The rivalry between Battlefield and Call of Duty has been reignited, and this year’s matchup — Battlefield 6 versus Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 — has fans debating which shooter will dominate. 

After playing Battlefield 6 since its Oct. 10 release and spending plenty of time with the Black Ops 7 beta, it’s clear to me that Black Ops 7 will end up being the better game.

Here’s the thing: Battlefield 6 is fine. It’s not terrible, but it’s also not impressive on its own merits. People seem to love it mostly because it’s a return to form after Battlefield 2042’s disastrous launch. 

When expectations are that low, even a competent game looks like a masterpiece. The shooting feels solid, the destruction looks great and the maps are mostly well-designed — but nothing here truly stands out.

Even visually, Battlefield 6 has raised some eyebrows. Its mastery camo has become a meme, with many players comparing it to literal mud or far worse. 

It’s meant to reward skill and dedication, but when your ultimate cosmetic looks like something scraped off your boots, it’s hard not to laugh. 

Meanwhile, Black Ops 7 understands the importance of style. Its sleek weapon designs, striking color palettes and clear readability in combat balance flair with function.

Black Ops 7 feels like genuine progress. Nearly every change from past Call of Duty entries has been well-received. The removal of skill-based matchmaking and the return of persistent lobbies — both long-requested by fans — already feel like game-changing improvements. 

Small tweaks to movement and gunplay make the experience faster and more fluid, striking a balance between old-school energy and modern polish.

Even though the Black Ops 7 campaign hasn’t been fully revealed, there’s reason to be optimistic. Battlefield 6’s single-player mode has been met with very mixed reviews, often rated 4 to 6 out of 10, with some players saying it’s not even worth playing. 

That sets a low bar for Black Ops 7 to clear — especially given the series’ reputation for cinematic storytelling and emotionally charged missions.

Popularity doesn’t always equal quality. While Battlefield 6 might sell more copies or pull bigger numbers on Steam, that doesn’t automatically make it a better game. 

Call of Duty continues to dominate on consoles, and the rumored sales gap might reflect platform preference more than player satisfaction. 

As someone who’s preordered both and played extensively on console, Black Ops 7’s responsive controls, accessible matchmaking and tighter gameplay loop make it a smoother, more enjoyable experience overall.

That said, Call of Duty isn’t without criticism. Recent backlash has focused on over-the-top crossover skins, including infamous examples like “Beavis and Butt-Head” or “American Dad,” which many players felt clashed with the series’ military tone. 

Rumors suggest Treyarch and Activision have canceled some planned collaborations for Black Ops 7 to avoid similar backlash, and they even removed the “carry-forward” feature from Black Ops 6 to Black Ops 7 after negative reactions to these types of skins. 

While some may still argue the series risks becoming repetitive, these decisions show the developers are actively listening to feedback and refining the experience — which sets Black Ops 7 apart from Battlefield 6’s somewhat more inconsistent approach.

When it comes to presentation, Black Ops 7 pulls ahead. Its visuals are clean and readable, its sound design is sharp and its maps are purposely built for tight, engaging firefights. 

Battlefield 6’s large-scale battles and destructible environments are still impressive, but that focus on spectacle sometimes works against it. Matches can feel scattered and chaotic with less of the intensity and rhythm that make multiplayer shooters addictive. 

While DICE has already patched Battlefield 6 to speed up progression after backlash, Black Ops 7 still offers a tighter, more rewarding loop overall — one that naturally encourages you to keep playing rather than grinding. It’s a game that respects the player’s time without needing fixes to get there.

At the end of the day, both games are worth playing. Battlefield 6 delivers solid mechanics and a welcome return to form, but Black Ops 7 is the one truly learning from past mistakes. It doesn’t just look or sound better — it plays better, feels better and respects the player’s time more.

Battlefield 6 might be good, but Black Ops 7 feels great. And honestly, knowing me, I’ll probably end up liking Arc Raiders more than both of them anyway.

Whitford can be reached at [email protected].