WhileBattlefieldtook 2024 off to rebuild afterBattlefield 2042’s poor reception, the series is gearing up for a comeback - and with that comeback will come a new chapter in the series’ storied rivalry withCall of Duty. Whether it is debates between players online, individual developers poking fun at the competition, or insults aboutCoDbeing baked into the DNA of theBad Companysubseries, there has been a consistent back-and-forth between the two FPS properties for years. Sometimes,Battlefieldgets the edge, like withBattlefield 1andInfinite Warfarein 2016. Other times,Call of Dutyhas a leg up, like whenBlack Ops 4’s Blackout outclassedBattlefield 5’s Firestorm in 2018. No matter what, though, in years when both series have something to drop, the competition is fierce.
This time around, the heavily player-testedBattlefield 6will be facing off withBO2successorBlack Ops 7, and the competition is already heating up. Treyarch recently leaked a 20v20 multiplayer mode for its newBlack Opstitle, which will beCall of Duty’s latest attempt at stealingBattlefield’s thunder. This, combined with a 2030s setting forBlack Ops 7that will surely be close toBattlefield 6’s own time period, means that comparisons are inevitable. However, one area where the games are sure to differ is in their campaigns, asCall of Duty’s co-op story mode instantly sets it apart fromBattlefield 6’s traditional single-player approach. GivenCall of Duty’s turbulent history with co-op campaigns, though,Battlefieldmay be teeing itself up for an easy win just by keeping things simple.
Call of Duty’s Co-Operative Hits and Misses Work in Battlefield’s Favor
WhileCall of Dutyhas achieved unparalleled success with itsCoDZombies survival mode, its other co-op experiments have been a mixed bag. The original version of Spec Ops fromModern Warfare 2and3was solid, as wasMW3’s Survival, but the rebootedModern Warfaregames fumbled the concept. Co-op campaigns have been similarly mixed, as seen with:
With one canceled co-op campaign, one that received mixed reception, and one popular attempt over 16 years ago, there’s good reason to be concerned aboutBlack Ops 7’s campaign. Fans are already worried that the mode will re-use thescrappedWarzonemap Avalon, featuring content that is more likeMW3’s despised open-combat missions than a traditionalCall of Dutylevel. While it remains to be seen if this is what the co-op campaign will be like, as there is still a chance it satisfies players, there is clear risk attached to whatBlack Ops 7is doing. With that in mind, thoughBattlefield 6offering a traditional single-player campaign is unlikely to lead to much innovation, it could still be a solid shooter experience that’s visually stunning. And ifBlack Ops 7fumbles its co-op campaign, then that’ll be enough to win this part of the war.
Battlefield’s Single-Player Campaign Has Another Ace Up Its Sleeve
While its story mode being a solitary experience could turn out to be inBattlefield 6’s favor, another benefit could be its grounded military focus. Based on the reveal teaser forBlack Ops 7’s campaign, which was full of mind-bendingAlan Wake-like visuals, it can be assumed that this year’sCoDcampaign will be packed with trippy storytelling. For many, this has been a strength of recentBlack Opsgames, with some of the best missions inBlack Ops Cold WarandBlack Ops 6straying from traditional battlefields. However, not everyone is looking for this kind of content from military FPS games likeCall of Duty. As such,Battlefieldcould provide a viable alternative, giving fans a campaign full of realistic warzones as opposed to subverting expectations.
With onlyleakedBattlefield 6footageto go off of for its campaign, and a CGI reveal teaser available forBlack Ops 7, fans can only speculate about what the modes will be like. With the official details that are confirmed for the latter, though, it’s clear thatBattlefieldis in a position to succeed just by doing what it’s expected to do with its campaigns. UnlessBlack Ops 7manages to hit a home run with its hallucination-filled co-op campaign, batting for bases likeBattlefield 6is seemingly poised to do could turn out to be the better choice.
