It has been revealed by Activision that Modern Warfare 2 boasts the most successful launch period in the history of the entire franchise. In just three days, Modern Warfare 2 has surpassed $800 million in sales, and it shows absolutely no signs of slowing down anytime soon. It’s the new record holder for the fastest-selling Call of Duty title ever, beating out Modern Warfare 3 (2011), and it has only been one weekend.
Furthermore, it was reported that more players logged on to play Modern Warfare 2 than they did with any other Call of Duty title ever released. It’s a monumental achievement for the franchise, especially considering the bad press that the game is currently getting. There are suggestions circulating that the game has launched in an unfinished state, toting mechanics that both irritate and infuriate the player base.
But, as the numbers show, there’s obviously no such thing as bad publicity.
Modern Warfare 2 is a Roaring Success
Image Credit: Activision
Admittedly, there are countless issues with Modern Warfare 2, as we summarised in our comprehensive multiplayer review. From awkward unlock paths to unbalanced time-to-kill measures, and from missing game modes to relatively poor maps, there are plenty of ongoing concerns with the MW2 multiplayer platform. Regardless, the launch of the full game has been an incredible success all-round, and Modern Warfare 2 becomes the new record holder for the fastest-selling Call of Duty title in history.
In a statement, Johanna Faries, the General Manager at Call of Duty, spoke highly of this extremely positive news:
‘Thank you, Call of Duty players, for making Modern Warfare II’s launch one for the record books as well as the highest-grossing entertainment opening of the year. It is our honor and privilege to deliver such a historic launch weekend for the best fans in the world. As amazing as this opening has been, Call of Duty has much more in store. An unprecedented level of support for the Modern Warfare universe is on the horizon and Warzone 2.0’s launch is right around the corner. It’s an incredible time for the franchise.’
While Modern Warfare 2 might not seem like the best Call of Duty game ever released, the numbers certainly speak for themselves. It was arguably through an overwhelming marketing campaign that Modern Warfare 2 succeeded so quickly in becoming a massive commercial success. For months, an unstoppable hype train has been gathering speed, but now that the game has launched, there’s still plenty of work to be done.
‘It’s an Incredible Time for the Franchise’
In December, one of the biggest Call of Duty esports events in the history of the business will take place. In Raleigh, North Carolina, an event will be held that unites the Call of Duty League, the COD Mobile World Championship, and Call of Duty Challengers. Before that, we’ve got the launch of Warzone 2.0, and at the start of 2023, the MW2 ranked mode offering will reportedly be surfacing.
We may have our issues with the Modern Warfare 2 platform at present, but we’re not getting a new Call of Duty title until 2024. For the first time in sixteen years, an annual Call of Duty release will not take place in 2023. For now, we’re yet to determine whether that’s a good thing. One thing is for sure though – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is trying its damnedest to win over the community.