Last weekend, a new Call of Duty was released. By now, everyone is over that franchise, with what seems like eleven and five and twenty and four hundred (I got maths lessons from Jacob Zuma) sequels since it hit the really, really, really big time with Call of Duty: 4: Modern Warfare, right? Well, no.
It’s still a juggernaut, and one of the most enduringly popular game franchises on the planet. Over the weekend, Black Ops 3 has sold through $500 million US worth of product. That’s sold to customers and not in to retail channels, which makes it doubly impressive for a weekend – and gives Black Ops the honour of being the year’s biggest entertainment launch weekend for any medium.
“Call of Duty‘s millions of passionate fans have shown us, yet again, the strength of their commitment to this enduring franchise,” said Bobby Kotick, Activision Blizzard’s Chief Executive Officer, presumably rubbing his nipples with $100 dollar notes. “Call of Duty: Black Ops III is the biggest entertainment launch this year in any medium, and bigger than any theatrical opening weekend ever.”
But it’s not just about sales. It’s also about user engagement, which is the now popular metric usually used by people who aren’t selling games as well as they used to.
“The Call of Duty: Black Ops III launch is bigger than any game, any movie, or any entertainment launch this year. But more importantly, our fans are engaging more deeply with the franchise than ever before. In fact, so far, people are playing Black Ops III for more hours per player than any Call of Duty game on record,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, mentally thinking about the huge bonus he’s likely to receive at the end of the financial year. “Call of Duty is more than a game, it’s a year round passion for a growing base of millions of fans and it’s only gaining momentum.”
Sony’s pretty chuffed with its new Call of Duty co-marketing. PlayStation, they say is now the place to play Call of Duty.
“As we‘ve said from the start, PlayStation is the best place to play Call of Duty, and this record-breaking launch shows how true this statement is. Black Ops III is the biggest launch of the year so far, and the PlayStation Nation is ready. We’re proud to call PlayStation the home of Call of Duty and look forward to supporting our community with DLC map pack content first,” said Adam Boyes, VP of Publisher and Developer Relations, Sony Computer Entertainment America.
And they’re probably right. The game has set a record on the PlayStation 4 “as the best-selling digital full game by units sold in its first day of availability in PS4 history.” It’s also sold pretty well on the Xbox One – but not on PC, because nobody really buys Call of Duty on PC anymore, folowing years of terrible ports.
I have no idea what that means as a figure of units sold, but it seems that Activision can safely assume that the franchise is still a healthy one. Call of Duty games still have long, long sales tails (people are still regularly buying Ghosts and Advanced Warfare), so it’s set to earn them stacks of money for the foreseeable future.
Last Updated: November 12, 2015
miaau
November 12, 2015 at 08:20
So, game of the year on sales alone is this game, then?
Honestly, of the two big games I have played this year (WC3 and DA:I – last year?), neither hit that totally sweet spot, as both were too long. I did not feel completely wowed. In other years, it sort of makes sense to me for my own personal GOTY. This year? Based on play numbers alone, it may by Kotor 1, Civ Beyond Earth (not sure I like it….)or WC3.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 12, 2015 at 08:44
But Wing Commander 3 is ancient.
miaau
November 12, 2015 at 08:48
True. BUT, if you look past the poor graphics, 2d game-play and ridiculous difficulty levels of some missions, it has FMV!!!!
Also,
http://www.wcsaga.com/
schitsophrenic-toothbrush
November 12, 2015 at 08:48
Ah yes good old fashioned wing commander
miaau
November 12, 2015 at 08:48
http://www.wcsaga.com/
Frik van der Hewerskink
November 12, 2015 at 09:03
He is talking about Warcraft 3 dude
miaau
November 12, 2015 at 10:52
another good one!
WitWolfy
November 12, 2015 at 10:02
Totally got to play that again.
Kromas untamed
November 12, 2015 at 11:16
SC2 so far is amazeballs.
Mossel
November 12, 2015 at 11:18
Play Life is Strange! That hit the spot for me. Excellent game!
Kromas untamed
November 12, 2015 at 11:19
The ending was …. poorly received by myself.
Mossel
November 12, 2015 at 11:21
I rather liked it. The final episode overall was a bit boring though. But ep 3 and 4!! OMFG! O_O
Kromas untamed
November 12, 2015 at 11:23
I agree. 1 was still finding its feet. 2 set up the plot.3 and 4 really beefed out the story and the first half of 5 was pretty damn good. Then it all went downhill pretty fast. Personally I think they did not stick the landing. Still a very good game though.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
November 12, 2015 at 08:21
“presumably rubbing his nipples with $100 dollar notes”
This^^
oVg
November 12, 2015 at 09:05
He actually ended up on the board for Coca Cola and acted alongside Brad Pit thanks to his foresight that making videogames will eventually win out.
Bobby Kotick FTW (The Richard Branson of games)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Kotick
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
November 12, 2015 at 09:23
That is impressive!
oVg
November 12, 2015 at 09:24
Still love to hate him 😛
Pieter Kruger
November 12, 2015 at 08:27
Brostation 4, pew pew pew! ????
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 12, 2015 at 08:42
Sony Pewnies!
oVg
November 12, 2015 at 09:01
That just proves how many 360 to PS4 converts there actually are.
Gardos
November 12, 2015 at 09:57
I’m a PS3 to XB1 convert. :/
Hammersteyn
November 12, 2015 at 11:05
LOL oops
Hammersteyn
November 12, 2015 at 11:05
bingo
Hammersteyn
November 12, 2015 at 08:27
http://media.giphy.com/media/1dSp29nFlA8eI/giphy.gif
HairyEwok
November 12, 2015 at 08:43
Poor Gaben 🙁
HairyEwok
November 12, 2015 at 08:45
I just grinned when i saw Fallout 4 has a peak of 444 825 players and Black Ops 3 a peak of 63 681 on PC
Hammersteyn
November 12, 2015 at 08:45
XD
Geoffrey Tim
November 12, 2015 at 08:46
As I said, nobody busy CDd on Pc anymore. Too many kak ports, year after year, has driven PC gamers elsewhere.
HairyEwok
November 12, 2015 at 08:46
It’s driven them to the sandbox XD
Mossel
November 12, 2015 at 11:15
It’s driven them to Battlefield!
Mark Treloar
November 12, 2015 at 10:36
Yet i’m sure that still more players than the last COD had
Mossel
November 12, 2015 at 11:15
Yeah that’s like twice as much. Which is actually pretty good.
Mossel
November 12, 2015 at 11:16
60k is actually not that bad considering the last two had peaks at 20-30k…and after 3 months <10k
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November 12, 2015 at 08:56
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oVg
November 12, 2015 at 08:59
This proves that there are more casual gamers than hardcore gamers.
WitWolfy
November 12, 2015 at 10:06
Cant help but see every new COD becoming more Titanfall each year.
Hammersteyn
November 12, 2015 at 11:04
Cant wait for titans then
Pieter Kruger
November 12, 2015 at 11:07
Nothing wrong with that, Titanfall is excellent!????????????
WitWolfy
November 12, 2015 at 12:33
Not hating, just something I noticed.
Sageville
November 12, 2015 at 15:26
In order for me to win a competition, the next COD better be set on a Lunar Mining colony with variable gravity.
Pieter Kruger
November 12, 2015 at 09:35
Just remember folks, reporting $500m worth of product sold is considered “deceptive” by Lazygamer, watch out for their follow up article ripping Activision and Sony new ones…….????
Mark Treloar
November 12, 2015 at 10:39
Except this article states it as product sold to customers, whereas the article you are referring to, was a sales to retailers which is deceptive. So not likely to be a follow up this time around.
Pieter Kruger
November 12, 2015 at 10:56
You are wrong, the whole article was about MS being deceptive by not mentioning specific units sold and only using total amount from launch(including bundles, special editions etc. exactly what happened here!)! But you’re right, there probably won’t be a follow up because………Sony!
Hammersteyn
November 12, 2015 at 11:18
Actually Bobby Kottick mentioned $500m and this is on all platforms and not just Sony. Yes Sony had a thing to say but MS wont. You know why? All the attention needs to stay on Halo 5 because it’s an exclusive.
Pieter Kruger
November 12, 2015 at 11:26
I know, but that’s besides the point won’t you agree? What’s good for the goose……????
Hammersteyn
November 12, 2015 at 11:43
Personally I would have saved the argument for an article about Sony and Battlefront 3 sales.
Sageville
November 12, 2015 at 15:37
Nah, “deceptive” only if you flub the figures like Microsoft did.
WitWolfy
November 12, 2015 at 10:03
They’re not getting my money, thats for sure.