While it's likely a little too early to fully assess the retail impact of Activision's eagerly anticipated Modern Warfare 2, analyst predictions suggesting 5 million unit sales in a mere 24 hours of launch might not be as far-reaching as we first thought.
Activision\'s juggernaut gathers more speed. Image: Activision/Infinity Ward.
Moreover, adding considerable weight to Activision's claim that Modern Warfare 2 will represent the biggest ever videogame launch in history, the UK market's opening-day sales of the authentic militaristic shooter managed to top out at a whopping 1.23 million copies.
That regional milestone, which comes courtesy of the ELSPA and sales tracking service GfK ChartTrack, sees Modern Warfare 2 outselling previous opening-day record holder Grand Theft Auto IV (631,000 copies) by a ratio of almost 2:1 – which equates to around £47 million GBP.
“These first day sales figures are astonishing and clear evidence that videogames are now mainstream in the UK,” enthused ELSPA director general Michael Rawlinson in a statement posted to the organisation's official Web site. “Our form of interactive entertainment has completely come of age,” he added.
Rawlinson was also quick to answer those who've singled out and vilified Modern Warfare 2 for its level of violence, defending the game while also reinforcing the age rating system employed by the UK market.
“Just like some movies and books, the game is specifically intended for an adult audience and accordingly has emotional, adult content,” he said. “So, as an 18-rated video game, it is important that this game is not played by children, and parents should be appropriately vigilant.”
In terms of global sales momentum attributed to Infinity Ward-developed Modern Warfare 2, record pre-orders and some 10,000 midnight launches held on Tuesday by retailers in the U.S. market (which is significantly more influential than the UK) may yet see that 5 million prediction reached – and maybe even smashed.
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