'Modern Warfare 2' breaks first day game sales record

Submitted by gameboy

TC Game Articles

First day sales records for the release of Activision's Modern Warfare are staggering. Opening day sales for its much anticipated game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 smashed records, generating $310 million in 24 hours in North America and the United Kingdom to become the "the biggest launch in history across all forms of entertainment."

The game was shipped globally on Tuesday, but Activision has not yet released data on revenue generated from other regions other than the U.S. and U.K. The company estimates that about 4.7 million copies of the game were sold in the first day of release in those two major locations.

Grand Theft Auto IV, the previous record-holder, sold roughly 3.6 million copies and generated $310 million worldwide in worldwide revenue in its first day. If Activision's numbers are correct, the game's final worldwide tally is likely to be significantly higher.

What's even more amazing is that Modern Warfare even eclipsed both the record-setting $150 million opening weekend of last year's blockbuster movie "The Dark Knight" and the $300 million generated by  Halo 3, in its first week.


"The shattering of these entertainment records is a testament to the compelling, cinematic and uniquely engaging experience that the Call of Duty brand delivers,"  said CEO Mike Griffith.in a press release. "Modern Warfare 2 has taken interactive experience to unprecedented heights setting a new standard for entertainment."

Modern Warfare takes players around the globe as they chase leads in tracking down a powerful global terrorist. The game is popular both online with the PS3 servers, and with the XBox game console.