The Ringer-Verse The Online Shooters Shoot-Out: ‘Battlefield’ vs. ‘Call of Duty’ vs. ‘ARC Raiders’ | Button Mash
Nov 18, 2025
Join Kotaku's Claire Jackson, an expert in multiplayer shooters, and Zack Zwiezen, a games industry correspondent, as they dive into the latest Game Awards nominations and the heated competition among 'Battlefield 6,' 'Call of Duty: Black Ops 7,' and 'ARC Raiders.' They dissect the evolution of indie gaming, the defining features of extraction shooters, and the role of AI in game development. With insights on player accessibility and design philosophies, Claire and Zack argue about which title could dominate the market and share tips for mastering 'ARC Raiders.'
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Genres Diverge Despite Surface Similarity
- Battlefield, Call of Duty, and Arc Raiders scratch different shooter itches despite surface similarities. Each occupies a distinct subgenre and player expectation rather than being interchangeable.
Teamplay Vs. Arena Shooting
- Zack contrasts Call of Duty's arena-style, individual-focused play with Battlefield's team-dependent, large-map approach. Teammates matter far more in Battlefield than in Call of Duty matches.
Battlefield's Back-to-Basics Pivot
- Battlefield 6 intentionally returned to a grounded, back-to-basics design to appeal to fatigued players. That repositioning aims to lure players away from Call of Duty's over-the-top direction.