Battlefield 6 has a mountain of hype — and this data shows it might have a chance at seriously denting Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 this year

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Battlefield 6 is on the horizon, and it looks absolutely fantastic.

In response to the somewhat lackluster reception of Battlefield 2042, DICE and EA have decided to revisit their design plans for Battlefield 6, focusing more on elements that made the series popular initially. This includes a renewed emphasis on a class-based system, a shift towards realistic contemporary warfare with extensively destructible environments, and a commitment to creating grounded and immersive skins – an aspect that seems to be particularly significant.

Battlefield 6 is set to debut on October 10, 2025, and will be available for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Windows PC. Fingers crossed, it promises to bring the franchise back to its glory days. This release coincides with growing debates about its main military shooter rival, Call of Duty, as opinions become more divided.

Over time, Call of Duty has introduced an array of eccentric and comical character skins into the game, which some argue undermines immersion to encourage spending from enthusiastic users. Critics may point out a decline in gaming experience, yet this hasn’t deterred millions who continue to embrace it — as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was the most successful installment yet in the series.

But could change be on the horizon?

Lately, I’ve been checking out the popularity trends on social media and search engines for both Call of Duty and Battlefield. It appears that the gaming community is showing a greater-than-usual level of curiosity about what Electronic Arts (EA) has in store for them.

Battlefield overtakes Call of Duty in search, but only briefly

search queries on the web continue to generate a significant amount of internet activity, yet an increasing share is shifting towards social media and innovative AI tools such as ChatGPT. Nevertheless, it remains a valuable barometer of trends, and tends to align quite closely with what users are seeking on TikTok and other similar platforms.

Over the last month, search terms related to Battlefield have taken over those for Call of Duty. This shift became particularly noticeable during the initial teaser for Battlefield 6 and even more so after its full reveal. The pattern is also visible on YouTube, where Battlefield’s popularity has consistently grown above that of Call of Duty following each new trailer release, with Call of Duty maintaining a steady, unchanging level of interest.

It’s worth noting that Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 are both part of different series within the larger gaming landscape. However, if we were to compare them directly, how does Battlefield 6 fare against Call of Duty: Black Ops 7?

It seems that searches related to Black Ops 7 and similar terms aren’t getting much attention, except for a brief spike following the trailer Microsoft unveiled during the Xbox Showcase 2025. So far, Microsoft and Activision have been keeping a low profile when it comes to promoting Black Ops 7, with a complete reveal scheduled for Gamescom 2025.

In terms of popular searches related to Call of Duty, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 continues to lead, but searches for Call of Duty: Mobile and earlier versions within the franchise also make up a significant proportion of the overall queries.

It’s clear at the moment that Battlefield 6 is dominating search results compared to Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Black Ops 6. However, this could shift by the time we reach Gamescom 2025.

As I write this, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s YouTube teaser trailer has amassed an impressive 40 million views and counting, with a viewing period of nearly two months. Despite this massive popularity, the game’s direction has sparked divided opinions among its userbase, as evidenced by its 1.5:1 like to dislike ratio.

In simpler terms, the ongoing conversation about Call of Duty’s unusual character skins, pop culture references, and excessive celebrity appearances has left many gamers yearning for a more realistic experience. Battlefield 6 is capitalizing on this by promising that their character skins and cosmetics will be based on events within the game’s own universe.

The YouTube multiplayer reveal for Battlefield 6 has been viewed 9.2 million times within ten days, while the multiplayer trailer garnered 4.3 million views in just three days. Notably, both trailers have a more favorable like-to-dislike ratio on YouTube compared to Call of Duty’s, although it’s important to remember that likes and dislikes do not necessarily reflect a game’s sales success at retail. In fact, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, which had one of the most disliked trailers ever, still managed to sell over 12 million copies during its lifetime and was one of the top-selling titles in 2016.

Looking forward to repeating the analysis once Call of Duty reveals its multiplayer trailers at Gamescom 2025, which should make for an exciting comparison.

Can Battlefield take on Call of Duty?

Is this story as timeless as the classics, or perhaps only since the mid-90s? Can any game, no matter how new, unseat Call of Duty from its throne?

Year after year, Call of Duty has transformed into an unwavering tradition, captivating gamers with its smooth gameplay and enticing advancement mechanics for numerous years. Numerous games have attempted to dethrone it, but only Battlefield, another epic AAA military shooter, appeared to pose a genuine challenge over the years.

It’s clear that there are notable differences between Call of Duty and Battlefield at their core. Battlefield tends to offer a more strategic, squad-focused experience across expansive, grand landscapes, while Call of Duty emphasizes rapid-fire action, delivering you into the fray swiftly. However, despite these distinctions, they share a similar gaming category, and both demand considerable time investment to unlock weapons and other items.

It’s likely that numerous gamers, including myself, will be immersed in both Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 during this festive season. Given that the latter is set to debut on Xbox Game Pass, my enthusiasm is even higher. However, as we all know, trends come and go. Call of Duty has built a reputation for continuous innovation, adapting to and setting industry trends. Lately, though, I can’t help but feel that its foray into neon-themed skins reminiscent of Fortnite and various crossovers might be fueling a sense of weariness among fans.

It’s unlikely that Battlefield 6, no matter how flawless it might be, could transform the playing habits of millions who are fond of Call of Duty for its unique qualities. However, I’d be content if Battlefield could at least nudge Call of Duty a bit, encouraging it to revisit the elements that initially made it so popular. A healthy dose of competition is always beneficial.

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2025-08-04 17:42