Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Trails Battlefield 6 in Pre-Orders Ahead of Launch

Battlefield 6 Outpaces Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 in Pre-Orders

A recent analysis featured in GamesIndustry. Biz, using data from Alinea Analytics, reveals that Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is significantly lagging behind Battlefield 6 in pre-order sales on Steam. The report highlights a concerning disparity as the launch approaches.

Pre-Order Sales Comparison

Within the 18 days leading up to their respective launches, pre-order figures show that Battlefield 6 has amassed nearly one million sales, while Black Ops 7 has only secured around 200, 000. This stark contrast underscores a potential lack of enthusiasm among players for this latest installment of the iconic franchise.

The situation appears even more challenging when considering Eurogamer’s report indicating that Black Ops 7 holds the 173rd position on Steam wishlists. Such data paints a picture of a gaming community that may not be eagerly anticipating this year’s release.

Caveats and Considerations

It’s important to note several caveats in this analysis. Pre-orders from platforms other than Steam and console sales are not captured in these figures. Furthermore, many players subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate may opt out of pre-ordering since they will have immediate access at launch. Despite a recent price increase in the subscription service, this demographic represents a segment of the player base that does not contribute to pre-order numbers.

While Battlefield 6 has demonstrated impressive performance, including retaining a concurrent player count surpassing 300, 000 on Steam, and achieving over 10 million copies sold since its release, it’s crucial to consider the context. Notably, last year, Call of Duty benefited from its debut on Xbox Game Pass, complicating direct comparisons.

The Ongoing Competition

Despite the current trends, dismissing Call of Duty would be premature. As highlighted by Rhys Elliot, head of market analysis at Alinea Analytics, “Call of Duty has an entrenched global audience across consoles and PC – including more casual gamers – that purchases the game each year out of habit and brand loyalty.”The franchise’s stronghold over casual players, coupled with its integration with Warzone, offers significant marketing advantages that keep the game in the spotlight.

Elliot further states that, “Even if Black Ops 7 feels less exciting to us and the enthusiast media, the sheer reach of Call of Duty’s ecosystem – through cross-promotion and content cycles – guarantees massive sales volume once the game launches.” This established brand confidence could lead to a turn of tides post-launch.

Looking Ahead

The ultimate test will come when sales figures for November 2025 are released, alongside player engagement data from industry analysts such as Newzoo and Circana. Whether Battlefield 6 manages to outsell Black Ops 7 will likely depend on the ongoing engagement and quality of content delivered to players.

Today, Battlefield 6 launched its Season 1 update, introducing new weapons, vehicles, and a significant battle royale mode called Battlefield REDSEC, designed to compete directly with Call of Duty: Warzone. Early reports indicate a successful launch, with over 500K concurrent players on Steam.

If this momentum continues, even if Battlefield 6 doesn’t surpass Black Ops 7 in absolute sales, it may very well win the perception battle, signaling that players are eager for alternatives beyond Call of Duty.

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