Activision Boasts Modern Warfare 2 Sales Figures, Broken Records

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Publisher Activision continues to toot its own horn over the recent release of Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 2 Modern Warfare 2 with new figures for the first five days of sale, revealing a "new worldwide estimated five-day sell-through record" of $550 million.

Backing up its bold claim that Modern Warfare 2's arrival on November 10 was "the biggest launch in history across all forms of entertainment," Activision lists the following book, movie and video game records broken by the shooter sequel's launch.

  • The largest reported five-day opening worldwide box office gross figures, held by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ($394 million)
  • The largest reported five-day opening domestic box office gross figures, held by The Dark Knight ($203.8 million)
  • The largest reported five-day worldwide video game sales record, previously held by Grand Theft Auto IV (6 million units, $500 million)
  • The largest reported opening first-day domestic box office gross figures, held by The Dark Knight ($66.4 million)
  • The largest reported first-day book sales in dollars, held by Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows ($220 million)
  • The largest reported first-day worldwide video game sales record, previously held by Grand Theft Auto IV (3.6 million units, $310 million)

"In just five days of sell through Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has become the largest entertainment launch in history and a pop culture phenomenon," said Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick in the press statement. "The title's success redefines entertainment as millions of consumers have chosen to play Modern Warfare 2 at unprecedented levels rather engage in other forms of media."

The Xbox 360's online service Live was also rocked by Modern Warfare 2, setting new records including the concurrent user count Microsoft previously boasted about.

  • More than 5.2 million multiplayer hours were logged playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the first day alone.
  • More than 2.2 million unique gamers played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in one day on November 10th. A new one-day record for Xbox LIVE.
  • More than 11 million achievements were unlocked on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the first day.
From The Chatty
  • reply
    November 18, 2009 11:47 AM

    a movie ticket costs about 6x less than a video game

    • reply
      November 18, 2009 11:54 AM

      But a lot more people go to the movies than buy video games. It's still an impressive amount of money.

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        November 18, 2009 12:03 PM

        yup, movies don't require a fixed investment so the market is much, much larger

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          November 18, 2009 12:14 PM

          Also literally everyone in the world goes and watches movies. It's still a small fraction of people who play video games, comparatively.

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        November 18, 2009 6:14 PM

        unless I'm mistaken wouldn't that be the point of his comment? how is it that less people playing videogames is a good thing?

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      November 18, 2009 12:17 PM

      It would be interesting if they factor in other things like concessions, parking revenue (in cities that charge for it) and related marketing products that people buy specifically for or because of the entertainment launch.

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        November 18, 2009 12:25 PM

        And then compare them to hardware upgrades or people buying the special limited edition Elite Xbox 360's and such

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      November 18, 2009 12:29 PM

      and the hours you play MW2 is at least 6x more than the length of a movie.

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        November 19, 2009 1:32 AM

        I'd like to see those 45 minute movies you're talking about.

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      November 18, 2009 3:33 PM

      Not if you sell it once you're done with it.

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        November 18, 2009 3:43 PM

        It usually takes me 4 used tickets to buy a new one.

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          November 18, 2009 4:04 PM

          Yeh, Dantastic's post was a little over the heads of most front pagers.

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