ARC Raiders‘ Explosive Debut Fuels speculation of Call of Duty’s decline
Stockholm, Sweden – November 13, 2025 – Just over two weeks after it’s launch, ARC raiders is generating significant buzz, not only for its own remarkable player numbers but also for a potential seismic shift in the shooter landscape. Reports indicate the free-to-play pvpve title from Embark Studios and Nexon has rapidly gained traction in Western markets, leading to speculation that it-alongside Battlefield 6-is eclipsing interest in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
The success of ARC raiders, which debuted October 30 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, is especially noteworthy given its comparatively weaker performance in China. The game reached over 700,000 concurrent players last weekend, and has already surpassed 4 million copies sold worldwide. This surge in popularity has ignited conversations within the gaming community, with some suggesting Black Ops 7 may struggle to gain a foothold.
Embark Studios celebrated the milestone on twitter,stating,”It’s been a little over one week since we opened up the tunnels for you to head Topside,and this past weekend we reached over 700,000 concurrent Raiders on the surface! 🥳 We’re so happy to have you all here!”
Industry observers are noting a potential paradigm shift. The combination of ARC Raiders’ open-world, science fiction setting, and team-based competition appears to be resonating with players. This momentum, coupled with the established success of Battlefield 6, is raising questions about the future of Activision’s flagship Call of Duty franchise.The gaming community is increasingly discussing the possibility that Black Ops 7 will fail to capture significant market share, perhaps becoming overshadowed shortly after its release.
