Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Beta Underperforms in Early Access
The highly anticipated early access beta for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has officially begun, but initial performance indicators on both Steam and Twitch suggest a lukewarm reception. Compared to its competitor, Battlefield 6, Activision's latest shooter is notably behind in player engagement and viewership figures.
On Valve's Steam platform, the peak concurrent player count for Call of Duty's beta hovered below 75,000 users over a 24-hour period. It's important to note that this figure includes players across Warzone and Black Ops 6, meaning the standalone numbers for Black Ops 7's beta are likely even lower. In stark contrast, during its own early access phase, Battlefield 6 managed to attract approximately 335,000 concurrent players. While the Black Ops 7 beta is set to open to all players on October 5, it's difficult to imagine it catching up to its rival's early performance.
Twitch Viewership Also Lags Behind
The situation on Twitch mirrors the Steam performance. The Black Ops 7 beta saw a peak viewership of just over 200,000 concurrent viewers. This is a significant gap when compared to Battlefield 6, which drew more than half a million viewers during a similar period. The noticeable disparity has sparked widespread discussion among fans online.
What's Behind the Disappointing Numbers?
Following the Call of Duty NEXT presentation, opinions on Black Ops 7 have been divided. Many players feel that the new installment doesn't offer enough innovation, perceiving it as more of a DLC (downloadable content) for Black Ops 6 rather than a full-fledged new title. This sentiment echoes the reception of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III in 2023, which faced similar criticisms.
However, it's not all negative. Some long-time Call of Duty enthusiasts have praised the game's dynamic gameplay and impressive movement mechanics. Others, driven by habit and loyalty to the franchise, are likely to purchase the game regardless of beta performance or initial impressions.
In recent years, a growing sentiment of 'CoD fatigue' has emerged among gamers. The franchise's annual release schedule, coupled with often controversial new features and design decisions, has gradually worn down its dedicated audience. Now, with Battlefield making a strong return with what appears to be a robust new numbered entry, Activision faces the genuine risk of losing its long-held dominance in the first-person multiplayer shooter genre to its competitor.
Looking Ahead: The Battle for FPS Supremacy
Whether this marks a significant shift in the landscape of multiplayer shooters remains to be seen this autumn. Battlefield 6 is poised to hit the market starting next Friday, while Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is set for release on November 14, coming to PC (Steam, Microsoft Store, Battle.net), Xbox, PlayStation platforms, and Xbox Game Pass. The coming months will reveal which title ultimately captures the hearts and screens of the global gaming community.
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