Battlefield 6 doesn’t seem inclined to raise its price to $80, seemingly tied to its imminent competition with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Although neither game has officially announced release dates, there are murmurs that Battlefield 6 will arrive in October, followed by Black Ops 7 in November.

Call of Duty and Battlefield represent two titanic franchises in the first-person shooter genre, with Call of Duty often leading not just in its category but throughout the gaming spectrum. Activision’s strategy of alternating developers permits an annual release of new titles, a luxury Battlefield cannot afford. The last release from EA, Battlefield 2042, was mired in crisis upon its launch in 2021. As EA strives to steer the franchise in a better direction with Battlefield 6, it appears tentative about taking risks against Call of Duty.

Many publishers hike prices this year, with Nintendo setting Mario Kart World at $80. Fans of several franchises, including Battlefield, expect outcomes similar to EA’s pattern during Battlefield 6’s reveal. Happily, CEO Andrew Wilson affirmed that the company’s games will stay at $70 for now to avoid alienating players during head-to-head competition with Call of Duty.

With growing discontent among Call of Duty players over extravagant cosmetic items and ongoing issues with hackers, it’s the right moment for Battlefield to capitalize.

As both new titles evolve, they are adopting distinct approaches regarding themes and gameplay style. While Black Ops 7 intends to retain its whimsical cosmetic skins for players, Battlefield 6 appears to favor a more grounded approach within its arsenal and character appearances. This difference could play a pivotal role as the Call of Duty community increasingly calls for realism in gameplay.

Although the timeframe is still early for both franchises, offering a $70 retail price, thorough testing through playtests, plus a realistic take on weapon aesthetics could set Battlefield on course to overtake Call of Duty.