Video game analysts indicate that Xbox has faltered during a crucial time, as the Call of Duty franchise shows underwhelming performance when compared to its history. The Call of Duty series has been a leading force in the first-person shooter market for over 20 years, but recent player engagement and reception for Black Ops 7 are notably lower than expected. Analysts suggest various reasons for this downturn, notably the influx of exciting new shooter titles in 2025.
Although Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, the latest installment in this franchise, launched on November 14 for multiple platforms including PlayStation and Xbox, it has not performed well after an entire month of releases. The season’s update on December 4 aimed to integrate it with its free-to-play counterpart, Warzone.
Activision, the game’s publisher, has not disclosed precise performance metrics; however, reports of insufficient player counts have emerged, with Steam suggesting it peaked at only 100,000 concurrent players post-launch. Yet, despite this, a recent post from the PlayStation Blog revealed that Black Ops 7 was a top seller on the PlayStation Network in November, surpassing rivals like ARC Raiders and Battlefield 6.
Analysts’ Concerns Regarding Call of Duty’s State in 2025
Despite its sales figures, analysts express concern about the year being particularly unfavorable for Microsoft’s release. Chris Dring of The Game Business and Rhys Elliot from Alinea Analytics provided insights into the decline of the franchise, emphasizing community fatigue and suboptimal choices made by Activision and Microsoft.
Elliot stated: “Call of Duty is facing a tough year compounded by user exhaustion, questionable decisions, and fierce competition.” He highlights the significant success of Battlefield 6 and ARC Raiders, both of which have captured substantial player interest and sales this year.
The community’s disillusionment stems in part from the lack of novelty in recent games, and while Black Ops 6 shattered sales records, the subsequent Black Ops 7 is yet to replicate this success. Microsoft’s decision to make Black Ops 7 available on Xbox Game Pass on launch day may have led to expected sales losses. Elliot claimed, “Our findings demonstrate that Game Pass typically detracts from revenues, and Call of Duty is no exception.”
