Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Faces Troubling Pre-Order Numbers, Trails Battlefield 6
los Angeles, CA – November 8, 2023 – Ahead of its November 14th release, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is demonstrating substantially weaker pre-sale performance compared to its competitor, Battlefield 6, according to new data from Alinea Analytics reported by GamesIndustry.biz. The disparity raises questions about the future trajectory of the historically dominant Call of Duty franchise as player interest appears to be shifting.
The data, analyzing the 18 days preceding both titles’ launches on the Steam platform, reveals Battlefield 6 secured nearly one million pre-orders, while Black Ops 7 reached only 200,000. This ample difference, coupled with Black Ops 7‘s current position at 173rd on the Steam wishlist, indicates a potential lack of enthusiasm among PC gamers. The findings are particularly noteworthy given the ongoing debate surrounding Activision‘s direction for the Call of Duty series, with some fans expressing disappointment and others hoping for a return to classic gameplay.
While the report focuses solely on PC sales, and a portion of the Call of Duty player base utilizes consoles or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the initial numbers present a challenge for Activision.Battlefield 6 has already exceeded 10 million copies sold maintaining a consistent 300,000+ concurrent player base on Steam. Electronic Arts further bolstered momentum with the release of the free Battlefield RedSec mode, attracting a large influx of players.
Alinea Analytics’ head of market analysis, Rhys Elliot, cautions against premature conclusions, noting the enduring loyalty of the Call of duty fanbase. “The Call of Duty brand still has a huge base of loyal fans who buy a new version every year out of habit or the desire to continue playing Warzone,” Elliot stated. November sales data will be crucial in determining whether Battlefield 6 can truly surpass its long-standing rival.
