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Modern Warfare 2 Generates over $600 Million in Revenue - News

by VGChartz Staff , posted on 16 November 2009 / 13,284 Views

Brett Walton

VGChartz can exclusively reveal that according to our preliminary data, Modern Warfare 2 sold around 9.4 million copies in week one (5 days on sale) worldwide. This equates to over $600 million in revenue, beating the previous record holder Grand Theft Auto IV which sold 5.9 million units in the same timeframe last year and generated around $450 million in revenue (at a higher average selling price).

Breaking the sales down by console, Xbox 360 took 56% of total sales, PS3 took 38% and the remaining 6% of sales were for the PC version. 5 million copies were sold in the Americas, 1.8 million in the UK and nearly half a million in France.

http://www.myps3.com.au/img/news/COD--Modern-Warfare-2-gets-dated-1.jpg

In terms of hardware boosts, around 75,000 Xbox 360 bundles were sold last week, but all hardware is up significantly as the holiday buildup begins. Modern Warfare: Reflex on Wii sold a modest 70,000 units in week one, but should sell well through the holidays and has every chance of hitting the one million mark before the end of next year.

Keep checking VGChartz for the final figures later this week and also for New Super Mario Bros Wii day one figures later today.


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74 Comments
gtcarro (on 17 November 2009)

This is surprising, especially if we consider that this game is just a polished version of the original Modern Warfare with a few new features.

Let's see:
In graphics this game is not Crysis or Killzone 2 but it has good visuals.

In sound department unfortunally I don't like the soundtrack and voice acting of this game (again).

Gameplay and Online dont innovate. They are good, but more of the same.

The (widely spoken) destructible environments, dont reached the level seen in Killzone 2 (IW tried but failed to get there).

But the big (huge) problem of this game is the SP mode. The SP mode is the major flaw of this game.
I finished MW2 in just 5 hours and the SP mode of this game sucks.
The COD4:MW was bad, but MW2 story is AWFUL.
So many people will be desapointed...

Conclusion:
The most overhyped game of all time proves that the HYPE really works.

Is a pity that this is just another good game, but not the great game that everyone thought it would be, but the truth is that people bought the game before knowing the true quality of this game.

Me and many of my friends, if we knew what we know today would never have bought this game.


Modern Warfare 2 will be:
HYPE of the year: YES
Most overhyped game of all time: YES (undoubtedly)
Fastest-selling game of all time: YES (the HYPE worked well)
Best FPS of the year: Maybe YES (the only rival is Kilzone 2 that not have the same FANbase)
GOTY: NO WAY

MW2 is not GOTY material (its more FAN material).

Why???
Because this game does not innovate. It's so generic and unoriginal, and most importantly, this year was released a game that is much better in graphics, soundtrack, design and story. Basicly a truly breath of fresh air.

What game???
Uncharted 2 (of course) -> GOTY 2009


"...one day, all games will be like Uncharted 2."

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FKNetwork (on 17 November 2009)

Well deserved!

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Sapphire (on 16 November 2009)

Monster game of the year

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NightDragon83 (on 16 November 2009)

Congrats to MW2 selling over 9.4 million copies week 1

Actual number is around 10.4 million copies across all platforms when you factor in all the people who downloaded the game illegally lol!

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TheTruthHurts! (on 16 November 2009)

Amazing numbers for an amazing game. Now put that money to some good use with great game development for future titles you tool bags!

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Attoyou (on 16 November 2009)

why the hell didn't ps3 owners buy uncharted 2 like this?

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Gearbox (on 16 November 2009)

i predicted 9.5-10 million first week. SO CLOSE

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stereotype14 (on 16 November 2009)

With all that money they can't give PC gamers dedicated servers? What a joke.

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Aion (on 16 November 2009)

omg wow

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Flackattack51694 (on 16 November 2009)

well congrats to infinity ward gotta give them that but in my opinion not worth the hype plz stop calling it the best game of all time cause its not and you really wont think that when activision starts charging you a fee to play the game that is gonna realllly suck for xbox ppl

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Kai Master (on 16 November 2009)

oh, by the way, duds and dudettes, we have and new record-man, amazing feat for a world at crisis.

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Kai Master (on 16 November 2009)

Does PC sales (6% of the total) include the digitally distributed sales? or only boxes at retail?

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darthdevidem01 (on 16 November 2009)

Stop spamming richard!



@figures

meh...FF13 will do that in one day!!!!!!!!

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richard50 (on 16 November 2009)

That are amazin sales for Ms! 55 Percent of 9.4 millions meas about 5millions only on the 360 : O In 5 days???? unbelievable

The publishers make money like Dagobert Duck on the 360! Gratulations....

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richard50 (on 16 November 2009)

If 360 doesn't beat PS3 this week, their only chance left is Black Friday. If they can't do it then either, then 360 has lost 2009 completely

Oh, thats i think that is no Problem for Ms! they had sold 8<million Konsoles more than Sony, so Bill Gates will sleep well at this moment

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shanbcn (on 16 November 2009)

lol @ amacfantasy

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richard50 (on 16 November 2009)

If 360 doesn't beat PS3 this week, their only chance left is Black Friday. If they can't do it then either, then 360 has lost 2009 completely

oh, thats no problem for Ms. They had sold 8million more in America.... so its ok, if the sales go a litte bit down...... I think Mr, Gates will sleep well at this moment.

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richard50 (on 16 November 2009)

Xbox 360 took 56% of total sales, PS3 took 38% and the remaining 6% of sales were for the PC version. 5 million copies were sold in the Americas, 1.8 million in the UK and nearly half a million in France.


wow, that means about 5Million Kopies was sold only on the 360!! That are real great numbers. Respekt!!

On 360 the companies make money like Dagobert Duck : D

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amacfantasy (on 16 November 2009)

if no site out there has the info on the 7 day sales ill just look at vgchartz following week sales and do my own 2 day addition estimate :D

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amacfantasy (on 16 November 2009)

I want to know what the 7 day week sales will be not 5

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Boutros (on 16 November 2009)

@disolitude

MW2 is banned in Russia lol

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bmmb1 (on 16 November 2009)

@Toddifer - look at the Reflex reviews in Metacritic, most of them are very positive to say the least. And 99% of actual player reviews I have read of this game totally contradict the few negative reviews.

@nofingershaha - "I dont get what wii owners really want anymore". Well... Sin and Punishment 2 first week numbers are Japan only, Dead Space Extraction is a game no one really wanted (though personally I bought it), while Reflex is a game people did want - and apparently it's a good game. Very simple.

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Seece (on 16 November 2009)

Incredible numbers!

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hunter_alien (on 16 November 2009)

Wow... blew every expectation away :o

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Heavenly Sigma (on 16 November 2009)

That's alot of bundles. It's going to be close between the twins again.

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disolitude (on 16 November 2009)

So English speaking countries accounted for ~7 million of the 9.4 million sales for this game. (if you count Australia)

I doubt Russians bought it very much...and I can't blame them if they didn't... Anyone with russian accent = bad guy in Call of duty games.

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kunaixhaku (on 16 November 2009)

dam wud've been cool to see it go over halo 3 sales on the ps3 alone so close...now we eagerly wait to see the hardware boosts between ps3 and 360 :O i think ps3 will lead a bit with the help of europe and with the passing of the walmart deal for the 360

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unknown1143 (on 16 November 2009)

Modern Warfare 2 is an excellent game. anyone who says otherwise no matter how much they may dislike the "war" genre is either trying to be "cool" or just isn't fully there.
I owning a ps3 console congratulate Sony on their rapid increase and gain in sales compared to the Xbox360.
In england many children have not yet purchased this game due to exams and i predict that the sales of MW2 will drop a little and stay at a constant rate up until the new year.

Personal rating for MW2 on the Sony PS3;
Graphics:85/100
single player: 80/100
split-screen: 95/100
spec-ops: 80/100
game life: 98/100
price: 80/100
overall: 90

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moondeep (on 16 November 2009)

@ Silver-Tiger,

Correct, the day after our Thanksgiving holiday is Black Friday, and that day (and the next day) combine to equate to ENORMOUS sales leading up to Christmas. It's the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season in America :)

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dorbin2009 (on 16 November 2009)

No offense to anyone who commented as such below, but you are kind of messed up in the head if you think this is a "low point in gaming history" just because you don't prefer FPS's and you want to be the cool kid that hates MW2. If anything you should be happy that a video game can steal the entertainment market like it has.

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Munkeh111 (on 16 November 2009)

So 3.6m for PS3.... this game is slightly nuts

I don't really get how GTA IV had an average selling price, given that its SE was not that widespread. I suppose they might have sold more in Europe? Do you have any data on how much the hardened and prestige editions sold?

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Silver-Tiger (on 16 November 2009)

Can please somebody clarify the Black Friday to non-Americans?

How I understood it now, is that this is the day after Thanksgiving, and usually many retailers are giving heavy rebates, is that right?

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spynx (on 16 November 2009)

I hope one day, we'll a game that would sell to break the highest grossing amount in movies. I could see a head way with MW2 and as ps3 starts dominating that dream is near possible.

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GianCarmen (on 16 November 2009)

Are the numbers for Modern Warfare Reflex world wide

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donsterydo2 (on 16 November 2009)

These numbers are just insane O_o

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z101 (on 16 November 2009)

It a very sad day for core gamers and the gaming industrie at all. MW2 is truly a bad game. More a rail shooter than an "real" shooter (but even Dead Space: Extraction is better!).

Yes the MW2 Multiplayer is fun, but the Solo-Mission is dull and boring.

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Toddifer (on 16 November 2009)

I'm kind of surprised that Reflex sold 70,000 given the reviews I've read of it...I figured it'd actually be less.

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Ravage27 (on 16 November 2009)

one of the lowest point in gaming history :/

How many great games have their sales stolen by mw2's hype? EA wish Brutal Legends sold 10% of that figure, and gems like Demon's Souls deserve at least 30% of that.

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huaxiong90 (on 16 November 2009)

Only $600 million?! Bobby Kotick is not pleased.

If 360 doesn't beat PS3 this week, their only chance left is Black Friday. If they can't do it then either, then 360 has lost 2009 completely.

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TheThunder (on 16 November 2009)

Take that Harry Potter, The Dark Knight, Michael Jackson and GTA IV HA !!

Seriously $600 mil in one week is HUGE that is what the Titanic did life time in the US (I know I know inflation yeah yeah). Hot damn this record will stay on top for a long time since I feel this is the high point of the MW (and COD) series in terms of sales but who knows.

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Hidalgo (on 16 November 2009)

I agree with Kowanicki.

But IMHO 360 has a good chance of having better sales than PS3. If not this week, their last chance for beating PS3 WW is Black Friday. Anyway, PS3 as today seems like this Holiday's Season virtual winner in the HD war.

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dolemit3 (on 16 November 2009)

I still have my copy wrapped up in plastic. Can't wait to play it but Dragon Age is too addicting at the moment.

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kitler53 (on 16 November 2009)

so if xbox has a 30% increase in others/japan and remained stagnant in the americas then i calculate 360 sales to be about 274K. so since ps3 sold 281K last week and saw at least something of an increase then ps3>360 this week again.

if the 360 is going to outsell the ps3 any time this year it will have to be the week of black friday then.

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postofficebuddy (on 16 November 2009)

So just out of curiosity, is this the biggest opening week for any entertainment event ever? All of the Infinity Ward and Activision employees must be wearing money hats right now lol.

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luisgvm (on 16 November 2009)

WOW. thats like a lot jajajaja!.

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Baalzamon (on 16 November 2009)

Lets analyze this critically: "around 75,000 Xbox 360 bundles were sold last week"...we can assume this does not include the elite bundle because this would be very unimpressive if it was. So, we can take the 250,000 the 360 sold last week, take 75,000 off for the gift card boost, add 75,000 for the MW2 bundle. Add maybe 10,000 more for people who just got an arcade because the game came out. Then lets add 25,000 more because the holiday season is coming around and people are getting more positive about the economy. 360 sales this week=286,000...35000/251000=13.94% increase...not massive, but I would consider this significant

Now, ps3 didn't have the mw2 bundle, but if we take that ps3 sold 38/56=19/28 as much as the 360. Lets take the 75,000 bundles plus the 10,000 others I mentioned=85,000 x (19/28)=57678...57500. Now lets take the 25,000 increase for holidays coming around (25,000/251000=1%)...1%x281,000 sales for ps3=28,000+57500=85,500 increase (85,500/281000)=30.42% increase and a total of 366,000 units sold.

Just to be conservative and not get bashed by 360 fans, lets say 360 sells 295k and ps3 sells 350k...Overall, the ps3 had a much larger boost than 360 because the 360 had a 75k boost last week from the gift card, so the MW2 boost hardly cancels this, and you add in the holiday season boost and you have around 15% increase for 360 and 30% increase for ps3.

350k-295k=55k units more...360 will likely win November in America, but at the moment, it is appearing like ps3 is headed into the holiday season in a positive manner.

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--OkeyDokey-- (on 16 November 2009)

@ kowenicki

I think he meant the 360 would have had a large drop but MW2 kind of made up for it.

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sully1311 (on 16 November 2009)

kowen: could it b all hav y-o-y increases?

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nofingershaha (on 16 November 2009)

wtf, COD4 reflex sold 70k while Sin and Punishment 2 and Dead Space Extraction did horribly low during its first week?

I dont get what wii owners really want anymore.

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ethomaz (on 16 November 2009)

@heruamon

I think it's WW.

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heruamon (on 16 November 2009)

Impressive results for MW2...MW3 in 2011 will be the final hurrah of this gens consoles before the next ones are launched. The MW2 are NA only, or am I mistaken?

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ethomaz (on 16 November 2009)

My prediction:

360 (little drop): 220k
PS3 (little up): 290k

Without MW2 bundle 360 should drop to 180k or less.

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sully1311 (on 16 November 2009)

so mayb just ps3 over 300,000 this week?

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libellule (on 16 November 2009)

it all depends if the 360 bundle nbr (75k) are related to the specific 360 Elite bundle or any 360 bundle+ MW2, to NA or WW ...

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MetalGearSolid_4ever (on 16 November 2009)

So is the 360 > PS3 this week ?

ioi, were the 75k 360 bundles sold in America or Worldwide ?

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numonex (on 16 November 2009)

We are all looking forward towards the sales numbers.

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sully1311 (on 16 November 2009)

waron: they say that for every 1 person who buys a song, 40 people have downloaded it.

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JaggedSac (on 16 November 2009)

I am surprised the bundles sold well.

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waron (on 16 November 2009)

more people downloaded MW2 for pc from torrents in less than a day than bought on a whole launch week - that's just sad:/

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sully1311 (on 16 November 2009)

would b gd 2 see 360 and ps3 numbers over 300,000

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sully1311 (on 16 November 2009)

I'm not sure whether to expect legs for this game?

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ethomaz (on 16 November 2009)

I liked to see how this sales affected final hardware numbers on 360 and PS3.

This week will be interesting.

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puffy (on 16 November 2009)

As expected, wonder what kind of legs the game will have.. MW: R on track to sell about as well as WaW so ~1.3 million or so depending on legs of course.

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TheFlyingDutchman (on 16 November 2009)

So when will the next episode appear?

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shanbcn (on 16 November 2009)

Xbox360: 5.26 m
PS3: 3.57 m
PC: 0.56 m

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toastboy44562 (on 16 November 2009)

it sold so well in europe because aericans get attacked in the game...

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Buzzi (on 16 November 2009)

Well, I'm more interested in the last statement, "Keep checking VGChartz for the final figures later this week and also for New Super Mario Bros Wii day one figures later today".

Anyway, great for Activision, I hope for the people who bought the game not to need to pay for online, like Activision hinted...

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--OkeyDokey-- (on 16 November 2009)

5 million in America and 4.4 million Europe. Huh. That's closer than I would have thought.

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toastboy44562 (on 16 November 2009)

woo go hd!

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