Battlefield 6 set to challenge Call of Duty this year

A former Blizzard president predicts Battlefield 6 will challenge Call of Duty this year, fueling a debate about the shooter market.

Battlefield 6 set to challenge Call of Duty this year

Former Activision Blizzard president Mike Ybarra wrote on X that Battlefield 6 will boot stomp CoD this year, a claim he ties to renewed competition in the shooter space. Now CEO of PrizePicks, he frames the clash as a spur to better games, while also pointing to recent layoffs at Microsoft as context for the industry’s tensions.

He argues CoD has faced ongoing issues such as cheating, heavy UI and a glossy, overdesigned aesthetic. CoD remains a top seller, but sentiment around the franchise has cooled in recent years. Ybarra says Battlefield could push a change in direction and drive faster innovation, a claim some readers may treat as marketing hype while others see it as a challenge to keep big IPs sharp.

The claim shows how industry voices shape conversations more than predicting exact market outcomes. A former executive speaking from a betting company adds drama, yet it also underscores how competition talk can sway player expectations and investor moods. Real outcomes will hinge on Battlefield 6’s launch quality and ongoing post launch support, not a bold forecast.

This moment reveals tension between leading shooters. A strong competitive push can lift the whole genre, but hype can also distort what players value—stability, fair play, and meaningful updates. The next year will test whether a bold prediction translates into better games or just louder online chatter.

Highlights

The market will watch how these claims hold up once Battlefield and CoD return with new updates.