A new update for Call of Duty Black Ops 2 has added a Modern Warfare 4 pre order button to the game's multiplayer menu on PlayStation, creating a mixed reaction among players.

Black Ops 2 was recently brought to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on July 9, more than a decade after its original release. The modern ports include the game's Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies modes, giving the classic Call of Duty title a newly active audience.

Since launch, Treyarch and Iron Galaxy have continued supporting the PlayStation versions with updates addressing security concerns, bugs, and player feedback. Recent patches have introduced additional security improvements and a Depth of Field option for Custom Games, among other changes.

However, complaints about cheating and suspicious accounts have continued to affect the multiplayer experience. Against that backdrop, players have reacted negatively to the addition of promotional content for another Call of Duty game.

Following Version 1.008 on PlayStation 5 and Version 1.08 on PlayStation 4, a new Pre Order MW4 option can be found directly in the Black Ops 2 multiplayer main menu. The promotion appears alongside the game's usual Play Online, LAN Party, Local, Options, and Store selections.

The timing of the promotion is linked to the upcoming Modern Warfare 4 beta. Early Access for the pre order beta is scheduled to begin on August 21, while the open beta will follow on August 28.

Some players have criticized the decision to promote Modern Warfare 4 while concerns about cheating and security remain unresolved in Black Ops 2. Community discussions have questioned whether development resources would be better directed toward addressing those issues instead of adding promotional material.

The promotion has also been mocked for appearing inside a game that originally launched approximately 14 years ago. An additional point of criticism has been raised regarding the PlayStation 4 version, since players on that console cannot play Modern Warfare 4.

Cross promotion between Call of Duty titles is not unusual for Activision, and similar advertisements have appeared throughout the franchise. However, the reaction has been stronger in this case because Black Ops 2 has recently attracted a large number of players and continues to experience multiplayer concerns.

The ports performed particularly well after release. Black Ops 2 became the most downloaded game on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 across the two major PlayStation regions during July, giving Activision access to a large audience of active Call of Duty players just before the Modern Warfare 4 beta.

From a marketing perspective, promoting the newest Call of Duty release inside one of the franchise's most popular classic entries is understandable. However, some players have viewed the promotion as a reminder that issues affecting the older title remain unresolved.

The pre order button does not alter the core Black Ops 2 experience, but its introduction demonstrates how promotional content can create frustration when players believe other problems deserve greater attention. The strong performance of the modern ports has also increased expectations for continued support of their multiplayer features.