Call of Duty just had the worst launch in franchise history, and the numbers are brutal no matter how you slice them. Black Ops 7 launched November 14, 2025 to European sales down 63 percent compared to Battlefield 6’s October debut, UK retail sales down 61 percent versus Black Ops 6, and a Steam player count peak of just 88,000 compared to last year’s 315,000. For the first time in the rivalry’s history, Electronic Arts [finance:Electronic Arts Inc.] can legitimately claim Battlefield beat Call of Duty in annual sales. The most damning evidence? Activision [finance:Activision Blizzard, Inc.] has gone completely silent.
Activision typically celebrates every Call of Duty launch with press releases touting player counts, sales records, and engagement metrics. Black Ops 6 was declared the biggest CoD launch ever in terms of players. This year? Nothing. The publisher shared only that they saw a great response, the kind of vague corporate speak that screams we’re trying to hide disappointing numbers. When the company that owns gaming’s biggest annual franchise won’t share any concrete data about its latest release, you know something went very wrong.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
According to GSD data tracking digital and physical sales across Europe published by The Game Business, Black Ops 7’s opening week sales were down more than 60 percent compared to the previous year’s Black Ops 6. The game still topped European charts for its launch week, but being number one while selling dramatically fewer copies than your predecessor isn’t the victory Activision wants to celebrate.
The comparison to Battlefield 6 is even more damning. Black Ops 7’s launch week sales came in 63 percent below what EA’s shooter managed during its own debut in October. This represents a historic shift in the shooter landscape. Call of Duty has dominated Battlefield in sales for over a decade. Even underperforming CoD entries like Infinite Warfare outsold successful Battlefield games like Battlefield 1. For EA to finally win an annual sales matchup required Call of Duty to completely collapse.
Steam player counts tell a similar story. Black Ops 7 peaked at just 87,909 concurrent players on launch day according to Steam Charts. Black Ops 6 hit 315,000 players when it launched. That’s a 72 percent decline on the same platform year-over-year. The argument that Game Pass cannibalized sales doesn’t hold up because Black Ops 6 was also available day one on the subscription service yet maintained much higher player engagement.
Battlefield’s Comeback Year
Battlefield 6 launched October 2025 to widespread acclaim after the disastrous Battlefield 2042 nearly killed the franchise. EA brought back what fans loved about Battlefield 3 and 4 while modernizing the experience with massive 128-player battles, destructible environments, and a return to military realism over the hero shooter mechanics that plagued 2042. The game peaked at over 480,000 concurrent Steam players and maintained 300,000 active users a month after release.
According to Ampere Analysis, over 25 percent of Call of Duty players in September picked up Battlefield 6 in October. That’s an enormous chunk of the core CoD audience defecting to the competition. EA wasted no time capitalizing, updating their website to declare Battlefield 6 the best-selling shooter game of 2025. For a franchise that spent years in Call of Duty’s shadow, finally claiming that crown represents vindication after the 2042 disaster.
The Game Pass Question
Black Ops 7’s inclusion in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at launch complicates sales analysis. Players can access the full game for $19.99 monthly rather than paying $69.99 upfront, inevitably reducing unit sales. Microsoft [finance:Microsoft Corporation] previously disclosed that Black Ops 6’s Game Pass availability cost approximately $300 million in lost console and PC sales compared to 2023’s Modern Warfare 3.
However, the Game Pass defense only goes so far. Black Ops 6 was also a day-one Game Pass title yet maintained significantly higher engagement and sales velocity. The year-over-year decline from one Game Pass launch to another suggests the problem isn’t the subscription service but the game itself. Players who wanted Call of Duty badly enough subscribed to Game Pass for Black Ops 6. They’re not doing the same for Black Ops 7.
Microsoft raised Game Pass Ultimate pricing to $19.99 monthly specifically to accommodate Call of Duty day-one releases. The company argued the value proposition justified the increase, pointing to Black Ops 6’s strong performance as evidence. Now with Black Ops 7 stumbling, that value proposition looks shakier. Why pay nearly $20 monthly when the games included don’t justify the cost and competitors offer better experiences at lower prices?
The Arc Raiders Factor
Black Ops 7 also faces unprecedented competition from Arc Raiders, Embark Studios’ extraction shooter that became 2025’s breakout hit. The game launched into early access and immediately captured player attention with its accessible take on the typically hardcore extraction genre. Arc Raiders peaked at 481,966 concurrent Steam players during Black Ops 7’s launch weekend, demonstrating sustained interest that overshadowed Call of Duty’s debut.
For the first time in franchise history, Call of Duty launched the same month as two major competitors and lost to both. Battlefield took the sales crown while Arc Raiders dominated player engagement and Twitch viewership. The landscape has fundamentally shifted. Call of Duty can no longer rely on brand recognition and annual release momentum to automatically dominate. Players have alternatives and they’re choosing them.
What Went Wrong
Black Ops 7 received middling review scores from media outlets and overwhelmingly negative user reviews on Steam. The campaign, designed around co-op multiplayer rather than traditional single-player, alienated players who prefer solo experiences. You can’t pause because it’s online-only. There are no AI companions when friends aren’t available. You get booted for inactivity. These design choices make sense for dedicated co-op but feel punishing for anyone trying to play alone.
The narrative itself disappointed despite being billed as mind-bending. Set in 2035 with a return to near-future warfare after Black Ops 6’s Cold War setting, the story failed to capitalize on its premise. Critics noted weightless plot twists, underdeveloped villains who barely appear until the final act, and low stakes despite world-threatening scenarios. The campaign ends without resolution, continuing into the new Endgame mode that locks story content behind additional grinding.
Multiplayer received mixed reactions. Some players praised improved maps and gunplay compared to Black Ops 6. Others argued that connection quality, killstreaks, and weapon variety all declined. The introduction of wall-running sparked debates about whether it added meaningful movement options or just copied tired mechanics from older games. Either way, the multiplayer failed to generate the widespread enthusiasm that could overcome campaign disappointments.
Technical Problems and Hackers
Launch window technical issues plagued the experience. Packet burst problems caused constant connection instability. Pop-in issues marred visual presentation despite generally solid performance. Most concerning, multiplayer lobbies filled with hackers immediately due to inadequate anti-cheat implementation. Players noted that after over a decade without reliable anti-cheat, the system included with Black Ops 7 still couldn’t match what Battlefield 6 shipped with at launch.
The one bright spot remains Zombies mode. Ashes of the Damned received widespread praise as one of the best Zombies maps in recent years, with many players arguing it’s the only thing saving Black Ops 7 from being a complete disaster. The round-based survival gameplay, intricate Easter eggs, and atmospheric design captured what longtime Zombies fans love about the mode. Unfortunately, one great Zombies map can’t carry an entire $70 game.
Activision’s Silence Speaks Volumes
Kotaku highlighted how unusual Activision’s post-launch communications have been. The publisher always shares celebratory player count and sales announcements following Call of Duty releases. Modern Warfare 3 was the best-selling game of 2023 despite lukewarm reception. Black Ops 6 broke franchise records for biggest launch by player count. Those victories got immediate press releases and social media campaigns.
Black Ops 7? Crickets. The lack of any concrete numbers suggests Activision knows the data looks terrible. You don’t hide good news. The vague great response statement feels like damage control from a publisher that understands the franchise just had its worst performance in memory and doesn’t want to draw attention to specific metrics that would make the failure undeniable.
Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard for $69 billion in 2023 specifically to secure Call of Duty for Game Pass and drive subscription growth. The acquisition faced intense regulatory scrutiny with the FTC arguing it would harm competition. Microsoft won approval by promising not to make Call of Duty exclusive and pointing to Game Pass as benefiting consumers through increased value and access.
The Strategy Backfires
Now FTC ex-chair Lina Khan has written that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision has been followed by significant price hikes and layoffs, harming both gamers and developers. The price hikes happened. Game Pass Ultimate jumped to $19.99 monthly. The layoffs happened. Microsoft cut thousands of Activision Blizzard employees despite promises to maintain studio autonomy. The harm to gamers materializes as Black Ops 7 stumbles while subscription costs rise.
Game Pass subscriber growth has stalled since hitting 34 million in February 2024, the last time Microsoft shared numbers publicly. The company refuses to disclose current subscription totals, another sign that growth isn’t meeting internal projections. If Call of Duty can’t drive Game Pass subscriptions while simultaneously cannibalizing traditional sales, the entire strategy Microsoft built the Activision acquisition around falls apart.
What Happens Next
Call of Duty won’t die from one bad launch. The franchise has survived worse and recovered. But Black Ops 7 represents something more concerning than typical franchise fatigue. This marks the first time Call of Duty lost its annual sales crown to Battlefield. The first time a major competitor launched the same month and dominated engagement. The first time Activision went completely silent about launch performance.
The question is whether Activision can course-correct or if fundamental problems with the annual release model have finally caught up. Players are burned out on $70 games that feel rushed and incomplete. Game Pass cannibalization reduces revenue while subscriber growth stalls. Competition from Battlefield and Arc Raiders proves alternatives exist that players will choose when Call of Duty disappoints.
Treyarch will likely support Black Ops 7 with post-launch content updates, balance patches, and seasonal content designed to win back players. Whether that’s enough depends on if the core game underneath is worth salvaging or if problems run too deep to fix with updates. The Zombies mode has a dedicated community that will stick around. Multiplayer needs work but could improve. The campaign’s design philosophy probably can’t be fixed without rebuilding it entirely.
FAQs
How bad were Black Ops 7 launch sales?
Black Ops 7’s European launch sales were down 63% compared to Battlefield 6 and down over 50% compared to Black Ops 6. UK retail sales dropped 61% year-over-year. Steam concurrent players peaked at just 88,000 versus Black Ops 6’s 315,000, representing a 72% decline.
Did Battlefield 6 outsell Call of Duty Black Ops 7?
Yes, according to EA’s official claims and GSD sales data. Battlefield 6 is the best-selling shooter game of 2025, marking the first time Battlefield has beaten Call of Duty in annual sales in over a decade.
Why hasn’t Activision shared player counts for Black Ops 7?
Activision typically shares celebratory announcements about player and sales figures for every Call of Duty launch. The silence regarding Black Ops 7 suggests the numbers are disappointing and the publisher doesn’t want to publicize poor performance.
Is Game Pass why Black Ops 7 sales are down?
Game Pass availability impacts traditional sales, but Black Ops 6 was also a day-one Game Pass title yet performed significantly better. The year-over-year decline from one Game Pass launch to another suggests the problem is the game itself rather than the subscription service.
What did reviewers say about Black Ops 7?
Black Ops 7 received middling review scores and overwhelmingly negative user reviews on Steam. Critics noted disappointing campaign design focused on co-op at the expense of solo players, technical issues, inadequate anti-cheat, and underwhelming narrative despite ambitious premise.
Is Black Ops 7 Zombies mode good?
Yes, the Zombies mode particularly the Ashes of the Damned map received widespread praise as one of the best Zombies maps in recent years. Many players argue it’s the only aspect saving Black Ops 7 from being a complete failure.
How many concurrent players did Black Ops 7 have on Steam?
Black Ops 7 peaked at 87,909 concurrent players on Steam at launch, compared to Black Ops 6’s 315,000 players. This represents a 72% decline year-over-year on the same platform.
What is Arc Raiders and how did it impact Black Ops 7?
Arc Raiders is Embark Studios’ extraction shooter that became a 2025 breakout hit. It peaked at 481,966 concurrent Steam players during Black Ops 7’s launch weekend, demonstrating that players chose the competitor over Call of Duty.
Conclusion
Call of Duty Black Ops 7’s disastrous launch marks a turning point for gaming’s biggest annual franchise. Sales down over 60 percent. Player counts collapsed by 70 percent. Beaten by Battlefield for the first time ever. Overshadowed by Arc Raiders. Activision so embarrassed they won’t share any concrete numbers. These aren’t just bad results. They’re historically awful for a franchise that has dominated the shooter genre for two decades. The reasons are obvious in hindsight. A campaign designed around co-op that punishes solo players. Technical problems and inadequate anti-cheat. Middling multiplayer that couldn’t overcome negative word of mouth. Launching the same month as two major competitors that both delivered better experiences. Game Pass cannibalization without the subscriber growth to justify lost sales. Most importantly, player fatigue with annual releases that feel rushed and incomplete. Black Ops 7 won’t kill Call of Duty, but it proves the franchise isn’t invincible. Players have alternatives and when Call of Duty disappoints, they’ll choose Battlefield or Arc Raiders or whatever else offers better value. Activision needs to figure out if the annual release model is sustainable or if fundamental changes are required. Based on Black Ops 7’s reception, players are telling them loud and clear: something needs to change. Whether Activision listens remains to be seen.