Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Call of Duty: Black Ops II, released in November 2012, is a first-person shooter developed by Treyarch and published by Activision. It launched on Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on November 13, with a Wii U version arriving later that month. The game marked a bold shift for the series, introducing futuristic warfare and branching storylines. It also became the first Call of Duty title on the Wii U, and a companion game for PlayStation Vita, Black Ops: Declassified, launched the same day. Ports for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 followed in 2026, developed by Iron Galaxy Studios.

The campaign jumps between two timelines: the 1980s, where players control series veterans Alex Mason and Frank Woods, and 2025, where they take on the role of Mason's son, David, codenamed Section. Both eras revolve around the pursuit of Raul Menendez, a Nicaraguan arms dealer whose actions spark a Second Cold War. The story is non-linear, with player choices affecting the outcome, and missions span locations from Angola to Afghanistan to the Cayman Islands. The game also includes the fan-favorite Zombies mode and a multiplayer suite that became a staple of competitive play.

Development began right after Black Ops, with Activision promising "meaningful innovation." Treyarch delivered by adding weapon selection before missions, a 3D display option, and Strike Force missions that offered a new kind of tactical gameplay. Critics praised the variety, story, and villain, though some found the Strike Force missions uneven. Commercially, the game was a juggernaut, grossing over $500 million in its first day and selling over 24 million copies by late 2013. It remains a high point in the franchise, and its influence can be seen in later entries like Black Ops III and Black Ops Cold War. [edit]

Black Ops II introduced the Pick 10 class system, letting players spend ten points across weapons, attachments, perks, and grenades. Scorestreaks replaced killstreaks, rewarding objective play rather than just kills. The campaign offered branching missions and Strike Force levels, which allowed squad-based tactical control. Multiplayer became a competitive staple with League Play and extensive stat tracking. The Zombies mode expanded with the TranZit map, offering a sprawling, bus-riding experience across a post-apocalyptic landscape. Weapon customization was deep, with many attachments and camos. The 2026 PlayStation ports retained all original features, though some reviewers noted the lack of modern enhancements. [edit]

Raul Menendez, a charismatic Nicaraguan arms dealer, orchestrates a global cyberattack in 2025, crippling the US drone fleet and triggering a Second Cold War. The player alternates between two eras: in the 1980s, Alex Mason and Frank Woods hunt Menendez across Cold War hotspots; in 2025, Mason's son David (Section) leads a special forces unit to stop Menendez's plans. Player choices in certain missions determine which of several endings plays out, including Menendez's fate and the survival of key characters. The narrative weaves together themes of revenge, technology, and the cost of war. The 2025 sections feature futuristic weaponry and robotics, contrasting with the gritty 1980s settings. The game's non-linear structure was a departure for the series, and it was praised for its ambition. [edit]