Look, I never thought I’d see the day when a new Call of Duty game wouldn’t absolutely dominate the PlayStation Store pre-order charts right after its reveal. But here we are with Black Ops 7, and honestly? It’s kinda wild to witness.
The Numbers Don’t Lie (And They’re Pretty Rough)
So get this – Black Ops 7’s Vault Edition is sitting at 6th place on PlayStation’s pre-order charts. SIXTH. That’s behind NBA 2K26, EA Sports FC 26, and even Metal Gear Solid Delta. For a franchise that usually crushes everything in its path, this is… well, it’s something else.
I’ve been following CoD releases for years now, and this just doesn’t happen. Usually when they drop a new trailer, boom – instant #1 spot. But not this time.
Why Black Ops 7 Is Struggling (It’s Not Just One Thing)
Game Pass Changed Everything
Here’s the thing nobody’s really talking about enough – Black Ops 7 is gonna be a day one Game Pass title. That’s huge, dude.
Think about it: if you’ve got both a PS5 and an Xbox (or PC), why would you drop $100 on the Vault Edition when you can play the exact same game through your Game Pass subscription? Campaign, multiplayer, Zombies – everything’s included.
I know tons of people with multiple platforms, and honestly, this makes total sense. Game Pass has been a game-changer (pun totally intended) for how people buy games.
The Release Date Situation Is Weird
November 14th. That’s when Black Ops 7 drops, making it the latest a mainline CoD has ever released. Meanwhile, you’ve got NBA 2K26 and FC 26 launching in September, and Metal Gear Delta dropping literally any day now.
People are more likely to pre-order stuff that’s coming out soon. It’s like when you’re scrolling through Netflix – you’re probably gonna watch something that just dropped rather than adding something to your “watch later” list for next month.
We Still Don’t Know Much About Multiplayer and Zombies
Okay, this one’s driving me crazy. They showed us the campaign trailer (which got ratio’d pretty hard, not gonna lie), but where’s the multiplayer reveal? Where’s the Zombies breakdown?
These are literally the modes most of us spend hundreds of hours in. The campaign’s cool and all, but I’m not pre-ordering a CoD game based on a 6-hour story mode.
The big reveals are coming September 30th at Call of Duty NEXT, so maybe that’ll change things. But right now, we’re basically buying a mystery box.
Battlefield 6 Is Actually Good This Time
Remember when Battlefield used to be CoD’s biggest rival? Those were the days. But after 2042’s… let’s call it a “rough launch,” Battlefield kinda disappeared from the conversation.
Well, guess what? They’re back, and Battlefield 6’s beta was actually pretty solid. Like, genuinely good. EA let everyone play for free with no strings attached, which was a power move.
There’s real hype around Battlefield again – something we haven’t seen since BF3 and BF4 days. And when you’ve got legitimate competition, suddenly CoD doesn’t look quite so dominant.
Black Ops 6’s Rocky Road Didn’t Help
Let’s be real for a sec – Black Ops 6 started strong but kinda lost its way. Those cartoon character skins everyone’s been complaining about? Yeah, they really don’t fit the Black Ops vibe at all.
When you’re expecting gritty Cold War espionage and instead get Nicki Minaj running around with an AK-47, it breaks the immersion just a bit. The updates haven’t been hitting the same way either, and fans remember this stuff.
The Real Question: Is CoD’s Crown Slipping?
Here’s where things get interesting. This might be the first real sign that Call of Duty’s “too big to fail” status isn’t as guaranteed as we thought.
Don’t get me wrong – Black Ops 7 will probably still be one of the best-selling games of 2025. The CoD machine is too powerful to completely crash and burn. But the automatic dominance? That might be ending.
What This Means for Gamers
Honestly? Competition is good for us. When CoD had zero real competition, innovation slowed down. Now with Battlefield making a comeback and Game Pass changing how we buy games, Activision actually has to try harder.
That usually means better games, more features, and devs who actually listen to feedback instead of just printing money.
The Comeback Is Still Possible
Here’s the thing though – Black Ops 7 hasn’t really had its moment yet. The multiplayer beta doesn’t start until October, and once people get their hands on it, opinions could totally flip.
I’ve seen this before. Remember how everyone was skeptical about Warzone before it launched? Then it became the biggest thing in gaming for like two years straight.
The September 30th reveal could change everything. If they nail the multiplayer showcase and the Zombies mode looks fire, those pre-order numbers might skyrocket.
Bottom Line
Look, I’m not writing CoD’s obituary here. The franchise is still massive, and Black Ops 7 will probably make bank regardless. But this pre-order situation shows that nothing lasts forever in gaming.
Maybe it’s time for some fresh blood in the FPS scene. Maybe CoD needed this wake-up call to push themselves harder. Either way, 2025 is shaping up to be one hell of a year for shooters.
And honestly? I’m here for it. Competition breeds innovation, and after years of CoD just coasting, it’ll be interesting to see how they respond to actually having to fight for that #1 spot again.
What do you think? Are you pre-ordering Black Ops 7, or are you waiting to see how it stacks up against Battlefield 6? Let me know in the comments below.
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