Battlefield 6 Claims Top Spot as Best-Selling Game of 2025, Ending Call of Duty’s 23-Year Reign

The rivalry between Battlefield and Call of Duty has been a staple in the gaming world for nearly 23 years, akin to legendary matchups like Ares vs. Athena or Coke vs. Pepsi. For the first time in this long-standing battle, Battlefield has emerged victorious.

Industry analyst Mat Piscatella recently shared the best-selling video games of 2025 in the US, and in a surprising twist, Battlefield 6 has claimed the top spot, surpassing Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. The full list also features enduring favorites like Minecraft, Elden Ring: Nightreign, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which might have ranked even higher if digital sales from Nintendo were included.

In over two decades, no Battlefield title has ever outperformed a Call of Duty game on these charts—until now. Notably, since 2009, only three games have outpaced the annual shooter franchise in year-end rankings: 2013’s GTA 5, 2018’s Red Dead Redemption 2, and 2023’s Hogwarts Legacy.

This marks the first time since 2008 that Call of Duty has failed to secure at least second place, a year when Call of Duty: World at War faced tough competition from various Wii titles and GTA 4.

Franchise fatigue may be a factor in Black Ops 7’s underwhelming performance, compounded by its lukewarm reception. The latest installment currently holds ‘Mostly Negative’ reviews on Steam and has one of the lowest Metacritic scores in the series’ history.

In response to these challenges, Activision has announced a shift in strategy, stating, “We will no longer do back-to-back releases of Modern Warfare or Black Ops” to ensure a unique experience each year.