Pre-orders for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 appear to be off to a slow start, according to data from the PlayStation Store. The next installment in the Call of Duty series is already facing heavy backlash from the community, and with Battlefield 6 poised to be a major hit, Black Ops 7 may need to pull out all the stops if it wants to maintain its dominance in the FPS market.
For the first time in four years, Battlefield and Call of Duty are going head-to-head this fall. While the ultimate winner won’t be known until after release, Battlefield 6 is off to a flying start. Publisher EA and developer DICE were forced to rebuild trust following the disastrous launch of Battlefield 2042 in 2021. Listening closely to fan feedback, the team has seemingly turned things around—the Battlefield 6 open beta broke franchise records, becoming the biggest beta in the series’ history.
Meanwhile, Black Ops 7’s momentum is noticeably weaker. Although no official numbers have been revealed, CharlieIntel spotted that Black Ops 7 is the first entry in the series not to top the PlayStation preorder charts after its announcement. Instead, Battlefield 6’s Phantom Edition and Standard Edition are outperforming Call of Duty on Sony’s digital storefront.
The difference in traction isn’t just limited to preorder rankings. Within days, the Battlefield 6 open beta overtook Call of Duty’s all-time peak concurrent players on Steam—topping 521,000 players, compared to Call of Duty’s record of around 491,000. For a beta to hit such massive numbers on a single platform is a huge achievement, and it’s a clear sign of revived excitement among FPS fans.
For years, Call of Duty has ruled the shooter genre and dominated global sales charts. But with low pre-order rankings, mounting fan criticism, and continued controversy over unrealistic cosmetic items in recent installments, the community seems to be turning toward a more grounded and immersive experience—something Battlefield 6 is ready to deliver.
As the two giants prepare for release this fall—Battlefield 6 on October 10, 2025, and Black Ops 7 on November 14, 2025—the stage is set for one of the most competitive FPS showdowns in recent history.