More than ten days ahead of launch, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is facing some concerning early statistics, at least on paper. According to data from Alinea Analytics, Black Ops 7 has sold under 200,000 pre-order copies on Steam, while Battlefield 6 managed to sell nearly one million in the same time frame.

 

At first glance, this appears to be a worrying sign for Activision's flagship shooter, especially as Battlefield 6 continues to build momentum with the PC community. However, industry analysts warn that these early numbers only tell part of the story, and that Call of Duty's vast, multi-platform ecosystem may render such direct comparisons misleading.

 

Steam Wishlist Rankings Paint a Similar Picture

 

As Eurogamer reported, Black Ops 7 currently ranks at number 173 on the Steam wishlist chart, a sharp contrast to Battlefield 6's impressive number 3 peak during its prelaunch phase.

 

However, Vic Bassey, founder of Video Game Insights (VGI), explains why wishlist metrics can be a poor indicator of Call of Duty's success.

"Like FIFA, Call of Duty is a serialized franchise," Bassey says. "Most players don't need to wishlist it, they're already planning to buy it. It's a yearly ritual for millions of gamers who are locked into the ecosystem."

 

In other words, Call of Duty's habitual audience doesn't behave like the typical Steam user browsing for new games. Most of its loyal fan base will either buy through Battle.net, consoles, or digital bundles that don't show up in Steam analytics.

 

The Game Pass Factor and Missing Data

 

Another factor skewing perception is the Game Pass launch. Black Ops 7 will be available day one on PC Game Pass, meaning many players who would normally pre-order on Steam are instead waiting to play through their subscription.

 

Since Microsoft doesn't publicly disclose exact Game Pass download numbers, this creates a gap in available data. "You can't draw accurate comparisons between Battlefield 6's Steam performance and Black Ops 7's total reach when one is part of a subscription ecosystem," Bassey adds.

 

Additionally, Call of Duty's dedicated launcher complicates tracking. While Battlefield funnels nearly all PC players through Steam, Black Ops splits them across Battle.net, console storefronts, and now Game Pass.

 

Steam Followers Tell a Different Story

 

Despite the seemingly lower pre-order count, the Call of Duty franchise still commands massive attention. Data from VGI shows CoD has roughly 658,000 Steam followers, about double that of Battlefield 6.

 

This suggests that, while Steam sales may appear smaller, overall interest in Black Ops 7 remains high, particularly among long-time fans who have already purchased previous titles in the series.

 

Battlefield's PC Momentum and Call of Duty's Market Power

 

According to Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics, Battlefield 6 has already surpassed 10 million copies sold across all platforms, earning significant goodwill among PC players following the disappointing Battlefield 2042.

 

However, Elliott emphasizes that momentum alone won't be enough to dethrone Call of Duty.

"Battlefield resonates deeply with PC gamers," he explains, "but Call of Duty remains a multi-platform powerhouse. Its player base extends far beyond the PC market, covering consoles, mobile tie-ins, and now Game Pass integration."

 

Even if Battlefield 6 is currently winning over hardcore PC players, the Call of Duty franchise's broader reach ensures massive sales volume once Black Ops 7 launches.

 

The "Perception Problem" and Franchise Fatigue

 

Still, Elliott acknowledges that Black Ops 7 faces what he calls a "perception problem."

"Players feel like Call of Duty has leaned too hard into repetition and cosmetic monetization," he says. "It's viewed as predictable, while Battlefield 6 feels like a comeback story."

 

That perception might influence online sentiment, but likely won't affect long-term sales. Call of Duty's enormous casual audience, many of whom engage through Warzone, social media tie-ins, and cross-platform bundles, ensures that the game continues to dominate mainstream gaming spaces.

 

Even players who train in CoD BO7 Bot Lobbies or use CoD BO7 Boosting services to level up faster contribute to its ongoing ecosystem. These activities demonstrate the game's entrenched culture of competitive play, customization, and grind-based progression that keeps millions of players invested year after year.

 

Why Steam Numbers Don't Define Success

 

Elliott notes that Call of Duty's reach extends beyond raw sales figures. Through cross-promotion, seasonal events, and Warzone integration, every CoD release feeds into a broader ecosystem that keeps engagement high throughout the year.

 

"Even if Black Ops 7 looks weaker on Steam, its overall footprint is enormous," Elliott says. "Once the marketing machine ramps up and players start chasing battle pass rewards, sales will spike."

 

The use of CoD BO7 Bot Lobbies for skill training and CoD BO7 Boosting for rapid ranking reflect how deeply invested the community is in performance and progression. These systems, both formal and informal, sustain the franchise's long-term engagement in ways that Battlefield has yet to replicate.

 

Battlefield's Potential Threat in the Future

 

That said, Battlefield 6 is building positive momentum that could become a real challenge in the next few years. Elliott points to the upcoming Battlefield Portal and battle royale mode, which aim to tap into the UGC (user-generated content) and streaming markets.

 

"If EA delivers consistent updates and keeps the content cycle fresh," Elliott says, "we could see Battlefield evolve into a platform, not just a game. That's what Call of Duty has done successfully for years, maintaining engagement between mainline releases."

 

Still, he emphasizes that Call of Duty's brand loyalty remains unmatched. "Battlefield might be having its comeback moment, but Call of Duty is still the default choice for the mass-market player."

 

The Bottom Line

 

While Battlefield 6 currently leads in Steam preorders and wishlist rankings, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 operates on a completely different scale. Its integration across multiple platforms, Game Pass availability, and ongoing player engagement through CoD BO7 Bot Lobbies and CoD BO7 Boosting communities ensure its dominance will continue well beyond launch.

 

The early numbers may favor Battlefield on PC, but history suggests that once Black Ops 7 hits store shelves, and Activision's marketing machine goes into full gear, Call of Duty will once again prove why it remains gaming's most powerful shooter franchise.