Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Dominates US Game Sales in 2024
Circana's data reveals that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 secured the top spot as the best-selling game in the United States during 2024, extending the Call of Duty franchise's reign as the US market leader to an impressive sixteen consecutive years.
In the sports game category, EA Sports College Football 25 claimed the number one position following its July console release. While overall US gaming spending experienced a slight 1.1% year-over-year decline, Circana attributes this to reduced hardware demand, contrasting with a 2% rise in add-on spending and a significant 6% increase in service spending.
Black Ops 6 and its companion title, Warzone 2, are set to launch their second season on January 28th, featuring a ninja-themed update and an exciting crossover with the Terminator universe.
Critical acclaim has been widespread, with both players and critics praising the game's diverse missions, preventing gameplay monotony and consistently surprising players throughout the campaign. The refined shooting mechanics and innovative movement system, enabling players to move and shoot freely in any direction, even while falling or prone, have also garnered significant praise.
The approximately eight-hour campaign length has also been well-received, deemed neither too short nor overly long by many reviewers and players. The zombies mode and the campaign itself have been particular highlights for numerous gamers.
However, Black Ops 6 hasn't been without its detractors. A significant portion of Steam reviews cite technical issues as a major drawback. Reports of frequent crashes and unstable server connections, hindering progress through the story mode, are prevalent among negative feedback.