Call of Duty battles to stay on top

There are some things you can always rely on, and a new Call of Duty game coming out every year is one of them.

One of the biggest names in video games, the series needs no introduction.

According to publisher Activision, it has sold approximately 500 million copies. film adaptation is on the road, and despite being released in 2003, it is still firmly at (or near) the top of the annual bestseller charts.

But this year, the world's best military marksman may have to fight.

Battlefield 6, which was a huge hit for rival gaming giant Electronic Arts, has drawn attention away from its veteran rival.

And longtime Call of Duty fans are increasingly voicing concerns that the series will lose touch with its routes.

The clash of multiplayer titans comes at an interesting time for the creators of Call of Duty, who were forced to provide answers to Fans' concerns that the series is losing its way.

It has long offered players the opportunity to purchase “operator skins” that change the appearance of their characters.

They are a frequent source of brand crossovers, and previous designs have been based on stars such as footballer Neymar Jr., streamer NickMercs and rapper Nicki Minaj.

But when Activision unveiled skins based on '90s cartoon characters Beavis and Butt-head earlier this year, it sparked backlash.

Fans have accused the company of trying to emulate Fortnite, the enduringly popular multiplayer game known for its sometimes incredible crossovers that 2025 included pop star Sabrina Carpenter and an artificial-voiced Darth Vader..

Activision said that fan feedback was “on target” and that it took seriously complaints that the series was losing its identity.

It will also be released after parent company Microsoft. increased prices for Game Pass subscriptions by 20%angering many players.

When BBC News speaks with Lead Producer Natalie Pohorski and Senior Director of Communications Stephanie Snowdon, they are keen to discuss Black Ops 7's single-player story campaign.

The similar mode in Battlefield 6 was considered unsatisfactory by reviewers, and the Call of Duty teams are known for their ability to create explosive stories in their narrative modes.

The Black Ops portions of the series typically tell Hollywood blockbuster-style stories about secret agents uncovering vast conspiracies.

Black Ops 7 is a direct sequel to 2012's Black Ops 2, set in 2035 and telling a story involving a global terrorist threat and a shadowy big tech company.

Natalie says the “Black Ops identity” allows developers to explore themes that others can't.

“There are a lot of really interesting and timeless ideas… there are endless ways to explore them,” she says.

“And then we ask a lot of questions that can apply to any era—questions of trust: Can you believe what you see?”

Being one of the biggest names in the gaming industry also allows Activision to attract big-name talent to Call of Duty projects.

As for Black Ops 7, it includes Kiernan Shipka, best known for her role in the Netflix series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia.

Kiernan told BBC News that she knows about the huge success of Call of Duty and the expectations of its fans.

She says being involved was “honestly more exciting than anything else.”

“I love the fandom,” she says.

“And I think when something generates that kind of passion in fans over time, it means you're doing something really cool.

“The reaction will be what the reaction will be.

“If I let this in, it’s not good.”

As someone who played Call of Duty when he was younger, Milo says he's also aware of the fan standards.

“I mean, I hope I don't spoil it for anyone,” he says.

When asked if he thinks players are getting “tired” of the annual series, he said Black Ops 7 won't disappoint.

“I think this movie just blows the rest of us out of the water completely in terms of storytelling and where we're going,” he says.

But Call of Duty's campaigns, as well-crafted and explosive as they are, aren't the main reason players flock to the series every year.

The game owes its long-term success to the popularity of its multiplayer modes, and Black Ops 7's performance will be judged by how successful they are.

When asked if Battlefield's impressive player base influences their approach to development, Natalie and Stephanie insist that they are only focused on making Black Ops 7 “the best game it can be.”

As for what Battlefield can't offer, Stephanie says, without directly comparing the two, that Call of Duty can offer “variety and scope” of experiences.

“But in a broader sense,” she says, “I see games as a way for people to connect and have fun.

“They are definitely responsible for some great relationships in my life.

“I hope people continue to strengthen these bonds and connections and relationships and that many years from now there will be more of us playing together.”

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