After Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 sales struggle, Activision will slow pace of new releases

In multiple regions, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has suffered a shockingly poor retail performance. In the weeks after its release, it struggled to compete with shooters like Battlefield 6 and Arc Raiders. After failing to meet expectations, Activision is changing its release schedule for Call of Duty games. A blog post reveals that the publisher will “no longer do back-to-back releases of Modern Warfare or Black Ops games.”

In response to criticism of repetitive gameplay, the message has an apologetic but not defeatist tone. Despite the studio believing in the game, the company admits that it’s the opinions of fans that matter.

Previously, Activision had shipped multiple Call of Duty games during the same calendar year. However, recently, that pace has dwindled somewhat, as the company embraced a live-service model for the free-to-play Warzone. Even so, most years have seen either a new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare or Black Ops title.

Can Activision resist mass-producing shooters?

It’s unclear exactly how the publisher will handle its shooter sub-franchises going forward. The possibility of an annual schedule remains, but it seems likely there will be longer periods between release dates. The various development teams aim to “provide an absolutely unique experience each and every year.” Fans will have to wait for more updates to see how it may innovate the games going forward.

Despite the announcement, support for Black Ops 7 will continue for the foreseeable future. Gamers, unconvinced by the lackluster reviews, can soon try the multiplayer modes free of charge. Next week, a free trial is planned, during which players can earn double XP for their efforts. Activision also promises a steady flow of new content, following Season 01, which it called one of its largest updates yet.

Ironically, EA reportedly considered an annual release schedule for Battlefield at one point. With Black Ops 7 sales plummeting, it may reconsider that approach. The gap between Battlefield 2042 and Battlefield 6 proved long enough to build hype and deliver on expectations.