Xbox and PlayStation users continue to flock to Call of Duty as the most-played game, following a successful free trial weekend
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 continues to dominate the gaming landscape, holding the top spot on most-played charts for both Xbox and PlayStation consoles [1][2]. Despite the integration with Call of Duty: Warzone, which has been met with criticism due to performance issues and gameplay bugs, the game remains a favourite among players [1].
Miles Leslie, a director for Call of Duty at Treyarch, has spoken highly of the Game Pass effect for Black Ops 6, stating that it has allowed players who were on the fence or had friction to come back and try the game [3]. This sentiment is reflected in the game's sales charts, where it continues to hold a strong position [4].
Marvel Rivals and Fortnite occupy the second and third positions in the most-played Xbox games for the week, with Roblox and NBA 2K25 rounding out the top five on PlayStation [1][2]. Interestingly, Call of Duty HQ, the launcher shared by the last three premium COD titles and Warzone, is part of a bundle with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 [5].
The integration of Black Ops 6 with Warzone, which began on November 14, 2024, introduced new mechanics such as the omnimovement system from Black Ops 6 into Warzone. However, this integration has been widely criticized by players, especially on Xbox and PlayStation consoles, due to significant performance degradation, audio issues, and gameplay bugs [1]. Despite these challenges, players continue to get into Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 [2].
Activision's Raven Software and Infinity Ward are working on updates to fix these problems, but the current state has frustrated many on both platforms [1][2][3]. In a bid to engage players further, Activision has begun promoting a new limited-time event that includes a crossover between Black Ops 6 and Netflix's Squid Game Season 2 [6].
On the PC platform, Call of Duty HQ saw a 24-hour peak of 103,356 concurrent players, according to SteamDB.info [5]. Additionally, a new, premium "Event Pass" microtransaction has been announced for the Squid Game event [6]. Despite the challenges faced during the season 1 launch, which has been marred by underperforming cheat mitigation efforts and other performance issues, the game's popularity remains undeterred [7].
References:
- Integration Challenges Affect Warzone's Player Base
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Remains Most-Played Game
- Leslie Discusses Game Pass' Impact on Black Ops 6
- Black Ops 6 Continues to Hold Top Spot on Sales Charts
- Call of Duty HQ's PC Peak and Bundle with Black Ops 6
- Squid Game Event Announced for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Players Frustrated with Black Ops 6's Season 1 Launch
- Miles Leslie, a director for Call of Duty at Treyarch, acknowledges the positive impact of Microsoft's Game Pass on Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, enabling more players to experience the game on PC and Xbox consoles.
- In addition to Call of Duty: Warzone, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is available on PC, offering entertainment for gamers using Windows operating systems.
- Activision is collaborating with Netflix to provide a Squid Game crossover event in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, appealing to a wider audience that includes Xbox and PC gamers.
