New ‘Call of Duty’ faces tough competition from ‘Battlefield’

AFP

London: The world’s best-selling war game franchise, Call of Duty, released its latest instalment on Friday, facing renewed competition from its longtime rival Battlefield, which recently achieved record-breaking sales.

The new title, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, takes players into a near-future setting where a special forces unit confronts a Nicaraguan terrorist threat in 2035.

For the past two decades, Call of Duty and Battlefield have dominated the first-person shooter genre, engaging millions of players in one of the gaming industry’s fiercest rivalries.

According to publisher Activision Blizzard, the Call of Duty series has sold more than 500 million copies since its debut in 2003, with several entries surpassing 20 million sales individually.

However, the decision to once again set the game in the future has raised some eyebrows among fans, as previous futuristic versions proved less popular.

Activision communications director Stephanie Snowden said Black Ops 7 removes gameplay elements that players disliked in earlier titles, such as jetpacks and wall-running mechanics, replacing them with a simpler “double jump” feature.

“Overall, it remains close to recent instalments while capturing the essence of the older titles to keep fans happy,” she said, noting that the storyline continues from Black Ops 2 and 6, reintroducing familiar characters and classic maps.

While some fans appreciate the franchise’s consistency, others believe it lacks innovation. “The franchise doesn’t innovate enough,” said Lou Martin, a marketing student who tested the game at Paris Games Week.

The release comes just weeks after Battlefield 6 shattered sales records following its October 10 launch. Publisher Electronic Arts (EA) said the title sold more than seven million copies in its first week—making it the biggest launch in the series’ history—and has since surpassed 10 million units sold, according to industry estimates.

The game’s success marks a strong comeback for the franchise after the underwhelming reception of Battlefield 2042 in 2021.

“I was planning to buy Black Ops at the end of the year, but Battlefield made me change my mind,” Martin added.

Despite the fierce competition, Call of Duty retains a loyal global fan base thanks to its signature multiplayer and zombie modes. “Even if there’s not enough innovation, I still prefer it to Battlefield, which is too complex for me,” said Reda Mbarki, a gamer in his thirties who tested the new title.

With both franchises pushing for dominance in 2025, industry analysts say the rivalry will continue to shape the future of first-person shooters and the broader gaming market.