Bobby Kotick Drops Bombshell: CoD Shipment Down 60% vs Battlefield 6
Former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick just dropped a financial bombshell that confirms what many gamers suspected: Call of Duty took a massive hit in 2025. In a new legal filing, Kotick revealed that the franchise’s latest entry is tracking 60% lower than the previous year, placing the blame squarely on intense competition.
The 60% Plunge: Black Ops 7 vs. The World
A massive drop in sales marks a historic low for the shooter giant. According to court documents filed in December by Kotick’s legal team, Call of Duty Black Ops 7 is “on track to perform over 60 percent below last year.”
Kotick attributes this freefall to “intense competition from titles like Battlefield,” referencing the resurgence of EA’s shooter franchise with Battlefield 6. This admission aims to dismantle the FTC’s previous arguments that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision would create a monopoly. If Call of Duty can lose 60% of its sales to a rival, the market is clearly competitive.
Data backs this up. In the UK, physical sales for Black Ops 7 were reportedly down 61% compared to Black Ops 6. In the US, Circana data placed the title as only the 7th best-selling game of 2025 through late November, trailing behind the chart-topping Battlefield 6.
Former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick claims in a legal filing Call of Duty sales in 2025 were 60% lower compared to 2024
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) January 14, 2026
COD “is on track to perform over 60 percent below last year because of intense competition from titles like Battlefield — destroying the FTC’s now defeated… pic.twitter.com/ZdHwCFiP0o
The CoD Lawsuit Details
This revelation surfaced during an ongoing legal battle with the Swedish pension fund Sjunde AP-Fonden (AP7). The fund sued Microsoft and Activision’s board in 2022, alleging Kotick rushed the $69 billion sale to escape accountability for workplace misconduct scandals.
Kotick’s defense is aggressive. He denies the allegations and floats a surprising theory: The Embracer Group (owners of Tomb Raider) is secretly aiding the lawsuit to weaken Activision’s grip on the California talent market. Embracer has flatly denied this, stating, “We did not and do not need any help… in competing with Activision.”
Why Gamers Left Black Ops 7
While Kotick blames Battlefield 6, the community cites a different culprit: an identity crisis. Players have long complained about “silly skins” and bizarre collaborations diluting Call of Duty’s military aesthetic.
Black Ops 7 refused to transfer content from Black Ops 6, frustrating veterans who invested heavily in the previous game. Meanwhile, competitors like ARC Raiders and a revitalized Battlefield stuck to grounded, gritty gameplay. Steam numbers reflect this shift; Black Ops 7 peaked at just over 100,000 concurrent players at launch, a fraction of the 315,000 seen by its predecessor.
Although some hope might come from the rumored arrival of the series on Nintendo Switch 2.
Verdict: Is Call of Duty Still Worth It?
The numbers look grim, but this crash might be the wake-up call the franchise needed. Treyarch has already begun rolling out changes for Black Ops 7, stripping back unpopular mechanics and adjusting the controversial SBMM (Skill-Based Matchmaking) in response to player feedback.
If you are a hardcore fan, the lower player count means a sweatier, more dedicated lobby. However, for the casual shooter fan, the market has spoken: Battlefield 6 currently offers the superior large-scale experience. Unless you find Black Ops 7 at a massive discount, it might be better to wait for 2026’s rumored Modern Warfare 4.
Do you think CoD can recover in 2026, or has Battlefield officially taken the throne?
A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !
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