Summary
- Black Ops 6 faced backlash for using AI, expensive cosmetics, and poor maps, leading to record-low player numbers.
- Since launch, Black Ops 6’s player count plummeted, now averaging 55,126.1 on Steam, a stark drop.
- Despite a drop being expected post-launch, losing two-thirds of its average player count in under four months was unforeseen.
It’s been a tough few months for Call of Duty, mainly facilitated by issues with this year’s entry, Black Ops 6. The game faced backlash for using AI, has been constantly under fire for its expensive cosmetics, and its maps have been called some of the worst in franchise history. There’s been a near-constant barrage of negativity surrounding the title.
Ultimately, this led to Black Ops 6’s player count falling below Modern Warfare 3’s just a couple of months after launch, and it failed to recover, even with the launch of season 2.
Related
Call Of Duty SBMM Designer Admits System “Punishes Players For Being Good”
“SBMM takes away the sense of skill and mastery.”
While it looked like things couldn’t get any worse for the storied franchise, they have, with the game now hitting record-low player numbers on Steam since its launcher was released on the Valve-owned platform.
Call Of Duty’s Steam Player Count Has Never Been Worse Than It Is Now
When it launched, excitement was high around Black Ops 6. An Xbox Game Pass release meant it was accessible for new and lapsed players, and on Steam, it peaked at 313,313 users. That changed quickly, though.
Prior to today, the Call of Duty launcher’s lowest average player count on Steam sat at 55,145.6, according to SteamDB. This was back in September 2023. Fast-forward to now, and over the last 30 days, the player count has dropped by a further 10 percent, bringing the average down to 55,126.1.
Call of Duty’s average player count has dropped by a further 10 percent, bringing the it down to 55,126.1.
Naturally, some drop-off after the launch of a new title is to be expected. However, you have to imagine that even Activision couldn’t have foreseen the game losing over two-thirds of its average player count in less than four months.
With what is likely to be more than half a year until the next Call of Duty title is released, Activision will need to pull out all the stops to turn things around. Here’s hoping it won’t have wall-running like 2026’s entry is rumored to have.
- Released
-
October 25, 2024
- ESRB
-
Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs