The surprise digital re-releases of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops II on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 have proven to be a massive commercial success for Activision and Microsoft, yet the results are not being celebrated by everyone involved. Gavin Goslin, a former level designer at Treyarch who worked on both titles, has voiced strong criticism regarding the fact that original creators receive no financial compensation from these new sales.
The two games launched unexpectedly on July 9, surpassing even Activision's own expectations. According to estimates from Alinea Analytics, the pair sold a combined 11.2 million copies during July alone, generating approximately $435 million in revenue. Circana data further indicates that Black Ops II was the best-selling video game in the United States for that month.
Goslin expressed his frustration in a LinkedIn post, recalling the difficult working conditions endured by the original development team and deeming it unfair that they do not share in the ongoing profits of their creations. He noted that these $40 digital re-releases incorporate few novelties compared to the originals, arguing that those responsible for the games should receive a portion of the income.
Reflecting on the figures, Goslin stated that dedicating his life to these projects involved countless hours of crunch alongside a talented team to ensure perfection. He described it as incredible to see their "sweat, blood, and tears" still dominating charts in 2026, but difficult to watch executives pocket huge sums from old code while the true creators see not a penny.
The developer concluded by demanding that if executives receive significant bonuses due to the longevity of these classics, part of that wealth should be distributed retroactively among the developers who worked on them. Meanwhile, Activision has acknowledged that the success of these relaunches exceeded their forecasts. Tyler Bahl, the company's marketing director, recently explained that while they anticipated good results, they did not expect sales to reach such heights, attributing part of the phenomenon to player nostalgia.
Sources: Vandal.