What's Happening?
Electronic Arts' Battlefield 6, launched on October 10, has sold over 7 million copies in its first three days, marking a strong debut. Despite this success, the game has not significantly impacted the player
base of Activision's Call of Duty series in the U.S. According to Circana executive director Mat Piscatella, Battlefield 6 ranks as the most-played game on Steam and holds positions #6 and #7 on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 consoles. However, Call of Duty HQ remains the #2 game on Xbox and PlayStation, showing no decrease in its player base. The Call of Duty HQ includes last year's Black Ops 6 and the free-to-play Warzone. Battlefield 6's free-to-play Battle Royale mode, REDSEC, launched on October 28, achieving over 500,000 concurrent players on Steam, but its long-term impact on Call of Duty remains uncertain.
Why It's Important?
The competition between Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty highlights the intense rivalry in the first-person shooter market. While Battlefield 6's launch numbers are impressive, Call of Duty's entrenched player base remains largely unaffected, underscoring the challenge new titles face in disrupting established franchises. The success of REDSEC could potentially shift momentum, but Call of Duty's historical dominance suggests it will be difficult to displace. The upcoming launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on November 14 could further solidify its position, especially given the success of Black Ops 6 as the best-selling game of 2024 in the U.S.
What's Next?
The gaming community is closely watching the impact of REDSEC and the upcoming release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Battlefield 6's performance post-launch updates and REDSEC's reception will be critical in determining its ability to challenge Call of Duty's dominance. The launch of Black Ops 7 could reinforce Call of Duty's market position, especially if it replicates the success of its predecessor. The ongoing competition between these franchises will likely drive innovation and responsiveness to player feedback, benefiting gamers with improved experiences.
