It’s November, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time for Call of Duty.
Black Ops 7 is the newest entry in the long-running franchise, and the early reviews are a little mixed.
To start, I can’t say that we’re the biggest fans of the fact that you cannot pause the game during its single-player campaign, which is an odd choice to say the least. Black Ops 7 isn’t a Soulslike, where that feature is expected.
Then there’s the fact that, as of writing, only 67% of critics recommend Black Ops 7 on Open Critic. It’s a far cry from the overwhelmingly positive reception of last year’s Black Ops 6, which Microsoft called the biggest Call of Duty release ever. Judging by the early returns, I don’t foresee them saying the same about Black Ops 7, especially since it feels like everyone is busy playing something else entirely.
As we head into the game’s opening weekend, the early returns aren’t good; Black Ops 7 has the worst-performing Steam launch in franchise history.
Battlefield 6, ARC Raiders, And Others Enjoy Healthy Player Counts While Black Ops 7 Is Flopping
As I write this, it is 7:43 PM on a Friday night on the East Coast. It’s prime video game time, and even though Black Ops 7 is the new kid on the block, no one seems all too excited about it.
Since the game’s launch, it has failed to break the 100,000 concurrent player count, according to SteamDB. By comparison’s sake, Battlefield 6‘s 24-hour peak is 271,000, while ARC Raiders has an even stronger peak at nearly 421,000. Of course, they’re all looking up at Counter-Strike 2, but comparing any Steam game to CS2 is cheating.
Now, as always, SteamDB is not the end-all be-all of how popular a game is. Steam is only tracking those who are playing Black Ops 7 on PC and using the Call of Duty app on Steam. Still, even based on that metric, it’s not a pretty picture.
PC gamers have other options to play the game, such as on Battle.net, where it not only tells me that the game is available now, but also recommends it to me.
Plus, countless console players on Xbox and PlayStation 5 are no doubt playing Black Ops 7 as we speak.
Still, things feel different this time around for Call of Duty. It’s seeing stiff competition from Battlefield for the first time in ages, and ARC Raiders is still one of the most popular games to not only play, but watch on Twitch; it’s currently pulling in more viewers than Black Ops 7.
One reason for the lack of interest in this year’s Call of Duty, aside from complaints about its campaign, is its use of generative AI. The game’s Calling Cards, once a point of pride for fans, is now using AI-generated art, and people are turned off from the game completely. Activision responded to claims of the game’s usage of AI with the following statement:
Like so many around the world, we use a variety of digital tools, including AI tools, to empower and support our teams to create the best gaming experiences possible for our players. Our creative process continues to be led by the talented individuals in our studios.
It felt like people were already looking for an excuse to skip out on Call of Duty this year and enjoy the other great games available this year. Black Ops 7 seems like it was happy to oblige in that regard.
- Security Camera Installation – indoor/outdoor IP CCTV systems & video analytics
- Access Control Installation – key card, fob, biometric & cloud‑based door entry
- Business Security Systems – integrated alarms, surveillance & access control
- Structured Cabling Services – voice, data & fiber infrastructure for new or existing builds
- Video Monitoring Services – 24/7 remote surveillance and analytics monitoring
Author: 360 Technology Group
