Activision today announced that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has racked up sales of $310 million in North America and the U.K. within the first 24 hours, confirming earlier estimates. This makes the game officially the biggest launch in entertainment history, surpassing Grand Theft Auto IV.
"The Call of Duty franchise has become a cultural phenomenon showing the power of video games as an entertainment medium," said Mike Griffith, CEO of Activision Publishing. "The shattering of these entertainment records is a testament to the compelling, cinematic and uniquely engaging experience that the Call of Duty brand delivers. Modern Warfare 2 has taken interactive experience to unprecedented heights setting a new standard for entertainment."
Over 10,000 retail outlets opened in the U.S. at midnight on Tuesday, November 10 to celebrate the event. Modern Warfare 2 has sold 4.7 million copies in just North America and the United Kingdom.
