Gears 2 opens to double platinum sales

Epic's Xbox 360-exclusive shooter shifts 2 million copies on its launch weekend; sets new record for concurrent XBL players.

Just over a year ago, Microsoft was celebrating what was at the time "one of the most successful entertainment properties in history," after sales figures for Halo 3 were announced. The game racked up $300 million in sales during its first week, and set the tone for the blockbuster releases to come in the following year.

Now a year on, and Microsoft has returned yet again to trumpet the sales of one of its console's flagship shooters. According to the publisher, Epic's Xbox 360 exclusive Gears of War 2 sold over 2 million units within its first weekend of release. The third-person shooter, a follow-up to the 2006 hit Gears of War, was released worldwide on November 7 to critical acclaim. Gears of War 2 sees COG heroes Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago return to fight the Locust threat that is taking over the last cities of Sera.

Gears of War 2 has also had a major impact on Xbox Live. According to Microsoft, over 1.5 million people logged into Live for some COG-versus-Locust action on the launch weekend, setting a record for concurrent Live players.

Other publishers have recently been celebrating sales landmarks too. Harmonix has recently seen its founders rewarded with a $300 million bonus after music game Rock Band and Rock Band 2 hit sales of 7 million units across multiple platforms, and Ubisoft's results were boosted by Far Cry 2 hitting the million-sales mark within three weeks of launch. Bethesda's multiformat Fallout 3, which went straight to the top of the UK all-formats chart, made the company $300 million in its first week in shops.

198 Comments

  • MandoWolf

    Posted Dec 4, 2008 4:44 am PT

    I'm proud to be one of those 7 million buyers.

  • ShroudedEagle

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 5:23 am PT

    Yeah I agree with you kineas454 lol it's a really good thing that we can have 8 player Private chat now.

    But anyway Epic should make more by the end of this year, with it being Christmas.

  • Thing1232

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 5:26 pm PT

    What can you expect from a game with a chainsaw with really good effects that you can use at pretty much any time... Take away that and the over the top amounts of blood and it'd probably drop in popularity.

  • cuddlesofwar

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 2:43 pm PT

    COD WAW will sell waaaaaaaaaay more, sadly.

  • killasuad35

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 10:31 am PT

    wow i think GOW is a great game but needs more new additives

  • Bobio1138

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 6:11 pm PT

    Halo capped out and around 1 million on its first weekend and the was WAY less people on Xbox live back then.

  • kineas454

    Posted Nov 19, 2008 5:40 am PT

    To say there's 14 million current XBL subscribers, 2 million does'nt sound that much. It's a good time period to have it right now, all the 13 year olds won't be able to get it until christmas, so enjoy Gears 2 online while you can.

  • WestSideAzn

    Posted Nov 18, 2008 3:54 pm PT

    Thanks to MS and Epic... Another quality game for the Xbox 360.

  • rulo_rezn0r

    Posted Nov 17, 2008 9:50 am PT

    i love this game so much

  • LosDaddie

    Posted Nov 17, 2008 7:46 am PT

    Gald I could help, MS & EPIC!

    YOu guys deserve all the success for this fantastic game.

    Thank YOU again!

  • Bahaa3000

    Posted Nov 17, 2008 7:35 am PT

    My first buy as soon as I get to USA next month ! I can't wait

  • bigcrusha

    Posted Nov 17, 2008 2:26 am PT

    1.5 mill playing gears 2 online on the first weekend!? Omg gasp! No way!, what a surprise! lol

  • dmjake

    Posted Nov 17, 2008 1:50 am PT

    is it just me or does everyone's girlfriend love this game?

  • senorbusyman

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 8:34 pm PT

    GoW2 kicks MASSIVE locust butt...when i opened mine at the midnight release i just started playing with my girlfriend & was it a blast!

  • -Beatz-

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 9:53 am PT

    Hey MetalMan300.

    Haven't played the game, but I wants it.

  • gobbo00 posted Nov 15, 2008 8:50 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    gobbo00

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 8:50 pm PT (hide)

    The live record wont hold due to COD WAW even though, it's s*** boring and comes every year like christmass.

  • Kashmiro

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 11:24 am PT

    Yea, I love this game there isn't really any flaws. By the way the matchmaking issues are probably caused by either what internet company you use or what router you have. Check your NAT if it is "strict" it is hard for you to find matches, if it is "open" it should speed up the process.

  • MetalMan300

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 10:01 am PT

    Gears 2= Booyah! I didnt even like the first game and I still think this one rocks. Basically its a curbstomp to the face of sony fans everywhere!

    @ace-of-spades93

    I think its just the matchmaking issues. It takes forever for me 2 find a game as well. But halo 3 was the same way when it first released. So many players slowed the server down so much. Hopefully gears 2 will match you up faster in a few days.

  • griffinshotc

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 6:15 am PT

    This game is awesome!! I didn't get any sleep when I first bought this game. And Cole??? He's hilarious!! This game is a must-buy!!!

  • no1outlaw

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 3:45 am PT

    The greatest thing about GeOW2 is that it manages to strike a balance between single and multiplayer. I can have just as much fun in killing locust in the amazing story mode as i can playing horde and vs modes online. Good to know that it's breaking records.

  • hatieshorrer

    Posted Nov 15, 2008 12:35 am PT

    @paul25

    Actually sony discontinued backward compatibility in America and, Japan because, PS3 owners were buying PS2 rpgs instead of PS3 games. At least thats what Ken Kutaragi said when asked why the 40gigPS3 wasnt going to have backward compatibility.

  • paul25

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 11:36 pm PT

    360 is not just a shooter console, out of the current gen it has the most rpgs too, which is why sony is stupid for stopping backwards compatibility, all those great ps2 rpgs out the window

  • One9

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 5:52 pm PT

    @Evilone1414

    Posted Nov 12, 2008 9:52 pm PT

    Resistance 2 is Amazing for the PS3
    Gears of War 2 is Amazing for the Xbox360
    Stop fighting!!!!!
    We all won you iddiots!
    ===========================================


    Amen Brother

  • jimmmzerx

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 5:51 pm PT

    The Xbox 360 is amazing, best on the market. You can't beat Halo, Gears, and Fallout!

  • damaster101

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 4:59 pm PT

    This game is great although i don't have xbox live yet which is a bummer.

  • assassinX01

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 3:51 pm PT

    Wha? The current flagship game for a console focused on the shooter genre sold 2 million at launch? That makes no sense at all . . . .


    Oh, wait.

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 12:35 pm PT

    --division_9--
    "Xbox 360 ... breaks more then every other console ever released"
    ~~~

    Actually the PS2 still holds the records with the largest number of defective units suffering the Disk Read Error death.

  • adrdeju

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 8:10 am PT

    This game is INCREDIBLE!!

  • ace-of-spades93

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 7:23 am PT

    wow all these people online and i still cant find a freaking GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • division_9 posted Nov 14, 2008 6:04 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    division_9

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 6:04 am PT (hide)

    @sabitrulz

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 5:30 am GMT

    """I'm a victim of Sony's marketing stuffs,ps3 is a complete piece of junk,every game looks better on 360 cuz it's gfx chip is more powerful than da ps3's rsx n everyone knows when it comes 2 gfx,gfx chip is more responsible than cpu.Btw,i'm still concious bout 360's reliability,so can anyone tell me da falcon 360 is reliable or not?"""
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Your certainly Microsofts victim, you want to say that the PS3 is junk in comparison to the Xbox 360 when the Xbox 360 has a double digit defect rate, has E71 errors, breaks more then every other console ever released, has lots of old technology e.g. DVD ,Xenon, a disc tray whereas the PS3 you just insert and eject, no disc tray it just does it for you automagically, X360 has a on button, whereas the PS3 has a heat sensing button which responds to just your fingertips and not any force pushed on it. Hardware wise you dont know a thing, you don even know basic terminology, the Graphics card is called the Graphical Processing unit more commonly abreviated as the GPU, not the GFX(where the hell did you get that from?, Grafix? haha)

    How is it that the original resistance had 40 AI bots running around, taking cover, throwing grenades and actually trying to beat you without getting killed?, and actually fight smartly with other AI?, CPU, purely. While the Gears of war 2 you see 80 guys act as a single body taking over that tank thingy at the start, heck the AI is stupiditized to not stress the processor, they dont even shoot at you when there on the ground, When they do shoot you its about 4 different guys doing it and all the rest of the locust just run towards you guns full doing absolutely nothing else, Im not even sure if they actually run anymore, I dont know what they do.

  • division_9

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 5:37 am PT

    I love november, and december, and october and any month with loads of good games!.

  • Wezker619

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 11:51 pm PT

    To Molezzi

    Lol, well trade in that rig of yours.

  • Molezzi posted Nov 13, 2008 10:34 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Molezzi

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 10:34 pm PT (hide)

    BRING IT TO PC ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEEEEEEEZ!!!!! I DONT HAVE A STUPID XBOX :-(((((

  • Darth_Ultima

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 10:32 pm PT

    Anya, it's a giant worm! They're sinking cities with a GIANT WOOOOORM!!!! LOL

  • FreeBallz

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 7:45 pm PT

    if that many people played gears online, why does it take so f***** long to find a match? better fix that epic. and to all you nay sayers. GOW2 has great voice thats hilarious enough to keep you from getting deppressed in the incredibley dark storyline

  • JOKER677

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 4:58 pm PT

    everything but the voice acting was good marcus sound like he got something shoved in his throat the matchmaking is alright but the wait time is a problem

  • Somebody89

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 2:40 pm PT

    Duh, its Gears 2.

  • streetgame

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 2:25 pm PT

    Game is great, graphically, sound gameplay. Only one complaint multiplayer search engine for vs. gameplay is really weak. Waiting times for an average match is 10mins 5-7 if you dont have a full party waiting. Fix that and your fan base, already devoted would be a bit more happy.

  • redsnake9111

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 2:01 pm PT

    Now if they had made this multi-platform it would have flattened the sales record for any game of all time. Not even PC version? I hope you guys have fun because I can't get it.

  • iAkuma

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 10:57 am PT

    I expected this haha, Gears of War is a really great franchise. Imagine the sales on possibly Gears of War 3...? I haven't got it yet, it looks great but I've been buying some merchandise. That's probably also what's pulling in big sales...

  • cajunstrike

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 10:24 am PT

    Agreed. Sales figures were somewhat expected.

  • IrishRage

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 9:17 am PT

    Great news! Looks like this year's holiday Christmas lists are going to be populated with some amazing games! Between COD:WaW, Gears 2, Resistance 2, Little Big Planet, Fable 2, Fallout 3, Dead Space, and Rock Band 2 everyone has a really shiny new toy to play this holiday season! I just quit my reason to stay inside (wow) and now with such a great set of games to add to my library the attempt to "socialize" in the outside world was futile

  • majidok

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 8:54 am PT

    And the golden age of games continues and I just Love it

  • crazyslopytalk

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 8:49 am PT

    Evilone
    "Resistance 2 is Amazing for the PS3
    Gears of War 2 is Amazing for the Xbox360
    Stop fighting!!!!!
    We all won you idiots!"

    that has to be the most sensible comment ive heard this week

  • funnysplay

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 8:21 am PT

    My 360 is still in shipment. But as soon as it gets back its GOW2

  • MCSpanner

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 7:08 am PT

    Worldwide?
    Still waiting in Japan.....

  • Bloghead

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 6:28 am PT

    yeah, gears of war 2 rocks!

  • spartan_reaper

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 3:49 am PT

    This game is worth picking up!!! I thought it was well done and gave more background on the story!!! Game play was really good! Multi-player is awesome! Hell MY WIFE THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY GOOD and she doesn't even play the game!!

  • Shipangi

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 2:10 am PT

    as expected from a world-changing revolution game

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