Modern Warfare 2 sells 4.7 million in 24 hours

Activision and Infinity Ward's shooter claims largest entertainment launch crown with $310 million in UK, US, and Canadian sales; North American day-one sales hit 3.38 million.

For months, Activision has been predicting that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 would be the biggest launch in entertainment history. So it comes as little surprise today that the Infinity Ward-developed shooter has indeed broken all previous records for day-one game sales.

More people picked up Modern Warfare 2 on launch day than any other game in history.

According to figures released by Activision, the sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare sold over one-third of its forebear's 14 million life-to-date sales in 24 hours in just three territories. Some 4.7 million units of the game were sold on November 10 in the US, UK, and Canada, generating $310 million dollars. By comparison, the biggest US day-one film gross, The Dark Knight, took in $158.4 million during its July 20, 2008, premiere.

UK sales of 1.32 million units were announced yesterday, and Modern Warfare 2's North American total comes to 3.38 million units. Some analysts predicted that the game would sell as many as 7 million units when other territories are included, although that total now seems a little high.

Modern Warfare 2's UK and NA numbers best Grand Theft Auto IV's global day-one sales of 3.6 million units, which also generated $310 million in sales--but in all territories worldwide. Released for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, the new Call of Duty made more money in one day than Halo 3 did in one week, although Microsoft and Bungie's sci-fi shooter was exclusive to the Xbox 360.

For more on Modern Warfare 2, read GameSpot's full review and game guide.

286 Comments

  • mystic_knight

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 3:49 am PT

    @immortalassasin The ps3 does have a little crisper gfx thanks to its anti aliasing though its hardly noticeable. This game was a great title though i feel they made it too arcade like. I still prefer COD4 over this but nonetheless it was a decent title.

  • D3A7HJ0K3R

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 12:14 pm PT

    @bigbangsun Just because Killzone didn't sell well doesn't mean it sucks. It was the SH1T for a couple months cuz it was fun.

  • Gaza10

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 4:08 am PT

    Hay guyz, look at us! We sold bazilions of copies so that makes us the besterest.. I mean it had nothing to do with the overhyping and flood marketing...

  • Nekromenos

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 7:52 pm PT

    Good or not, this game is way overpriced. People will probably think Skidrow is a part of the naming in a few weeks... of course, there's only Bob to blame. Greedy hounds.

  • Shraylo

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 7:34 pm PT

    This game deserves all the money its making. I bought my copy at midnight on day one and while I was a little skeptical (tbh I wasn't THAT impressed with CoD4) I popped in the disc and was very surprised. Any gripes that I had with CoD4 were gone. It's fun to play, and I am finding that any spare time when I'm not working or with my girlfriend are times I want to spend hours upon hours in this game. Very impressed, and I hope this kind of stuff keeps up.

  • lathan94

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 7:02 pm PT

    I bought it day 1, so im one of those 4.7 million.

  • blueguykisame

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 5:52 pm PT

    i would have bought/reserved it first thing too if I had money lol

  • jeffv541

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 4:03 pm PT

    @immortalassasin

    hahahaha cleaner on the ps3... dumdum...

  • RedSoxfan67

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 3:20 pm PT

    I can't stop playing multiplayer, i'm pretty sure my xbox will fry or blow up soon lol

  • hayate-nogotoku

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 1:20 pm PT

    @inconnux
    does ur internet suck, i rarely expericence lag

  • bencarps41192

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 12:19 pm PT

    The multiplayer is fun but its campaign is what 4 hours long. The only thing this game has going for it is the multiplayer. I think it is a great game but only in multiplayer. Halo (which i have heard alot of people say doesnt come close to this) had a good story and good multiplayer. I can see however hwy so many people would think MW2's multiplayer is better though. The multiplayer goes to MW2 but story goes to Halo.
    Great game either way.

  • mixcal

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 8:28 am PT

    How is this game over hyped and underrated at the same time? Over hyped=publicize excessively, underrated=underestimate...

  • person2

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 8:26 am PT

    its not that great of a game, but it is still money well spent. Bad company 2 is going to blow it away in customer satisfaction, though i doubt the same pattern in sales

  • CTstryk

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 7:33 am PT

    This game has left every other FPS in the dust. Even Halo don't come close.

  • DanteDelacoix

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 5:16 am PT

    Don't get what all the fuss is about tbh....I don't see anything groundbreaking here.....probably just racked up sales from all the drones buying it. Would much rather play something like Uncharted 2 (which I did and by god im glad i made the right decision)

  • robgam3r

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 2:59 am PT

    so since they mad alot of money can i buy it for 39.99 now lol

  • imperial_agent

    Posted Nov 15, 2009 9:57 pm PT

    and i assume they're only counting day 1 sales. tons of people bought it before release as well, as many stores broke street date.

  • Darkman159

    Posted Nov 15, 2009 9:42 pm PT

    This game deserves it, it is totally awesome. Im glad to see some pure fan service.

    About the campaign, well, quality is better than quantity right? And eight hour campaign is bad.

  • immortalassasin

    Posted Nov 15, 2009 4:04 pm PT

    the graphics look alot cleaner on the ps3.plus the gameplay looks a little slower on the 360.

  • maverick_76

    Posted Nov 15, 2009 3:22 pm PT

    Pretty good, but I don't think this surprises anyone really. Oh and I am someone who has yet to buy it, guess I'm in the minority.

  • rpawloski2458

    Posted Nov 15, 2009 12:22 pm PT

    I guess this is no surprise really; there isn't much competition this fall for gaming dollars since many of the most anticipated games slipped into next year; and considering how COD4 took the world by storm, this was a pretty predictable outcome. I think the campaign is a little disappointing, but online play is awesome.

  • bigart6662000

    Posted Nov 15, 2009 11:28 am PT

    whats codmw2 never heard of that game im still rocking my sega dreamcast playing sonic. any body wanna go online on my high speed modem hit me up!!!!

  • RitterXplode

    Posted Nov 15, 2009 6:35 am PT

    that's a lot of money and a lot of customers.

    i want it but 60 bucks? i will keep on wanting it.

  • SDSkarface

    Posted Nov 15, 2009 6:03 am PT

    how about the sales numbers for the PC version thats what everyone really wants to see gamespot.

  • nikitash posted Nov 15, 2009 3:25 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    nikitash

    Posted Nov 15, 2009 3:25 am PT (hide)

    FUK GAMESPOT.. IW WHOR*S.

  • nikitash posted Nov 15, 2009 3:24 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    nikitash

    Posted Nov 15, 2009 3:24 am PT (hide)

    People in America have Black money save into illegal account so it doesnt matter to them to buy any game.

  • BrolyLSSJ3

    Posted Nov 15, 2009 2:37 am PT

    Well that's what happens when you overhype a underrated game and people are stupid enough to buy into it..yeah thats right give me a thumbs down you idiotic noobs

  • jeffv541 posted Nov 14, 2009 10:00 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    jeffv541

    Posted Nov 14, 2009 10:00 pm PT (hide)

    This game is sooo dumb my roommates are obsessed with it and I played it it's so generic and bland and far fetched and just flat out dumb this franchise needs to dieeeee!

  • darkcomedian

    Posted Nov 14, 2009 8:10 pm PT

    I will wait for the GOTY (you know its coming) so I can get all that DLC they are releasing plus the game so I dont have to pay extra like all those millions of people will end up doing anyway. Yay for getting more bang for your buck

  • MaccyMan

    Posted Nov 14, 2009 2:51 pm PT

    MW2 KILLED MY 360!!!!

  • jgartland

    Posted Nov 14, 2009 2:16 pm PT

    Some great figures. I can't speak for the rest of the country or world, but in the north west of England its sold out in all the stores after the first few hours and not replenished until a few days after. Supermarkets were selling the game at 26-32 pounds where as specialist game stores were retailing at 49 pounds (specialist stores may have stock, but the majority of people I know are waiting for supermarkets because of the notable cheapness). I feel that if supermarkets were to have had more stock on day one, a significantly larger number of copies would of been shifted.

  • Payback7

    Posted Nov 14, 2009 2:14 pm PT

    Full-on. Looking forward to playing it, but Dragon age is keeping me VERY busy atm! HAHA

  • DemigodUltima

    Posted Nov 14, 2009 1:57 pm PT

    I lose more faith in American gaming everyday.

  • Henninger

    Posted Nov 14, 2009 12:51 pm PT

    That is a a huge milestone 4 the next big game 2 conquer! I dont c any other big name games doing it either. Well maybe a new World of Warcraft game could top that but i have no clue if Blizzard is even making 1 & dont care if they do. But yea more power 2 Infinity Ward 4 making a great game.

  • Phantsy16

    Posted Nov 14, 2009 8:48 am PT

    way off its 10 million in 24 hours target

  • Andrewmcq

    Posted Nov 14, 2009 1:07 am PT

    Bought it today on Xbox. What's the fuss all about? It's not a bad game but it's definitely nothing special? 8/10 material.

  • Makhdoom82

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 10:59 pm PT

    Holy Cow !!! WOW

  • georgeorjose

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 10:16 pm PT

    people dont get games just for the campaign no more it also has to do woth the online play. if u dont like it then get psp or a ds.

  • Inconnux

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 9:41 pm PT

    haha they sent me a warning for Term of Service because I called their favorite hyped game a substandard mediocre shooter... wouldn't want to scare away their advertising dollars. people bought this game on the strength of CoD4... enjoy the short mission and all the lag.

  • bigbangsun

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 8:09 pm PT

    Ha ha. The Killzone nerds come out again. It must be sad living in an existence of constant fanboy denial. "Our game should be number 1. In our heads it is." 310 million dollars in one day. Even James Cameron is going "Damn, maybe I'm not the King of the world."

    Killzone 2 didn't even manage to get near Halo numbers and you expect the franchise to touch 310 million dollars in one day. You're simply mad.

  • Echo136

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 8:08 pm PT

    If this game gets Game of the Year then it would be proof that either Hell has frozen over or somebody's been bribing the judges, or possibly both. Sales do not equal a good game, and the fact that the game has an extremely short campaign doesnt help either. If I had to put money down Id probably say Uncharted 2 is gonna get GOTY.

  • speed2fast

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 7:33 pm PT

    @killakomando
    i agree with u. COD 4 is the same price as COD MW2 which is kinda stupid

  • speed2fast

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 7:30 pm PT

    im not surprised of this
    mw2 is a sick game!!!!!!!!!!!

  • killakomando

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 6:43 pm PT

    Price drop = Never.

  • Paul2005

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 5:45 pm PT

    amazing sales omg.. .even though uncharted 2 deserves to win GOTY. this game will win so overhyped. especially when uncharted 2 is a exclusive for ps3.

  • gbbrocks

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 5:32 pm PT

    @ mrzero1982pt2
    I don't see why you should yell at someone for expressing discontent with a game and giving their opinion. After all, sir, you just told us yours, why not let everyone else tell theirs. Perhaps going "this game sucks" and leaving it at that is a pointless waste of space, I'll grant you, but not wanting another fps is a legitamate complaint about an overcrowded genre. I think that this game is actually very fun to play and worth my $60, but you don't have to. And I would love to hear why you disagree with me, and you have every right to say that playing with winy 12 year old sucks, as much as I can say that it's no that bad and that you can get over it and fall in love with the rpg elements of the class system.

  • spag007

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 4:39 pm PT

    Yay! I'm part of video game history, since I'm one of those 4.7 million people!

  • Triton

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 4:05 pm PT

    I did my part and purchased a copy...

  • KiefMaster

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 2:24 pm PT

    I'm going to put COD4 on my gf's computer and watch her play will be awesome

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