Modern Warfare 2 smashes UK sales records

It has been nearly a week since the release of Modern Warfare 2, and the first official UK sales figures have just been released. Unsurprisingly, the numbers are very impressive, with sales high enough to not only top the all-formats chart, but also put Modern Warfare 2 up there as one of the most successful entertainment launches ever to hit the British Isles.

According to figures released by ELSPA/GfK-ChartTrack, an estimated 1.23 million units were shifted on the first day of sale, grossing around £48 million. The game has since gone on to sell a total of 1.78 million copies in the six days since release, resulting in a gross of £67.4 million in the British Isles. These figures eclipse the launch of last year’s Grand Theft Auto IV, which made a record £39 million in its first week on sale in April/May 2008.

According to ChartTrack, Modern Warfare 2’s sales record easily surpasses other high-profile UK entertainment launches. Mamma Mia holds the record for the top grossing DVD release for taking £25.8 million in its first week. The video game’s launch also destroyed the highest grossing opening week in the music industry, making the £9.5 million made from Oasis’ album Be Here Now look measly in comparison.

Michael Rawlinson, director general at ELSPA, commented, “These figures tell a clear story. The video games industry is now an established part of the mainstream entertainment mix. Whilst the launch of Modern Warfare 2 has indeed been extraordinary, it is indicative of the growing popularity of video games. One in three people in the UK now play video games regularly.”

This sales success means that Modern Warfare 2 now sits at the top of UK all-formats charts, knocking Nintendo’s Wii Fit Plus from the top spot. VG247, meanwhile, reports that the game has been removed from sale in the Russian market following controversy surrounding one of the game’s single-player levels.