The rivalry between gaming giants Activision and EA reached its peak on October 28, 2025. EA launched the free-to-play Battle Royale mode Battlefield: REDSEC, while Activision made Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Multiplayer and Zombies modes free to access once again.

This bold move is a strategic counterattack aimed at escalating competition and keeping their player base engaged.

Why the Same Day? The Moves Behind the Competition

This is the second time this year that Activision has timed a major title event to coincide with a competitor’s big launch, clearly aiming to split REDSEC’s potential player base.

Activision's Three Main Goals:

1. Draw Players from REDSEC: Keep players in the CoD ecosystem with the free, latest The Haunting event and Zombies content, instead of letting them try out the new permanent Battle Royale mode.

2. Build Hype for Black Ops 7: End the free access right before the November launch of Black Ops 7, encouraging trial players to move on to the next big release.

3. Maintain Market Dominance: Take a firm stand against the Battlefield series’ growth potential with its new free-to-play model.

The Bottom Line: Gamers Are the Real Winners

Battlefield: REDSEC opens the doors to a free experience, while Black Ops 6 delivers a full MP experience—even if only for a limited time.

This clash means gamers win. For the next week, FPS fans get the chance to enjoy the best of both worlds from two legendary franchises—simultaneously.

So, what’s your pick this week? Hunting zombies in Black Ops 6, or fighting to survive in REDSEC?