Activision: 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3' Day One Sales Reach Record $400 Million in North America, U.K. 
 


NEW YORK - Video game giant Activision Blizzard's Activision Publishing unit said Friday that its Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has become the biggest entertainment launch ever with an estimated $400 million in sell-through revenue and more than 6.5 million units sold in North America and the U.K. in the first 24 hours of its release.



The video game company cited data from Charttrack and retail customer sell-through information.



Last year, in North America and the U.K., Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops recorded estimated day-one sell-through of $360 million. And in 2009, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, set what was then a day-one record with estimated sell-through of $310 million.



"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 Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby 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."



Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, added: "Call of Duty is more than a game. It's become a major part of the pop cultural landscape. It is a game that core enthusiasts love, but that also consistently draws new people into the medium."

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