Gamers, brace yourselves because the battlefield just shifted! Arc Raiders, the electrifying newcomer in the world of extraction shooters, has taken Steam by storm, with an astonishing 481,966 raiders charging into action over the weekend. This newfound glory for Arc Raiders comes hot on the heels of its major update—and it seems to have knocked a few behemoths off their high horse. Is this the beginning of a new era?
Meanwhile, in the Call of Duty universe, the numbers weren't quite so breathtaking. Black Ops 7 debuted to lower-than-expected heights, attracting just 100,332 players at its peak on Steam—a stark contrast to Arc Raiders' meteoric rise. While the numbers might not be directly comparable—considering the game's availability across Battle.net, Microsoft Store, and even PC Game Pass—the significant drop in players from previous CoD launches cannot be ignored.
Comparatively, last year's Black Ops 6 launched with a thriving peak of over 300,000 players, even with Game Pass in the mix. Modern Warfare 3 didn’t shy away from the spotlight either, keeping a peak of 190,000 players in its launch window. What gives?
The Call of Duty franchise, which only made its comeback to Steam in 2022 after years in Battle.net exclusivity, seems to be facing fierce new challengers. With shooters like Battlefield 6 charging alongside with nearly 300,000 players, and Arc Raiders setting the pace with thrilling community events and new maps, Call of Duty might need to up its game to reclaim the crown.
It's a seismic showdown in the world of shooters, and the competition is not holding back! Whether you're raiding in Arc Raiders or strategizing in Black Ops 7, it's time to gear up and dive in!