Activision has released a new update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 after players experienced several hacking and account-related problems over the weekend. The update is aimed at improving the security of the game's multiplayer matches, although Activision says some players may temporarily see confusing messages while the changes are being applied.
The PS4 and PS5 versions of Black Ops 2 were unexpectedly released in July and quickly became a major success. The classic Call of Duty title attracted millions of players, with the PS5 version reportedly reaching more than five million users shortly after launch.
Its popularity appears to have been driven by a combination of nostalgia, familiar multiplayer content and a lower price compared with newer Call of Duty games. The PS5 version also benefits from DualSense features, including adaptive triggers. Players have pointed out that the feature makes weapons feel more immersive, with some even saying it improves the feel of semi-automatic weapons such as the FAL.
However, that positive response took a hit over the weekend when hackers began causing problems in multiplayer lobbies.
During the weekend of August 1, players reported encountering someone using the names "C Isn't Sharp" and "Who Isn't Sharp?" The hacker reportedly targeted players in the PS4 and PS5 versions of Black Ops 2, manipulating account information and causing other issues.
Some players discovered that their levels or Prestige ranks had suddenly been changed. In some cases, players were given ranks that should not even be possible in the original game. Others reported being unable to return to multiplayer matches after encountering the hacker because the game repeatedly crashed.
The situation quickly gained attention across the community, prompting Activision to respond.The company has now issued a backend update for Black Ops 2 on PS4 and PS5. Activision has not provided a detailed list of exactly what was changed, but confirmed that the update is designed to improve multiplayer security.
The company is also reviewing accounts that were affected by incorrect Prestige levels. This is particularly important because players who had their accounts manipulated could potentially be mistaken for people who deliberately modified their progression.
Activision has warned that some players may see a ban message when they are removed from a multiplayer match. While seeing a ban notice can obviously be worrying, the company says that it does not necessarily mean the player has actually been banned.
According to Activision, the message can appear because of the way Black Ops 2's older systems handle updated account information. Players should normally be able to reconnect once their account data has been corrected.
There is an important exception, however. If a player is unable to reconnect after receiving the message, Activision says the account may have been flagged for potentially violating the game's Terms of Service. This could include intentional account manipulation or an unauthorized Prestige level.
Players who believe they were incorrectly flagged are encouraged to contact Activision's support team.
Despite the recent problems, Activision has been relatively quick to respond to issues affecting the modern ports of the older Call of Duty games. The company has already released several updates based on player feedback since Black Ops 2 returned to PlayStation.
One of the most notable changes involved cross-generation multiplayer. At launch, PS4 and PS5 players could not properly play together, but Activision later added support for matchmaking between the two generations.
The company also changed matchmaking so that players who own the Season Pass could play alongside people who do not own it.
The latest security update should help restore some confidence among players who were concerned about the hacking problems. While Black Ops 2 is running on older technology, its unexpected popularity has clearly created a demand for Activision to keep the game playable and secure on modern consoles.
The PS4 and PS5 versions of Black Ops 2 were unexpectedly released in July and quickly became a major success. The classic Call of Duty title attracted millions of players, with the PS5 version reportedly reaching more than five million users shortly after launch.
Its popularity appears to have been driven by a combination of nostalgia, familiar multiplayer content and a lower price compared with newer Call of Duty games. The PS5 version also benefits from DualSense features, including adaptive triggers. Players have pointed out that the feature makes weapons feel more immersive, with some even saying it improves the feel of semi-automatic weapons such as the FAL.
However, that positive response took a hit over the weekend when hackers began causing problems in multiplayer lobbies.
During the weekend of August 1, players reported encountering someone using the names "C Isn't Sharp" and "Who Isn't Sharp?" The hacker reportedly targeted players in the PS4 and PS5 versions of Black Ops 2, manipulating account information and causing other issues.
Some players discovered that their levels or Prestige ranks had suddenly been changed. In some cases, players were given ranks that should not even be possible in the original game. Others reported being unable to return to multiplayer matches after encountering the hacker because the game repeatedly crashed.
The situation quickly gained attention across the community, prompting Activision to respond.The company has now issued a backend update for Black Ops 2 on PS4 and PS5. Activision has not provided a detailed list of exactly what was changed, but confirmed that the update is designed to improve multiplayer security.
The company is also reviewing accounts that were affected by incorrect Prestige levels. This is particularly important because players who had their accounts manipulated could potentially be mistaken for people who deliberately modified their progression.
Activision has warned that some players may see a ban message when they are removed from a multiplayer match. While seeing a ban notice can obviously be worrying, the company says that it does not necessarily mean the player has actually been banned.
According to Activision, the message can appear because of the way Black Ops 2's older systems handle updated account information. Players should normally be able to reconnect once their account data has been corrected.
There is an important exception, however. If a player is unable to reconnect after receiving the message, Activision says the account may have been flagged for potentially violating the game's Terms of Service. This could include intentional account manipulation or an unauthorized Prestige level.
Players who believe they were incorrectly flagged are encouraged to contact Activision's support team.
Despite the recent problems, Activision has been relatively quick to respond to issues affecting the modern ports of the older Call of Duty games. The company has already released several updates based on player feedback since Black Ops 2 returned to PlayStation.
One of the most notable changes involved cross-generation multiplayer. At launch, PS4 and PS5 players could not properly play together, but Activision later added support for matchmaking between the two generations.
The company also changed matchmaking so that players who own the Season Pass could play alongside people who do not own it.
The latest security update should help restore some confidence among players who were concerned about the hacking problems. While Black Ops 2 is running on older technology, its unexpected popularity has clearly created a demand for Activision to keep the game playable and secure on modern consoles.
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