The multiplayer has become one of the staples of the Call of Duty franchises, with many people buying the game solely for it. Black Ops features a multiplayer very similar to its predecessors, in that, it features a multi-stage leveling system, employs different game modes, and other features, but it also differs by offering some new things.

One new feature is players have to buy new weapons, perks and equipment with CoD Points, which are earned through normal play. Players still unlock new weapons and equipments while leveling up, but they must be bought before they can be used.