Is Black Ops 3 Cross Platform and Offers Crossplay?

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 cross platform integration has become a meme in the CoD community. Not all CoD games have this feature enabled. But you would think that Activision Blizzard would put more pressure on the devs given how popular the title is.

With one of the best CoD zombie modes at its disposal, this entry to the franchise has maintained a consistent player base since 2015. Even the best CoD pros at the moment hold it dearly because it was their first CoD title. So how far has BO3 crossplay integration come? Let’s find out!

Is Black Ops 3 Cross Platform 2024?

The short answer is yes, but unfortunately, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 cross platform integration is only partial. While the title does offer cross platform support between specific platform combinations, the universal BO3 crossplay experience is lacking.

Can You Play Black Ops 3 Cross Platform 2024

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 cross platform integration only incorporates devices on the same platform. Some of you might know this as cross gen support. For instance, any users of Sony devices like the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5, can team up and play against each other on Call of Duty: Black Ops 3.

While the backwards compatibility feature enables current gen consoles to run titles from 2015, the crossplay function is notably missing. Similarly, someone that owns an Xbox One can play Black Ops 3 cross platform with other Xbox users that own an Xbox Series X/S.

Likewise, PC players can team up against all other PC players, regardless of their operating system. But without Black Ops 3 crossplay enabled, these pools of players can never mix.

Is BO3 Crossplay 2024

Unfortunately, Black Ops 3 crossplay is still not a thing. If you’re looking to play some Black Ops 3 with your friends, you must all be on the same platform. As we mentioned, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 cross platform integration only supports cross-generation play.

Why Isn’t Black Ops 3 Crossplay?

The reason why Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 crossplay still doesn’t exist is simple. Crossplay was a fairly new concept when the title was originally released. And there have been multiple CoD titles since then, so developers have had their hands full.

Also, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 was one of the most successful entries to the franchise even without the Black Ops 3 cross platform feature. So why even bother? If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

After all, CoD titles started experimenting with crossplay much later, with the launch of Modern Warfare in 2019.

That was the first Call of Duty game to be completely cross platform compatible. Considering Black Ops 3 rolled out in late 2015, cross generation play and backward compatibility are all we have.

Enabling Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 crossplay requires a lot of effort from both the development team and the gaming platforms. That is if there’s even a will to do it, sharing customers and revenue along the way.

Apart from ensuring the game’s competitive integrity across multiple types of hardware devices with various specifications, exclusivity deals, and other legal aspects have to be ironed out as well.

Back then, Sony’s PlayStation Plus Premium and Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass were completely separate entities. Crossplay wasn’t a feature most popular titles provided until Fortnite came in and shook the entire industry with its free crossplay battle royale format.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 was also the last Call of Duty game for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. So it’s safe to say that industry-breaking inventions weren’t the priority during production.

How to Make BO3 Crossplay 2024

With Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 crossplay still not being implemented, some gamers have started looking for a solution. But as we know from many previous experiences, using workaround methods and breaking publisher TOS never ends well.

The usage of third-party software is highly condemned in the gaming industry. Especially when it’s software that tricks your system into thinking it’s interacting with another platform. Apart from getting your account permanently banned, other repercussions might follow.

It’s unclear why anyone would even bother doing something like this when modern CoD games like Modern Warfare 2023 and Warzone are fully crossplay compatible.

Black Ops 3 Cross Platform Mod

But as always, if there’s a way, we’ll give it to you. Here are the steps to play Black Ops 3 cross platform using Discord and Gamebattles:

Create a Discord channel and invite your friends.
Create a voice chat channel with your friends.
Use this third-party matchmaking service called Gamebattles to create a custom match and invite your friends to join.
Go to GameBattles and create an account.
Once you have created an account, log in and go to the “Tournaments” tab.
Search for Black Ops 3 tournaments that are open to custom matches.
Once you have found a tournament, click on the “Join” button.
On the next page, click on the “Create Custom Match” button.
In the “Create Custom Match” window, enter the following information:
Game Mode: Choose the game mode that you want to play.
Map: Choose the map that you want to play on.
Players: Enter the number of players that you want to invite to the match.
Password: Enter a password for the match.
Click on the “Create Match” button.
Once the match has been created, click on the “Invite Friends” button.
Enter the Gamertags of your friends and click on the “Invite” button.
Once your friends have accepted your invitation, they will be able to join the match.

Is Black Ops 3 Cross Platform PS4 and PS5

Yes, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 crossplay between PS4 and PS5 is enabled. With cross gen support enabled, PS4 and PS5 users can both play Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 together. The same stands for PS3 users as well.

That’s because while there is no crossplay enabled, Black Ops 3 cross platform integration exists for devices on the same platform. Since Sony is behind all of the PlayStation consoles and they function in the same manner, you can run Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 on all 3 consoles.

Is Black Ops 3 Cross Platform Xbox and PS4

As of 2024, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 cross platform play between PlayStation and Xbox consoles is not supported. As a timeless classic in the CoD franchise, fans have been clamoring for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 crossplay for years.

Unfortunately for them, this update has never come. This limits players looking forward to smaller queue times on multiplayer matches because the player base is split and confined between different console ecosystems.

Backwards compatibility is so good that I can play nacht der untoten, Verruckt, Shi no numa and der riese on Call of duty world at war, black ops 1 and black ops 3! #Xbox #XboxShare #XboxSeriesX #CallofDuty pic.twitter.com/iDqcae0PXM

— Jack (@purchase_jack) October 3, 2023

Is Black Ops 3 Cross Platform Between Xbox One and Xbox X/S?

Yes, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 crossplay between the Xbox Series X|S and the Xbox One console is enabled. Similarly to PlayStation users, with cross gen support enabled, all Xbox users can team up and play Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 together.

The Black Ops 3 crossplay integration might be lagging behind some other notable titles like Dead by Daylight. But at least fans can enjoy cross gen coverage that spans over 3 generations of consoles. Even if your dusty Xbox 360 somehow met the system requirements, it would be able to BO3 crossplay since they’re all under Microsoft.

Is Black Ops 3 Cross Platform PC Xbox

Unfortunately, as of 2024, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 crossplay between PCs and Xbox consoles is not supported. Although you can play the game on both platforms, the pools of players can never mix in a multiplayer setting.

This limitation mainly boils down to preserving competitive integrity, which is key in multiplayer titles. With PC players having access to a mouse and keyboard, they gain a significant advantage over console users on FPS titles. Imagine you’re trying to improve your CSGO gameplay, but you are using a controller.

Is Black Ops 3 Cross Platform PC and PS5 PS4

Similarly, as of 2024, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 cross platform play between PCs and PlayStation consoles is not supported. Due to the same reasoning, PC and console players shouldn’t be allowed to play on the same multiplayer servers.

While we’ve recently seen a spike in cross platform compatibility updates in recent years, the developers of Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 are yet to implement this feature. Maybe 7 Days to Die would be a worthy replacement.

Black Ops 3 Custom Zombies pic.twitter.com/lrSZ3v8mci

— SpeciialEra (@SpeciialEra) September 30, 2023

Is Black Ops 3 Cross Platform Between PC and Mobile?

Unfortunately, as of 2024, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 crossplay play between PCs and Mobile users is not a thing. Although there are a few workarounds to get past this, most notably with Bluestacks, there isn’t official Call of Duty Mobile crossplay.

The CoD Mobile title is a separate entity that supports crossplay between Android and iOS users. But it has nothing to do with Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, and thus, the player bases can never mix in a competitive multiplayer setting.

Is Black Ops 3 Cross Platform Between PC and Nintendo Switch?

Similarly, as of 2024, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 crossplay between PCs and Nintendo Switch consoles is not supported. Although both platforms have access to the Steam store, currently there isn’t a Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 version for Nintendo consoles.

Despite being one of the most popular paid crossplay games of all time, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 was never ported to the Nintendo Switch. This is a big bummer for the many CoD fans that opted for the platform, knowing they’ll have access to Steam.

Is Black Ops 3 Cross Progression in 2024

Unfortunately, as of 2024, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 does not currently support cross progression between different platforms. This feature allows players to transfer their progress, purchases and everything bound to their account across multiple platforms.

But sadly, that’s not the case with Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. You can’t use your PC account to play Call of Duty on Xbox or vice versa. At least not Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. Newer Call of Duty titles, like Call of Duty: Warzone and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, have introduced cross progression functionality.