A Guide to the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Limited Edition 1TB PS4 Bundle

In late 2015, Sony partnered with Activision for the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, a collaboration that produced a limited edition PlayStation 4 console bundle. At the time of its launch, this package was the most expensive official PS4 bundle available, a premium price point justified by its unique console design and, most notably, its upgraded internal storage. The bundle was a significant release, marking the first time a PS4 was offered with a 1 terabyte hard drive direct from the factory.

Console and Controller Design

The bundle’s main draw was its distinct aesthetic, setting it apart from the standard Jet Black PlayStation 4. While the console retained the Jet Black base color, it was adorned with custom graphics inspired by the game. The top surface featured the large, stylized Roman numeral “III” from the Black Ops 3 logo in a vibrant ember orange. This accent color was also used for the physical power and eject buttons, giving the console’s front face a striking appearance.

Further details were located below the disc drive, where a series of smaller icons were printed in the same orange. These included another “III” logo, the SOG Skull, the Winslow Accord faction symbol, and a targeting reticle icon, all elements drawn from the game’s universe. The design aimed to create a piece of hardware that was immediately recognizable as a tie-in product for dedicated fans of the series.

The included DualShock 4 controller also received a custom finish and was available for purchase separately. It featured a smooth grey primary color, a departure from the standard black or white controllers. The ember orange accents continued here, coloring the directional pad and the bases of both analog sticks. The right grip handle was decorated with the orange “III” logo, tying its design directly to the console. This two-tone color scheme made the controller a standout peripheral.

The 1TB Hard Drive Upgrade

Beyond its visual appeal, the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 bundle held a major technical advantage over all other PS4s on the market in 2015. It was the first official PS4 model to ship with a 1 TB hard disk drive. This doubled the 500 GB capacity that was standard in all previous PlayStation 4 consoles, including other contemporary bundles. This increase in storage was a critical selling point for players who were increasingly reliant on digital downloads and dealing with large game files.

By this point in the console generation, the 500 GB drive was proving to be a limitation for many users. Major titles frequently required mandatory installations of 50 GB or more, and that was before accounting for downloadable content, expansion packs, and frequent, sizable patch updates. A player with a handful of major games could easily fill the standard drive. The 1 TB drive offered significant breathing room, allowing users to keep more games installed simultaneously without having to constantly delete and re-download titles. For anyone planning to build a substantial digital library, this bundle offered the best out-of-the-box hardware configuration available.

The Included Game: Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

The bundle, of course, included a physical standard edition copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. Developed by Treyarch, the studio behind the previous two Black Ops titles, the game was highly anticipated. Treyarch had earned a reputation among the fan base for delivering polished and content-rich entries in the annual series. The game was structured around three core modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies.

The Campaign mode was designed with four-player online cooperative play in mind, a significant feature that allowed friends to experience the entire story together. This necessitated larger, more open level designs to accommodate multiple players and featured a dedicated progression system for character and weapon unlocks within the campaign itself.

Multiplayer, the franchise’s signature mode, saw a major evolution in player movement. Building on mechanics from previous titles, Treyarch introduced a new system that included thruster packs for extended jumps, the ability to run along walls, and power slides. This created a faster, more vertical, and fluid combat experience. A new “Specialists” system was also implemented, allowing players to choose from one of nine unique characters, each with their own special weapon or ability that could be earned during a match. This added a new strategic layer to team composition and gameplay.

The third pillar was Zombies, a fan-favorite mode that returned with a new narrative and setting. Titled “Shadows of Evil,” this cooperative experience was set in a fictional 1940s film noir-inspired location called Morgue City. It featured its own unique cast of characters, special weapons, and a new progression system that tracked player stats and unlocks across matches. The bundle also included a voucher for the NUK3TOWN multiplayer map. This was a reimagined version of the classic Nuketown map from previous Black Ops games, redesigned to complement the new movement mechanics. Its inclusion was a valuable bonus for long-time fans.

Comparison with Other Bundles

For a consumer in late 2015, the decision to purchase the Black Ops 3 bundle required weighing its premium features against its higher cost. Other official bundles were available at lower price points, notably the Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection bundle and the Star Wars Battlefront bundle. These packages included a standard 500 GB PS4 console and a copy of their respective games.

The choice came down to priorities. If a custom console design and double the storage capacity were important, the Black Ops 3 bundle was the clear winner, especially for a dedicated Call of Duty player. The 1 TB drive provided a practical, long-term benefit that could save players the future hassle and expense of upgrading the internal storage themselves.

However, for a more budget-conscious buyer who was indifferent to the console’s appearance or the specific pack-in game, the other bundles offered better value. A player could purchase the cheaper Uncharted or Battlefront bundle and buy a separate copy of Black Ops 3, potentially saving money. The trade-off was the smaller 500 GB hard drive, a compromise that might be acceptable for those who primarily play one or two games at a time or prefer physical media. The Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Limited Edition 1 TB PS4 Bundle was released on November 6, 2015.