Call of Duty has dominated the US shooter market for so long that its position at the top has felt almost unshakeable. But industry watchers say 2025 is shaping up to be the first year in nearly two decades where that certainty disappears and the reasons behind it paint a very different picture of the FPS landscape.
For years, the franchise benefitted from a formula that guaranteed massive launch spikes and chart-topping sales, even when reception varied. But the market around it has changed dramatically. New shooters are arriving with stronger early traction, returning franchises are performing better than expected, and players are spreading their time and money across more titles than before.
What analysts are pointing at isn’t just one big competitor rising, but a broader shift: the FPS scene is far more competitive than it has been in roughly twenty years. Live-service shooters now run long-term events that keep their communities stable, while newcomers experiment with formats and mechanics Call of Duty has been slow to adopt. That shift in player behavior is making the yearly “automatic top-seller” advantage much weaker.
Epic launches like Battlefield 6 and surprise hits climbing Steam’s charts have also contributed to the pressure. With more titles pulling strong numbers at the same time, the type of uncontested runway Call of Duty once enjoyed simply doesn’t exist anymore. Even long-term fans are testing alternatives, especially as the franchise navigates creative fatigue, uneven campaigns, and rising expectations around innovation.
That doesn’t automatically mean Call of Duty will lose its crown; the brand power is still enormous, and the series has a history of bouncing back through updates and seasonal momentum. But for the first time in a very long time, the conversation has shifted from “Which Call of Duty will be number one?” to “Can it stay number one at all?”
Whether this becomes a true turning point or just a temporary wobble will depend heavily on post-launch support and how the next few months shape the genre. One thing is certain: The shooter landscape of 2025 looks nothing like the one Call of Duty dominated for nearly twenty years.
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Will Call of Duty come to Game Pass?
The core Call of Duty games are paid releases, but Warzone (the franchise’s standalone battle royale) is completely free to play across all major platforms.
Is Call of Duty Black Ops 7 worth buying?
BO7 offers fast-paced multiplayer and cross-progression with Warzone, but reviews note that the launch is weaker compared to previous entries. Post-launch updates may significantly improve the experience.
