The long-standing rivalry between Call of Duty and Battlefield is heating up once again. As EA prepares to launch Battlefield 6 in Fall 2025, Activision has announced that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be free for all players to try during the same week — a move that feels anything but coincidental.
A Perfectly Timed Free Trial
Activision confirmed that Black Ops 6 will be free to play from October 9 at 9 AM PT to October 16 at 10 AM PT. This gives players an entire week to experience everything the game has to offer, including the full campaign, Zombies mode, and multiplayer, with the exception of Ranked Play.
What makes this timing particularly strategic is that Battlefield 6 officially launches on October 10, just one day after the Black Ops 6 free week begins. Players who might have been tempted to switch sides will now have a compelling reason to stick around and see what Activision has in store.
Season 6 “The Haunting” Launches Alongside the Free Week
The free trial coincides with the launch of Black Ops 6’s final season, dubbed The Haunting, which kicks off on October 9. The Halloween-themed season brings a range of spooky new content to the game, from limited-time events to horror-inspired skins, including crossovers with the Resident Evil series.
This season marks the last major content drop before the next installment, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which is expected to release in November.
Back-to-Back Call of Duty Events
Interestingly, the Black Ops 7 open beta was also extended until October 9, the exact start date of Black Ops 6’s free week. This means fans will have two consecutive opportunities to experience Call of Duty without paying a dime — first by testing out the upcoming title, and then by diving into the current one’s final season.
Whether intentional or not, the scheduling creates an uninterrupted wave of Call of Duty content just as Battlefield 6 steps into the spotlight.
A Strategic Move Amidst Rising Competition
While Call of Duty remains one of the best-selling FPS franchises, Battlefield 6 has already made a strong impression. Its open beta recently attracted over 521,000 concurrent players on Steam, surpassing Call of Duty’s peak of roughly 491,000.
By launching a free trial and a major content update at the same time, Activision clearly aims to remind players why Call of Duty continues to dominate the shooter landscape. Regardless of which franchise comes out on top, this Fall is shaping up to be a thrilling season for FPS fans.
