Pre-orders for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 are reportedly off to a slow start, with data from the PlayStation Store showing the game failing to reach the top of the pre-order charts following its announcement. This marks the first time in the series’ history that a Call of Duty entry has not led pre-order sales on the platform. Instead, Battlefield 6—both its Phantom Edition and Standard Edition—is outperforming Activision’s flagship shooter.
Battlefield 6 Breaks Records With Beta Launch
For the first time in four years, Battlefield and Call of Duty will directly compete this fall, and early signs suggest that EA’s shooter may have the upper hand. Following the troubled release of Battlefield 2042 in 2021, publisher EA and developer DICE reworked their approach by prioritizing community feedback. The result appears promising, as the open beta for Battlefield 6 has already become the most successful in franchise history, setting a new record for concurrent players.
On Steam alone, the Battlefield 6 beta peaked at more than 521,000 concurrent players, surpassing Call of Duty’s all-time record of 491,000 by over 30,000 players. Achieving such numbers during a beta phase highlights the strong anticipation and renewed interest in the Battlefield franchise.
Black Ops 7 Faces Community Backlash
Meanwhile, Black Ops 7 has been met with controversy even before release. Following criticism of Black Ops 6 for its over-the-top cosmetics and unrealistic skins, fans are now pushing for a return to a more grounded, authentic military experience.
The backlash is evident in the reveal trailer’s comments section, where many players have openly declared their intent to skip Activision’s shooter in favor of pre-ordering Battlefield 6. If these sentiments reflect actual consumer behavior, 2025 could mark the first year that Battlefield overtakes Call of Duty as the genre’s top-selling franchise.
The Road Ahead for Both Franchises
While early sales and beta figures indicate a shift in momentum, the competition between Battlefield 6 and Black Ops 7 will play out over the coming months. With both titles set to launch this fall, the stage is set for one of the most competitive showdowns in FPS gaming in years.
