Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra boldly claims Battlefield 6 will “boot stomp” Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, but he sees a deeper win—this rivalry might spark improvement across FPS titles.

What Mike Ybarra Said

  • Battlefield 6 will “boot stomp” Call of Duty this year — he tweeted that its success will pressure CoD to step up.
  • He argues CoD has been “lazy” since Infinite Warfare (2016), citing cheats, bloated UI and installs, and gaudy cosmetics as key issues.
  • For Ybarra, the real triumph is that increased competition will lead to better FPS games all around.

What’s Fueling the Debate

  • Battlefield 6’s Open Beta smashed numbers with over 334,000 concurrent players on Steam, making it the most popular Battlefield beta yet.
  • The game emphasises grounded, authentic cosmetics and a relatively lean 55 GB install—an intentional contrast to CoD.
  • But not everything’s rosy—cheating (notably wallhacks) has already surfaced in the beta, highlighting shared genre woes.

What This Means for You

  • If you’re an FPS fan, this rivalry could be a win. Battlefield pushing CoD to innovate might spark a refreshed era of shooter games. Ybarra certainly hopes so.
  • Battlefield 6 hits shelves in October 2025; Black Ops 7 is expected later in 2025, with details to follow at GamesCom’s Opening Night Live.

FAQ

Who said Battlefield 6 will “boot stomp” Call of Duty?Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra made the claim on social media, predicting Battlefield 6 will outperform Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and push Activision to improve the franchise.

Why does Mike Ybarra think Call of Duty has been “lazy”?Ybarra criticised CoD for issues such as frequent cheating, oversized installs, cluttered menus, and over-the-top cosmetics, suggesting the series has declined since 2016’s Infinite Warfare.

When is Battlefield 6 coming out?Battlefield 6 is set to launch in October 2025. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is also expected later in 2025, with more details likely at Gamescom Opening Night Live.