Bobby Kotick FINALLY Admits the Truth: Black Ops 7 Sales COLLAPSED 60%

Kotick's Revelation on Call of Duty Sales

• 💡 Former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick admitted in a legal filing that Call of Duty sales for 2025 (Black Ops 7) are down 60% compared to 2024 (Black Ops 6).
• 📌 This admission confirms long-held suspicions among fans that Black Ops 7 is significantly underperforming.
• 📈 Activision had previously stopped reporting sales numbers and player counts, a practice that was once a source of pride for the company.

The Role of Legal Battles and Competition

• ⚖️ Kotick's admission was made during lawsuits related to Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision, specifically to counter claims of monopoly by the FTC.
• 🎯 He used the 60% sales drop to argue that Call of Duty faces intense competition, citing titles like Battlefield 6.
• 🔑 This legal maneuver served to protect Kotick and Activision from accusations of being an unstoppable monopoly.

Inflated Player Counts and Franchise Support

• 📊 Call of Duty's reported high active player counts are attributed to "Call of Duty HQ," which combines players from Black Ops 7, Black Ops 6, and Warzone.
• 🎮 This system also includes players on old-generation consoles (PS4, Xbox One), further inflating overall statistics.
• 🚀 The free-to-play Warzone is identified as the primary reason for the franchise's continued relevance and the perceived success of games like Modern Warfare 2019.

Developer Decline and Franchise Direction

• ⚠️ The speaker believes the once-reliable Treyarch development team has declined, especially after Vanderhaar's departure.
• 💬 Modern Warfare 2019 is cited as the game that "ruined the franchise" for many long-time players.
• 📉 Despite community feedback, the speaker suggests that Infinity Ward, developing Modern Warfare 4, is unlikely to listen to the player base.

Implications for Call of Duty's Future

• 📉 Black Ops 7 ranked #7 in downloaded games on PlayStation 5 in 2025, with Black Ops 6 at #11, indicating a significant drop in popularity.
• 🚨 The 60% sales drop is seen as a "warning sign" for the franchise, despite Activision's "gaslighting" with vague positive statements.
• 🔮 The speaker questions whether Call of Duty can recover its former juggernaut status or if this marks the beginning of its decline.