Hardware FixRecommendedDevice not working? Your driver may be the problemCheck updates for common hardware issues.Fix DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan Now×
Skip to content
VGSources
Blog

Does Black Ops 7 Have More Players Than Battlefield 6 or ARC Raiders?

The reported console lead was for the Call of Duty franchise, not Black Ops 7 specifically. Steam observations instead favored ARC Raiders and Battlefield 6, and no cited source supplies comparable all-platform counts.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Not on the evidence available. A December 2025 report found Battlefield 6 and ARC Raiders ahead of Call of Duty on Steam, while a US console chart ranked the broader Call of Duty franchise second behind Fortnite. That console result was not a player count for Black Ops 7 alone, so it does not establish that Black Ops 7 had more players than either rival overall.

What the reported comparison actually says

Notebookcheck’s December 2025 report compares different measures rather than presenting a single, like-for-like count across all platforms. Its Steam figures favored ARC Raiders and Battlefield 6 over Call of Duty at the time; its console comparison was a US engagement ranking for the Call of Duty franchise, not a standalone Black Ops 7 tally. Notebookcheck’s report therefore does not prove that Black Ops 7 had more players overall.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Steam numbers: ARC Raiders and Battlefield 6 were ahead

Notebookcheck reported that ARC Raiders’ Steam peak had exceeded 480,000 and that its peaks remained above 250,000 in the days discussed. Battlefield 6 was below 200,000, while Call of Duty was below 80,000. These are time-sensitive Steam observations described in the article’s December 2025 reporting, not a current ranking or an all-platform count.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

There is an additional scope issue: the reported Call of Duty Steam figure is not identified as a Black Ops 7-only count. Steam concurrent activity also excludes console players and activity on other PC distribution routes. Black Ops 7 launched on PS4, PS5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on November 14, 2025, and was available on select Game Pass plans at release. A Steam comparison cannot capture all of those players. Activision’s launch information lists the game’s platforms.

#1 Best Overall
Sale
Sonic Frontiers - PlayStation 5
  • Race across five massive overworlcl islands, each with their own unique action-platforming challenges and hidden secrets to uncover
  • Blaze a trail as you see fit and discover side quests, solve puzzles, scale enormous structures, go fishing, and encounter a firendly face or two along the way
  • Unlock Cyber Space levels featuring signature 3D platforming at Sonic speeds and a variety of challenges to test your skills like never before
  • Use the all-new battle system and skill tree upgrades, combining moves such as dodges, parries, counters, combos, and the new Cyloop ability to take down mysterious foes
  • Become Sonic and journey to uncover the mysteries of the remains of an ancient civilization plagued by robotic hordes

The console ranking was franchise-wide, not Black Ops 7 alone

For the US week ending November 29, 2025, Notebookcheck reported that Call of Duty ranked second on both PlayStation and Xbox behind Fortnite; Battlefield 6 ranked sixth, and ARC Raiders ranked lower. The report attributes the ranking to Circana’s player engagement charts, but the reported Call of Duty result covers the franchise and Call of Duty HQ, which bundles multiple releases. It cannot be read as a Black Ops 7-specific player count or as proof that Black Ops 7 alone outranked Battlefield 6 and ARC Raiders.

Streaming viewers are not players

Stream Hatchet’s Q1 2026 report tracks average viewers across Twitch, YouTube Gaming, Kick, and Facebook Live. It offers context about audiences watching streams, but viewers are not a count of people playing the games.

Rank #2
Crimson Desert: Standard Edition - PlayStation 5
  • Join Kliff, captain of the Greymanes, and his comrades as they embark on a relentless journey to defend Pywel and fulfill their mission.
  • Along your perilous path stands both dependable allies and countless foes who will stop at nothing to see your downfall.
  • Face trials to uncover the truth of the catastrophe looming over Pywel and restore peace to the continent.
  • Explore the mesmerizing landscapes of the continent where mystical beings, hidden treasures, and thrilling adventures await.
  • Pre-order to receive the Khaled Shield (Pre Order Code on Receipt). PS5 Editions include the Grotevant Plate Set DLC as a PS5 exclusive bonus. (In Pack DLC Voucher). Bonus DLC Includes: Grotevan Plate Helm, Grotevan Plate Armor, along with Grotevan cloak, gloves, and boots!
Game Streaming-viewer figures reported by Stream Hatchet What the figures measure
ARC Raiders Peaked at 170.7K average viewers in November 2025; held 105–120K through January and February 2026 Average viewers across Twitch, YouTube Gaming, Kick, and Facebook Live—not players
Battlefield 6 58.9K average viewers in October 2025, 14.4K in November, and 3.4K by January 2026 Average viewers across Twitch, YouTube Gaming, Kick, and Facebook Live—not players
Black Ops 7 40.9K average viewers at launch; around 18–20K into Q1 2026 Average viewers across Twitch, YouTube Gaming, Kick, and Facebook Live—not players

These values describe different points in time and a different activity from playing. They do not resolve which game had the most players.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Why there is no verified all-platform winner here

Steam publishes platform-specific concurrent-user statistics, and its statistics page was updated October 7, 2026. The inspected top-games table did not include these three titles, and Steam data cannot establish activity on consoles or a comparable total across platforms. Steam’s statistics page is useful for Steam activity, not a complete industry-wide count.

Rank #3
Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 - PlayStation 5
  • Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower.
  • This is signature Black Ops across a cinematic single-player Campaign, a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, and the epic return of Round-Based Zombies.
  • The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity. 
  • In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6. 
  • Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
  • Different coverage: Steam counts cover Steam; the reported console chart covers US PlayStation and Xbox engagement.
  • Different units: Steam concurrent peaks, console engagement rankings, and streaming viewers are not interchangeable.
  • Different Call of Duty scope: the console result concerns the franchise and Call of Duty HQ, not Black Ops 7 alone.
  • No shared all-platform measure: the cited sources do not provide same-date, same-definition totals for all three games.

As a result, the defensible conclusion is limited: ARC Raiders and Battlefield 6 were ahead of Call of Duty in the Steam comparison Notebookcheck described, while Call of Duty ranked strongly in the cited US console engagement chart as a franchise. Neither finding verifies that Black Ops 7 itself had the highest total player count.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 4
SaleBestseller No. 5
KontrolFreek Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Aim Boost Kit | Collector’s Edition for PlayStation 5 (PS5), PlayStation 4 (PS4) Controller | Orange and Black
KontrolFreek Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Aim Boost Kit | Collector’s Edition for PlayStation 5 (PS5), PlayStation 4 (PS4) Controller | Orange and Black
MADE FOR CALL OF DUTY - Officially-licensed Black Ops 7 design; EXCLUSIVE SINPER CASE - Holds Performance thumbsticks and Precision Rings
$24.99
Best Value
Sale
KontrolFreek Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Aim Boost Kit | Collector’s Edition for PlayStation 5 (PS5), PlayStation 4 (PS4) Controller | Orange and Black
  • MADE FOR CALL OF DUTY - Officially-licensed Black Ops 7 design
  • EXCLUSIVE SINPER CASE - Holds Performance thumbsticks and Precision Rings
  • INCLUDES IN-GAME ITEM - Comes with in-game weapon charm for Call of Duty Black Ops 7
  • PERFECT FOR FPS GAMES - Mixed-rise thumbsticks upgrade your aim and control
  • GET MORE CONTROL - Mid-rise left stick upgrades grip and movement
Rank #4
Sonic: Frontiers (PS5)
  • Race across five massive overworlcl islands, each with their own unique action-platforming challenges and hidden secrets to uncover
  • Blaze a trail as you see fit and discover side quests, solve puzzles, scale enormous structures, go fishing, and encounter a firendly face or two along the way
  • Unlock Cyber Space levels featuring signature 3D platforming at Sonic speeds and a variety of challenges to test your skills like never before
  • Use the all-new battle system and skill tree upgrades, combining moves such as dodges, parries, counters, combos, and the new Cyloop ability to take down mysterious foes
  • Become Sonic and journey to uncover the mysteries of the remains of an ancient civilization plagued by robotic hordes

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More quests from Patch Notes

  1. How to Set Up a RedM (RDR2) Server in 2026: License Key, txAdmin and server.cfg, Step by StepBlog11min
  2. Best RedM (RDR2) Server Hosting in 2026: Comparing Four Hosts on Slots, Memory and PriceBlog10min
  3. How to Host a Mindustry Server in 2026: server-release.jar, Port 6567 and the Commands That MatterBlog7min
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.