Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has amassed a whopping $1 billion in sales in just 16 days, Activision Publishing has announced.
The military shooter’s milestone has smashed the previous record set by James Cameron’s Avatar, which generated $1 billion in 17 days back in 2009.
Modern Warfare 3 topped the charts in the U.S. and U.K. upon its release, selling over six million copies worldwide in just 24 hours.
“Engagement of our Call of Duty audience continues to rise around the world,” commented CEO of Activision Blizzard, Bobby Kotick. “Call of Duty® as an entertainment franchise has made an indelible mark on popular culture and its broad and continued success is further validation that audiences increasingly value interactive experiences over passive experiences.
Meanwhile, the franchise’s new online service, Call of Duty: Elite, has raked in over six million users since its inception on November 8 alongside Modern Warfare 3. Furthermore, Elite has also taken one million premium subscriptions to date.
Activision Publishing’s CEO Eric Hirshberg commented, “Call of Duty has become that rare entertainment franchise that transcends its own genre. Core gamers love it, as our stellar reviews show. But every year, new people are drawn into Call of Duty.”
“And while the franchise continues to set records, our fans still seem to want more, demonstrated by our record setting start on Call of Duty Elite. We are committed to helping everyone connect, compete and improve their game, Call of Duty style.”