Does Call of Duty: Black Ops run on Linux?

Verdict: Yes

Yes. Call of Duty: Black Ops is a Windows game that runs on Linux through Proton, the tool built into Steam, and players on ProtonDB rate it Gold, the second-highest rating. Its anti-cheat (Treyarch Anti-Cheat and VAC and PunkBuster) works on Linux.

Call of Duty: Black Ops by Treyarch · Action

Call of Duty: Black Ops is an action game from Treyarch, published by Activision, first released on 9 November 2010.

You can play it alone or co-operatively online. Steam lists partial controller support. Critics scored it 81 out of 100 on Metacritic.

The evidence

Its own Linux version
No, it runs through Proton
Player rating on ProtonDB
Gold, from 255 reports
Steam Deck (which runs Linux)
Playable, with small niggles
Anti-cheat
Treyarch Anti-Cheat, VAC, PunkBuster: Works on Linux, officially

How to play it

  1. Install Steam from your Linux app store and sign in. Your library is already there.
  2. In Steam's settings, under Compatibility, switch on "Enable Steam Play for all other titles". That turns on Proton for every Windows game. You only do this once.
  3. Install Call of Duty: Black Ops and press Play.

New to this? Can I play my games on Linux? explains Proton, anti-cheat and which Linux to pick for games.

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Ratings are reported by players at ProtonDB and anti-cheat status by Are We Anti-Cheat Yet. Both change, so follow the links below for today's picture.

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