Call of Duty: Black Ops 'best-selling' game of all time

Activision Blizzard has revealed that Call of Duty: Black Ops now holds the distinction of "best-selling game of all time" in the U.S. and Europe.

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During its Q1 2011 investor call, Activision revealed that Call of Duty: Black Ops has become the best-selling game of all time since launching across multiple platforms last November.

In Activision Blizzard's Q1 2011 financial results, the company noted that Black Ops achieved the milestone during the company's first quarter and holds the distinction of "best-selling game of all time in dollars" on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC "in the U.S. and Europe."

The publishing giant did not reveal specific numbers; however, it did reveal that both downloadable content packs for Call of Duty: Black Ops have been extremely successful. According to details revealed on during the call, the first Black Ops map pack--First Strike--"shattered" Xbox Live sales records, with 1.4 million in sales within the first 24 hours.

The company noted that the second downloadable content for Black Ops--the map pack dubbed 'Escalation'--is expected to arrive on the PC and PS3 "later this quarter."

In the financial results report, Activision Blizzard re-revealed a free-to-play, micro-transaction driven Call of Duty title is currently in development for China. "The company plans to allocate the majority of its resources and focus toward opportunities which it expects will afford it the greatest competitive advantages and the greatest potential for best-in-class quality, high-margin digital growth, and long-term success," the report notes before naming key brands in the company's pocket, including the previously announced digital Call of Duty title.

When asked, Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick confirmed the title is not expected Stateside, noting the company is focused on bringing the franchise to China, specifically.

No further details on the new title were revealed; however, the new title plays into the publisher's focus on the Call of Duty franchise as a digital platform--as revealed during its Q4 2010 investor call.

[Ed. Note: This post has been edited following the comments made by Bobby Kotick, which confirm the new Chinese initiative is the same that was previously mentioned during the company's Q4 2010 results.]

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    May 9, 2011 3:25 PM

    Xav de Matos posted a new article, Call of Duty: Black Ops 'best-selling' game of all time; China gets micro-transaction title.

    Activision Blizzard has revealed that Call of Duty: Black Ops now holds the distinction of "best-selling game of all time" in the U.S. and Europe. At the same time, a free-to-play Call of Duty game was announced for China.

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      May 9, 2011 3:26 PM

      [deleted]

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      May 9, 2011 3:37 PM

      I really, really hate people. This was one was probably the worse one since MW2.

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        May 9, 2011 4:04 PM

        It was also the first and currently only one after mw2

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      May 9, 2011 3:42 PM

      The game sold based on the Title's history, not it's own merit. Although it was probably Tryarch's best work so far, the CoD formula is creatively dead and needs to move on.

      With BF3 coming, I think Activision better start looking for another cash cow, because this one is dry. I know I've lost interest.

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        May 9, 2011 4:19 PM

        I do hope you mean their best work on the CoD series - They made Die by the sword, ya'know.

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        May 10, 2011 5:12 AM

        so their best selling game of all time proves their cash cow is dry? cool story bro

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      May 9, 2011 4:01 PM

      [deleted]

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      May 9, 2011 4:10 PM

      Ah yes, in a world where Deus Ex "...has sold more than 1 million copies, as of April 23, 2009."

      There should be at least another digit there.

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      May 9, 2011 4:26 PM

      I'm gonna be a cock and say this is why I hate all of you people who knew that you wouldn't like it and still bought it. I know this applies to some of you shackers :c. But what do I know I'm still living in a world where there will never be a Dark Cloud 3.

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        May 9, 2011 4:29 PM

        I think it's a fun game. Does that mean I'm a terrible person?

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          May 9, 2011 4:31 PM

          I wouldn't know since I haven't ever boughten a CoD game. I have Modern Warfare that came with an old Graphics card and I only tried MP and it seemed like it was trying to hard so I didn't bother finishing it. I'm not one to say it's an awful game, I'm just one to insult people who bought it who already knew they wouldn't like it.

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        May 10, 2011 5:55 AM

        I plead guilty :(
        I really liked MW1, absolutely hated WaW (never even finished), kinda went WTF ? with MW2 and in the end decided that I didn't like it. Then I tried to resist with CodBlops but in the end I bought on a sale, and did not like it.
        So of these 4 games, all money went to Kotic and Co, I really only liked 1, you can't blame the marketing perspective. Yet for me personally the quality of MW1 still resonated through the series and affected my purchasing decision, after CodBlops ( although better than WaW, ugh the horror ) I'm can say with confidence that I'm done with the series. However I think my eldest son feel different about it and a copy of the new installment will probably end up in our house regardless of how I feel. which is sad, because I want a better game BF3 please be good, please ?

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      May 9, 2011 4:42 PM

      This post has been edited, following the comments made by Bobby Kotick, which confirm the listed micro-transaction title in the CoD franchise was the same revealed during the Q4 2010 results.

      Linked: http://www.shacknews.com/article/67462/activision-unveils-beachhead-studio-to

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      May 9, 2011 4:57 PM

      At least it beat MW2...

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      May 9, 2011 5:22 PM

      I think the SP was lame, but I enjoy the MP...as if MW2 never existed. AND they're still updating the shit out of it, which is awesome (I'm not talking DLC). As much as I liked IW, they didn't support shit.

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      May 10, 2011 3:58 AM

      Best-selling ... farthest pissing ... longest dicking ... please stop posting news on the Activision marketing blathering tailored for investors.

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      May 10, 2011 5:29 AM

      honestly, i think treyarch cant make as solid of a CoD as Infinity Ward. They should just stop trying with that and take off with the Nazi Zombie idea. I think it would be interesting to see a zombie game by treyarch. They make better social games than serious games, and alot of people expect seriousness from a CoD game.

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      May 10, 2011 5:39 AM

      [deleted]

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