Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 European Launch Sales Trail Battlefield 6 by 63%

European launch sales for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 are dramatically lower than rivals, according to GSD sales data for Europe GSD sales data for Europe which tracks both physical and digital sales in markets including France, Germany and the UK. The data shows Black Ops 7 sold 63 percent fewer units in its debut week than Battlefield 6 and is at least 50 percent down on last year’s Black Ops 6.

Terrible launch for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 in Europe. The game sold 63% fewer copies at launch compared with Battlefield 6. It’s also more than 60% down over last year’s Black Ops 6. (Digital and physical sales) https://t.co/7EDOQsN1ck – Christopher Dring (@Chris_Dring) November 21, 2025

Those are ugly numbers for Activision even though Black Ops 7 still finished the week ending 16th November as the top unit seller in Europe. The gap between a franchise that has long been treated like an annual gimme and a competitor that returned in force this year will be hard for the publisher to ignore.

Steam metrics point to a similar story on PC, where Black Ops 7 peaked with far lower concurrent player counts than its predecessor. Activision’s public comment on the launch avoided offering performance metrics or context for the shortfall. Analysts and community voices are already circling likely causes, including changing marketing dynamics and the strength of Battlefield 6 in core markets.

Retail and chart tables show a crowded release window. Battlefield 6 has been particularly strong in the US, and Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 6 arrives on November 19, which will take up a huge chunk of attention and spending during the key holiday period. Expect publishers to consider aggressive discounts to claw back momentum over the next six weeks.

For readers who need practical details, we previously covered release times and preload information for Black Ops 7 Call of Duty Black Ops 7 – release times and preload info for November launch and how the game opens access to Endgame from day one Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will let everyone jump into Endgame from day one which matters for how long players stay engaged after launch.

European Top 10 Unit Sales (Week Ending 16th November)

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (Activision)
2. Anno 117: Pax Romana (Ubisoft)
3. EA Sports FC 26 (EA)
4. Battlefield 6 (EA)
5. Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Nintendo) *
6. Grand Theft Auto 5 (Rockstar)
7. Hogwarts Legacy (Warner Bros)
8. Ghost of Yotei (Sony)
9. Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar)
10. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (Deep Silver)

European Top 10 Revenue (Week Ending 16th November)

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (Activision)
2. Anno 117: Pax Romana (Ubisoft)
3. EA Sports FC 26 (EA)
4. Battlefield 6 (EA)
5. Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Nintendo) *
6. Ghost of Yotei (Sony)
7. Football Manager 26 (Sega)
8. Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Nintendo) *
9. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (Deep Silver)
10. Grand Theft Auto 5 (Rockstar)

* Digital data unavailable

Beyond the raw percentages there are tactical questions for Activision. Comment threads and market watchers have suggested that the absence of the kind of platform level marketing Call of Duty once received may be a factor. One commenter noted Sony moved considerable marketing support behind Battlefield 6 this year which could have shifted visibility in key markets. Whatever the mix of causes the immediate next steps for Black Ops 7 will determine whether this looks like a stumble or a lasting decline. Expect close tracking of US sales figures and holiday discounts aimed at driving player counts into January.

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