Video Game News: ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’ Sets New Launch Record

CHICAGO – Here’s a story that comes as no surprise: gamers really love “Call of Duty.” For the third straight release, the “Call of Duty” series has set a new one-day record for sales. In 2009, “Modern Warefare 2” boasted sales of $310 million on the first day. In 2010, “Black Ops” topped the record with $360 million in its first 24 hours. Now, “Modern Warefare 3” has set the bar much higher, with $400 million of total sales in one day in North America and the U.K.

The record gross for the game includes 6.5 million copies sold in the U.S. and U.K. alone. The game was sold consistently throughout the 24 hour period, starting at the first minute with 13,000 different retail locations holding a midnight release.

Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, Inc, was proud to announce the record to the world. “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,” said Kotick. “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.”

To put the one-day total in perspective, the game would come in second behind “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” ($483.2 million) for the biggest worldwide opening box office weekend ever. Obviously, the ticket price for a movie compared to $60 for the game is not optimal for comparison, but you get the picture: “Modern Warfare 3” made bank.

The question now is whether any game could beat the incredible total “MW3” has put up. Eventually, “Grand Theft Auto V” will give the gross a run for its money, but don’t be surprised if “Modern Warefare 3” still reigns as champ, or if any new “Call of Duty” game continues the trend and sets the bar even higher for one-day totals.

[13]	By TIM MARTENS [14] Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com tim@hollywoodchicago.com [13]