A gaming industry analyst has indicated that gaming enthusiasts’ annual buying habits may have solidified Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s triumph over EA’s Battlefield 6. Recently, excitement around the rivalry between these franchises has been escalating, but it appears that Call of Duty’s annual consistency might have given Black Ops 7 an advantage.

It wasn’t always clear that Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 would maintain this edge. Just days prior, Battlefield 6 seemed to be outpacing pre-orders compared to Black Ops 7. However, this could be influenced by Black Ops 7’s upcoming availability on Xbox Game Pass.

Annual Purchasers Likely Secured BO7 Sales Lead Over BF6

Analyst Rhys Elliott foresees that Black Ops 7 will retain its dominance against Battlefield 6, asserting that Battlefield “almost certainly won’t outsell Call of Duty.” He explains, “Call of Duty is an annual ritual. Tens of millions of players, many of them casual gamers, buy the newest CoD every year without hesitation. This ‘autopilot purchasing’ habit is decades deep.” This predictability anchors Call of Duty’s sales base, even amidst potential concerns about stagnation in the series. There are signs suggesting that pre-orders for Black Ops 7 are gaining momentum, aligning with Elliott’s projections.

Additionally, he notes that Warzone leverages free marketing for Black Ops 7 through in-game promotion, a strategy that Battlefield lacks in scale. Elliott does acknowledge that Call of Duty may need to evolve beyond its current formula to maintain its market position.