Activision Says GTA 6 and Modern Warfare 4 Beat Zelda as Biggest Games

3 November 2026
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7 min.
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Activision Says GTA 6 and Modern Warfare 4 Beat Zelda as Biggest Games

Summary:

Activision marketing chief Tyler Bahl recently told The Game Business that, “no offense to Zelda,” he believes Grand Theft Auto 6 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 are the two biggest games of 2026. His point is less an attack on Nintendo and more a statement about platform reach, multiplayer community strength, and purchase-intent data that currently favours Call of Duty and Rockstar’s blockbuster. Circana analyst Mat Piscatella backed up those claims with purchase-intent figures shared on Bluesky, showing higher intent for Modern Warfare 4 across the US console and PC audience. That does not mean Zelda is failing. The installed base for Switch 2 is far smaller, so Zelda’s relative interest per owner looks strong. NintendoReporters explains the nuance, what the numbers actually mean for Switch 2 owners, and how this may shape the holiday gaming landscape for players who have to choose between huge releases.

Activision’s claim: what Tyler Bahl actually said

Tyler Bahl’s quote hit headlines because it framed three major releases as rivals in a very crowded holiday window. He told The Game Business that, “no offense to Zelda, but I think, you know, [GTA 6 and Modern Warfare 4] are the two biggest games of the year,” and argued that big multiplatform launches can drive players back to dashboards and bring extra eyeballs to other titles. Read literally, that statement is a marketing take aimed at highlighting Call of Duty’s strength as a social, community-driven franchise. Read with industry context, it reflects confidence that Call of Duty’s cross-platform reach and multiplayer hooks will keep it commercially significant even alongside historically massive single-player releases. Bahl also emphasised the social aspect of Call of Duty and how cross-platform play, including a debut on Switch 2, feeds the franchise’s endurance. That nuance matters because headlines can flatten the argument into a simple ranking, while the real point is about audience dynamics and platform footprint rather than a knock on Nintendo’s pedigree.

Why Activision thinks GTA 6 and Modern Warfare 4 will dominate

Activision’s logic centers on reach and behaviour. GTA 6 has Rockstar-level hype that sells hardware and generates mainstream buzz, while Modern Warfare 4 benefits from an established annual audience plus social hooks that keep players returning. Bahl pointed out that more people logging into consoles can mean more eyeballs for a live-service shooter when friends are online and communities revive. Call of Duty has historically relied on a robust multiplayer ecosystem, ranked playlists, and social time with friends – all of which translate into sustained engagement beyond the first week of sales. Marketing teams also factor in platform availability: a game on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and even Switch 2 naturally samples a larger potential buyer pool than a title exclusive to one platform. From a commercial perspective, that multiplatform breadth and social stickiness are persuasive arguments for why Activision would view GTA 6 and Modern Warfare 4 as the holiday heavyweights.

How multiplayer and community factor into Call of Duty’s longevity

Call of Duty’s enduring power comes from its community systems and the social reasons people return. Bahl highlighted that research shows players often list “my friends are there” ahead of “combat” or “gunplay” when asked what excites them most. Social features, clans, seasonal content, and shared competitive goals create a loop where the game keeps drawing players back week after week. That loop is important because sustained monthly active users matter more for long-term revenue than a massive one-time sale. Even when a headline campaign spikes interest, the multiplayer foundations turn that spike into prolonged engagement via events, ranked ladders, and co-op modes. For Nintendo fans this may sound familiar in different ways – Nintendo has long relied on social experiences for series like Splatoon and Mario Kart – but Call of Duty’s global multiplayer scale gives it a particular commercial edge in terms of raw user numbers and recurring engagement models.

Switch 2 and platform reach: why Zelda’s numbers can be deceptive

When analysts measure purchase intent across the entire US console and PC population, an exclusive for Switch 2 will naturally show a lower raw percentage than a multiplatform title. Mat Piscatella of Circana noted the Ocarina of Time remake had lower purchase-intent numbers than Modern Warfare 4 on a total-console basis, but he also called out the installed-base effect: far more people own PS5 and Xbox Series X|S than Switch 2 right now, so the pool of potential buyers is much larger for multiplatform releases. That makes Zelda’s raw percentage look deceptively small even if per-owner interest is high. In short, Zelda can be a massive seller for Nintendo and a system-seller for Switch 2 at the same time that it registers lower purchase-intent across a broader audience sample. This distinction is crucial for readers who want to understand whether a lower headline number means a weaker game, or simply a different audience footprint.

What the purchase-intent data shows

Circana’s PlayerPulse survey numbers shared by Mat Piscatella put purchase intent for Modern Warfare 4 at roughly 15 percent among US console and PC players in August, compared to about 10 percent for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. That gap looks meaningful at first glance, but it’s driven heavily by the installed base difference and platform scope: Modern Warfare 4 is available across multiple major platforms while Zelda is tied to the Switch 2. Analysts often adjust their interpretations to account for installed-base effects, regional differences, and whether a title is a franchise staple or a nostalgic remake. The raw numbers are useful as a snapshot of broader interest, but they are not the final word on sales, lifetime revenue or cultural impact. For Switch 2 owners the per-console enthusiasm for Zelda can be very high, meaning the game could still produce strong unit sales and drive console installs despite a lower total-audience intent percentage.

How NintendoReporters sees the impact for Zelda and Switch 2 owners

At NintendoReporters we’re focused on what matters to Nintendo fans: whether a new Zelda will deliver memorable moments, move hardware and keep players talking. The install-base nuance above suggests Zelda remains a big play for Nintendo and Switch 2 buyers, even if it doesn’t top cross-platform purchase-intent polls. Switch 2 owners who pick up Ocarina of Time remake will likely be rewarded with a title designed to showcase Nintendo’s strengths, and many players will buy a Switch 2 specifically for Nintendo exclusives. If you want to read more about the new hardware environment, check our Nintendo Switch 2 page for background on the platform and what it offers players: Nintendo Switch 2. For an ongoing stream of Nintendo-focused coverage and perspective, NintendoReporters stays 100 percent dedicated to Nintendo news and information: 100% Nintendo for & by Nintendo fans!

Industry reaction and fan responses

The industry reaction has been mixed. Some commentators agree with Bahl’s emphasis on community and reach, while many Nintendo fans bristle at the implication that Zelda is somehow a lesser release. Social feeds show heated debates about nostalgia, platform loyalty, and what counts as a “big” game. Analysts point out that Rockstar and Nintendo target different kinds of attention: Rockstar titles tend to dominate mainstream conversation and console sales, while Nintendo entries can create cross-generational appeal and drive console uptake. Fans often judge impact by passion and cultural moments rather than by raw purchase intent, and both perspectives have merit. If nothing else, Bahl’s remarks have sparked discussion about how to compare very different kinds of games and why context matters when reading numbers and headlines.

What this means for holiday releases and players’ choices

For players, the simple reality is you do not have to pick a single winner. Many people will bounce between big releases, sampling GTA 6’s open world, jumping into Modern Warfare 4 for social matches, and returning to Zelda for single-player exploration or shared nostalgia. From a purchasing perspective, some gamers prioritize multiplatform releases and social time with friends, while others prioritize exclusives and system-defining experiences. The crowded schedule can be a blessing for players who love choice, but it can be stressful for wallets and time budgets. If you care about which game suits you best, think about whether you want long-term multiplayer engagement, narrative-driven single-player moments, or a mix. That approach keeps the decision personal rather than purely headline-driven.

Conclusion

Tyler Bahl’s comments remind us that “biggest” can mean different things depending on the lens you use. Activision emphasizes reach and multiplayer community, while Nintendo’s strengths lie in exclusivity and franchise legacy. Purchase-intent numbers give helpful signals, but the installed base and platform mix change their meaning. For Switch 2 owners, Zelda remains a significant and potentially system-driving release, even if cross-platform polls show higher raw intent for Modern Warfare 4. Whatever your preference, the coming months look great for players: three major games are creating conversation, and the winner is the community that gets to play them.

FAQs
  • Did Tyler Bahl say Zelda is not a big game?
    • Not exactly. He said GTA 6 and Modern Warfare 4 are “the two biggest games of the year,” which was a marketing perspective focused on reach and multiplayer impact rather than a dismissal of Zelda’s value.
  • What were the purchase-intent numbers mentioned?
    • Circana data shared by Mat Piscatella indicated about 15 percent purchase intent for Modern Warfare 4 and roughly 10 percent for the Ocarina of Time remake among US console and PC players, measured in August.
  • Does a lower purchase-intent number mean Zelda will sell poorly?
    • No. A lower raw percentage can reflect a smaller installed base for Switch 2; per-owner interest may be much higher, and Zelda can still move many units and drive console sales.
  • Will Modern Warfare 4 be on Switch 2?
    • Yes. Activision has confirmed Modern Warfare 4 will appear on Switch 2 this year, which is notable for the franchise’s expanded platform reach.
  • Where can I follow more Nintendo-focused coverage?
    • NintendoReporters offers constant Nintendo-focused news and analysis. Visit our Nintendo Switch 2 overview and the main English site at the links above for updates and guides.
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