Activision released a statement today citing information from Charttrack and “retail sell through information” which claimed that US and UK sales of Modern Warfare 3 reached 6.5 million units on the day of its launch. This translates into sales of over $400 million – a new all time record for an entertainment release.
The news came as no surprise to anyone who was following the massive hype machine that is Call of Duty. By comparison, last year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops and 2009’s Modern Warfare 2, the previous owners of the launch day sales record, made $360 million and $310 million on launch day respectively.
“We believe the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the biggest entertainment launch of all time in any medium, and we achieved this record with sales from only two territories,” Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick stated. “Other than Call of Duty, there has never been another entertainment franchise that has set opening day records three years in a row. Life-to-date sales for the Call of Duty franchise exceed worldwide theatrical box office for Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, two of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time.”
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is available for the Xbox 360, PC, and Playstation 3.
How far do you think Call of Duty will go in terms of sales? Where you one of the 6.5 million who picked up the game on launch day? Make sure to leave a comment below or join or community in the forums!