November witnessed an intense battle between gaming giants as Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launched, claiming the title of the best-selling game in the U.S. by dollar sales for the month. This triumph continues the series’ tradition of leading sales charts during launch month for 18 consecutive years. Yet, as the year draws to a close, it seems Battlefield 6 is poised to take the crown as the top-selling game of 2025 in the U.S.
A Tight Race in Gaming Sales
Recent reports indicate that while Black Ops 7 debuted as November’s best-selling game, it ranks seventh in the year-to-date sales, trailing behind Battlefield 6, which holds the top spot. Other competitors like NBA 2K26, Monster Hunter Wilds, Borderlands 4, EA Sports College Football 26, and Madden NFL 26 also surpass Black Ops 7 in sales. Despite Black Ops 7’s recent release, its presence in Game Pass has contributed to lower dollar sales on Xbox compared to its competitors, impacting its overall sales figures.
Challenges and Changes Ahead
Critics and fans alike have noted that Black Ops 7 is not matching the success of its predecessor, Black Ops 6, as reflected in review scores and European sales figures. Sources reveal that the franchise experienced a significant sales dip compared to the previous year, with Black Ops 7’s sales falling short of Black Ops 6’s performance during its launch. Observations suggest Battlefield 6 is “extremely likely” to finish as the best-selling game of 2025 in the U.S. Historically, Call of Duty has faced similar competition, with games like Hogwarts Legacy and Rockstar’s titles occasionally overtaking it in the charts.
Future of Gaming Releases
Faced with these trends, Activision is reportedly considering altering the release strategy for its Call of Duty series. Meanwhile, despite Battlefield 6’s successful launch, recent updates have caused significant gameplay issues across various platforms. It has been a challenging November for the gaming industry, with recent data showing that U.S. gaming sales experienced one of their weakest Novembers since 1995.