Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Sees Sharp Decline in Steam Players for Season 2

The Season 2 launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has recorded a substantial decrease in Steam player numbers, with peak concurrent players reaching only 84,431 during its January 28 release. This figure represents a notable decline of over 70,000 players compared to the Season 2 launch of Modern Warfare 3 in 2023, which attracted more than 154,000 players.

The downward trend extends beyond the Season 2 launch, as Black Ops 6 has experienced a nearly 50% reduction in its Steam player base since its October 2024 release. This decline persists despite the game’s initial success, which saw it achieve the largest launch month in Call of Duty franchise history, according to publisher Activision.

Platform Performance and Contributing Factors

While PC numbers show concerning trends, the game appears to maintain stronger performance on console platforms. Black Ops 6 recently reclaimed the top position on the PlayStation Store following its Season 2 launch, though exact player counts for console platforms remain unavailable.

Several factors may contribute to the declining PC player base, including widespread reports of cheating issues, particularly in Ranked Play. Activision has acknowledged these concerns and implemented new anti-cheat measures for Season 2, including enhanced client and server-side detection systems and kernel-level driver updates.

The challenges have also affected content delivery, particularly for Warzone, which received reduced content in Season 2. Activision stated this decision allowed them to prioritize gameplay improvements and bug fixes. While Black Ops 6 received multiple new maps and features, Warzone’s update was limited to Ranked Play rewards, a new perk, and three new weapons, with additional content planned for the mid-season update.