It’s funny how fast the gaming world can shift. For nearly a decade, PlayStation and Call of Duty were practically inseparable, from exclusive content drops to co-branded PS4 bundles, Sony’s consoles were the home of CoD.
But times have changed. Following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the FPS powerhouse is now effectively an Xbox brand. And Sony? It’s already found a new partner i.e. Battlefield 6.
PlayStation x Battlefield 6: The New Power Duo
The shift became clear when PlayStation released a new ad for Battlefield 6, featuring snippets from the game’s live-action trailer and closing with the tagline: “It All Goes Down on PS5.”
Beyond the flashy slogan, the partnership comes with exclusive perks for PlayStation Plus subscribers, echoing the kind of advantages that used to define the CoD–PlayStation era. Here’s what PS5 players can look forward to:
- Extra Battle Pass tier skips with the Battlefield Pro token
- Extended 2XP events, giving PS5 players longer double-XP windows
- Squad-wide XP bonuses, activated when at least two squad members are on PlayStation
These perks mirror the PlayStation-first benefits CoD players enjoyed for years — like the Zombies Onslaught mode in Black Ops Cold War or Spec Ops in Modern Warfare (2019). Could Battlefield 6 go one step further and offer PS5-exclusive content? It’s not confirmed, but given the trajectory, it wouldn’t be surprising.
From Call of Duty to Battlefield: A Role Reversal No One Saw Coming
This new alliance marks a dramatic reshaping of the console FPS landscape. With Call of Duty now tightly integrated into Xbox’s ecosystem, PlayStation needed a new flagship shooter to fill the void and Battlefield, once synonymous with Xbox marketing, has stepped into that spotlight.
Historically, Xbox was the “official console” for titles like Battlefield 1, BFV, and Battlefield 2042. Now, just a few years later, the loyalties have flipped Sony is promoting the very franchise that used to be its rival’s banner FPS.
More Than Marketing: A New Console War Brewing
This isn’t just about exclusive perks — it’s a symbolic shift in power. When Black Ops 7 (or whatever this year’s installment is titled) launches later this year, comparisons between Call of Duty and Battlefield will intensify, but now there’s a new layer: PlayStation vs Xbox.
Battlefield = PlayStation.
Call of Duty = Xbox.
The optics alone fuel a mini console war, even if Xbox’s strategy is slowly evolving toward third-party publishing. For the average gamer, it’s clear where each platform’s loyalties lie.
With PlayStation aligning with Battlefield and Call of Duty tied to Xbox, the FPS rivalry just got a whole new narrative. It’s no longer just about which shooter sells more, it’s about which ecosystem wins the loyalty of players in 2025 and beyond.
So yes, the sides have been redrawn. And for now, Battlefield is flying the PlayStation flag.
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