setup is indeed risky, and yes, Pyur unfortunately uses Dual Stack Lite. I'm already in contact with them, but they'll probably want more money for it 😂.
Benedikt Schulz, I remember the PS3 days with BO2 and jailbreaking, etc. There were actually enough idiots who would exploit something like that 😂
Felix Starostzik: Yes, but that's old news, isn't it? Even today, you never know who's pulling the strings. Most providers have a good NFO or cloud service anyway.
I had no problems either, everything was clean and good, a nice comeback.
Then you tweak a few system settings, set it to 1080p VRR, and it runs much smoother. What do you expect from a 15-year-old game that hasn't been polished for the new consoles? But the main thing is that people are complaining endlessly again. Everyone wants the game back, now it's here, and it's still not right... you just can't please 90% of people anymore. That's just how the game ran back then.
Why should I have to keep changing my settings to make the game playable just to have to keep changing them back every time I play another game? It's not OUR job to make it playable. It's their job.
Mario-Marcel Garber, at a price of €40 (without PS Plus), one expects the game to at least function properly. Regardless of the game's age, that's the absolute minimum. Especially since it's just a port. They could have easily satisfied 100% of the players, and instead, they completely botched it. I consider criticism perfectly legitimate.