Battlefield 6 has taken the FPS scene by storm since its reveal, and as more details emerge, it’s already putting the hurt on Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Still reeling from various controversies, such as Black Ops 6’s Beavis and Butthead skins, Activision has tried to level the playing field with Black Ops 7, but the tone doesn’t seem to be landing so far. Battlefield 6’s unabashed references to the series’ tradition combined with its commitment to immersive, destructive gameplay is making it a tough challenger, but even after its latest announcement, there are still ways CoD can fight back.
The relationship between Call of Duty and Battlefield has always been one of rivalry. Famously, a decade ago, fans would hype this rivalry up each release cycle, declaring which they thought had “won” the year. As rivalries go, it seems to have mostly helped both franchises, generating excitement between the two communities as each wants their game to come out on top. However, some years have clearly seen some big shifts one way or the other, and the historical rivalry has fallen off in recent years with both BF5 and 2042 failing to move the needle of fan sentiment in that franchise’s favor. That was until Battlefield 6 came onto the scene, and now things are back on.
Battlefield 6 Will Feature Over 40 Weapons at Launch in Another Blow to Black Ops 7
With the rivalry properly back, there’s been a restored sense that EA and Activision are finding ways to one-up the other through little announcements, each one daring the other publisher to release more details. As part of the hype cycle, DICE confirmed that Battlefield 6 will have over 40 weapons at launch, showing that even from the get-go, there should be a lot of content for players to engage with. While the beta may not necessarily have this many, the Battlefield 6 beta’s maps and modes still make it the biggest Battlefield open beta. The number of available guns is really the cherry on top for BF6, and hopefully, many franchise favorites will be returning alongside some new ones making a name for themselves.
But that’s not all. After Battlefield 6’s open beta paves the way for the full launch, some leaks suggest that the game could have over 50 weapons to choose from. As BF6 will feature a seasonal model, it is possible that these extra weapons will be part of season 1, but they could also come from several weapons tested in Battlefield Labs being removed from the bench, either for tweaks or to prevent bloat, before being re-added.
The Battlefield 6 open beta early access period begins August 7, and full access is on August 9.
All of this is bad for Call of Duty Black Ops 7, which will feature approximately 30 guns at launch. This is a little disappointing by comparison, and feels a bit like the game being on the back foot in Call of Duty’s rivalry with Battlefield. Of course, quality can vary, and it may be that the smaller number of weapons means each one feels much more different to the last. Quantity and quality are different metrics, but ultimately, it should give BF6 players more room to choose a favorite.
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Has an Ace up Its Sleeve
Despite everything, there is an easy slam dunk for CoD that it could pull at any moment that Activision wants to drive buzz for the series. As Black Ops 7 is a direct sequel to Black Ops 2, there are plenty of weapons that could be reimagined from that game in the new one. Black Ops 2 is one of the best regarded Call of Duty games in the franchise, and surely some more veteran players would like to get to grips with some old favorite weapons.
