18 million Black Ops map packs sold

By Fred Dutton Published 1 September, 2011

Average user spends $76 on the game.

Activision has sold 18 million Call of Duty: Black Ops map packs, the publisher has announced.

CEO Eric Hirshberg revealed the figure during an investor event in Los Angeles earlier today, adding that users have spent an average of $76 on the game - an 18 per cent increase on the sticker price.

In comparison, World at War sold nine million map packs in its first nine months on sale. At $10 per pack, that equated to an average user spend of $68. Modern Warfare 2 sold 11 million downloads over the same time period, at $15 each.

Hirshberg went on to claim that "consumer engagement" in its FPS franchise is at an "all time high".

"There are over 30 million unique players of Black Ops who collectively have amassed, incredibly, more than 2.3 billion hours of play. To put that number in perspective, that's more than a quarter of a million years of play and that means our millions of fans spend more time per day on Black Ops multiplayer than they do on Facebook."

The next entry in the series, Modern Warfare 3, arrives this November. Map packs may well follow.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (55) Latest comment 9 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • ecureuil #1 9 months ago

    Fuck..

  • paulf #2 9 months ago

    kerching

  • captain_Carl #3 9 months ago

    Eurgh.

  • Ahskay #4 9 months ago

    I wish that 76 dollar would translate to 60 EUR. Unfortunately, a game already costs 70EUR in the store with downloadable content adding up. Euro and the UK Pound really get ripped off this way. It's even as silly as expecting Bobby Kotick to say; i love Battlefield 3.

  • oceanmotion #5 9 months ago

    Oh great. That sets the tone.

  • DavidBoring #6 9 months ago

    madness ... (and i am not a COD-hater)

  • Subdominator #7 9 months ago

    That's just crazy. I expected maybe 1.5 million a pack, but 6 million? Holy ****! No wonder Microsoft pays for exclusivity, every map pack secures them about 4 million Gold subscriptions. Thats about 200 million € a year.

  • arcam #8 9 months ago

    Love it or hate it, that is pretty fucking amazing.

    Who can honestly blame publishers for trying to copy Call of Duty when they see those kinds of numbers?

  • xuiton #9 9 months ago

    ridiculous... why are people so stupid and buy into this DLC. Especially £10 for 4 maps, fuck.

  • sfp_noodle #10 9 months ago

    "Our millions of fans spend more time per day on Black Ops multiplayer than they do on Facebook"

    I'm struggling to figure out what's worse to be honest.

  • Sir_STRESSHEaD #11 9 months ago

    I bought them all (bar the latest as i don't play zombies much) and I have always found them worth the money. They added countless hours of extra playability to the game and I feel that they are always of a high quality. So long as they continue to make the extra content of the highest quality possible I will be happy to buy it.

  • HyperTails #12 9 months ago

    @arcam

    "Who can honestly blame publishers for trying to copy Call of Duty when they see those kinds of numbers?"

    How about the actual fanbase that gets fucked over because they decide they want a slice of the CoD pie, completely oblivious to the fact that CoD gamers only like CoD, and not a clone. Then said game gets ripped on by the series fans and CoD gamers don't even notice it, as it requires them to actually stop playing CoD for more than 3 mins.

    Those people can blame them.

    Anyway, these numbers are admittedly impressive, but at the same time I really, REALLY hope Activision milk it dry. Rot from the core is an understatement, EA.

  • arcam #13 9 months ago

    completely oblivious to the fact that CoD gamers only like CoD

    Counter-Strike was a massive influence on Call of Duty, and still has more players than CoD on PC, which shows there is nothing special about CoD that can't be done by another publisher if they get the mix right. CoD hasn't always been the biggest shooter, nor will it be in the future.

    I'm not saying copying the formula is a good thing for gaming (it's not), but I can understand how a CEO could see these numbers and be swayed them.
    Edited by arcam at 01/09/11 @ 18:53

  • Osahi #14 9 months ago

    So it really does print money?

  • DAN.E.B #15 9 months ago

    Expect more and more companys to follow suit and start ramping up their prices for DLC
    Thanks Activision!

  • iwantmynameuk #16 9 months ago

    How many unique users are old enough to play it?

  • icelt #17 9 months ago

    Puke. Last thing we need is Activisions business model of screw the consumer to be rewarded, forget this gainfully rewarded.

    Oh well, at least there are still developers out there like CDProjekt-Red and Runic Games especially (and From Software to a certain extent) who still believe that customers deserve value for their dollar and commitment, as opposed to the arse "rhymes with taping" Acti et al prefers to give us in comparison.
    Edited by icelt at 01/09/11 @ 19:56

  • ajaxpliskin #18 9 months ago

    I have all consoles. I play all kinds of games. That includes CoD. I bought most of the map packs except for one, I thought they were all great level designs, and I'd gladly pay £2.50 for a quality level. Most men spend that or more on one pint of alcohol, and then literally piss it away.

    I've certainly got more than my moneys worth with regards to play time. Just seems that CoD hate is knee jerk reaction of people who have too much time on their hands.

    EDIT
    not to mention of people who don't play CoD and so actually don't have any first hand experience of the DLC packs... which they're all complaining about.
    Edited by ajaxpliskin at 01/09/11 @ 19:59

  • bobfish09 #19 9 months ago

    Just proves that the masses will buy DLCs, which is why EVERY publisher is making DLC content for their games these days.

    Consumers dictate what happens in the industry, no one else, just the consumers.

  • Lamb #20 9 months ago

    Thats awesome! Go Activision! Go! :D

    I'm glad what used to be my favorite company with the original Mechwarrior is kicking ass with this. I just wished they made some other sci-fi jaunt to appeal to me.

    Still good luck to them and COD players enjoy your map packs. :D

  • tastierax #21 9 months ago

    Cod used to keep track of how many idiots populate the planet

  • eviroboy #22 9 months ago

    18 million suckers born every day.

  • xuiton #23 9 months ago

    @Sir_STRESSHEaD

    the problem also lies with the fact that we used to get this shit for free AND they make most of the fucking maps before launch.

    MW3 is apparently launching with 20 maps.... Bet we'll only see about 8 though, the rest will be for suckers who buy DLC.
    Edited by xuiton at 01/09/11 @ 21:14

  • ajaxpliskin #24 9 months ago

    How is that a problem? Some games still do DLC for free, and you aren't forced to pay for it if they don't. You also aren't forced to pay for a product in the first place if you don't think it has sufficient content.

  • Kaminari #25 9 months ago

    Average user is an idiot.

  • The_Inquisitor #26 9 months ago

    I could add up how much I have spent on COD over the years... but I don't wanna know.

  • David_Richardson #27 9 months ago

    @Lamb @ajaxpliskin

    We don't need your sort around here, with your thinking and reasoning. Either grab a pitchfork or begone.

  • Gearskin #28 9 months ago

    Say what you like, if people didn't buy it they wouldn't make it. If people didn't want it they wouldn't pay for it.

    A shit-ton of people love these games.

  • byakuya83 #29 9 months ago

    Post deleted at 10:03:41 30-03-2012

  • byakuya83 #30 9 months ago

    Post deleted at 10:03:41 30-03-2012

  • Negotiator1 #31 9 months ago

    How many dev's are working on COD games now, 4, 5, Activision are so obsessed with getting a COD game out every year that they throw studio after studio at it to get it finished. I'm sure all these studio's would love to move on to something else, but Activision won't let them. It's a sad day when the same game can come out every year and break all sales records, but guess what Activision, I ain't buying it.

  • king26 #32 9 months ago

    I recently bought 8 Killzone 3 maps for £8 all of which were excellent. I also purchased 5 Bad Company 2 Vietnam maps for £10 which included new weapons, vehicles and 60's music. Both these packs offered value for money, CoD map packs just don't offer that kind of value.

  • Bravestinsane #33 9 months ago

    Can't help but feel the old saying "fool and his money" whenever i think of DLC these days, the last REAL value DLC i bought was the GTAV packs, they were huge and only for a £10, huge story lines, new weapons, new characters, GBs of content.

    And yet the same price for 4 maps, feels sneaky tbh.

    I paid £10 for Bad Company 2 vietnam, but that was, maps, weapons, choppers, tanks, lots or new content, to go with the maps this CoD content feels bland in comparison, i have bought very little DLC in the last year or two, most has been going towards indie games tbh.

    22/60

  • xero521 #34 9 months ago

    imo they are just exploting there product because the maps are over priced £8 at the most i wud be willing to pay no other franchise charges as much for maps, but if that many people buy them and it makes them money who can blame them?

  • Mrdynamic0 #35 9 months ago

    Dawn

  • Hindle #36 9 months ago

    Post deleted at 23:04:43 04-04-2012

  • ajaxpliskin #37 9 months ago

    At least CoD DLC doesn't stop players from playing online in matchmaking if they don't want to purchase the map packs.

    Halo Reach, on the other hand, does. I didn't buy the last DLC pack for Reach, and now I cannot enter almost 100% of the matchmaking playlists as a result. This is downright out of order as the product that I payed for in the first place essentially has a hidden subscription charge in the guise of DLC packs, which I'd HAVE to pay for if I wanted to continue playing.

    Bad play Bungie & Microsoft.

  • steveex #38 9 months ago

    @ajaxpliskin

    You do know the message you get only says you don't have the recommended maps, you can still play them. Only two of the playlists require DLC.

  • Sir_STRESSHEaD #39 9 months ago

    @xuiton

    Everybody wants something for free these days. Unless you are actually a programmer/level designer... whatever I reckon very few of us on here know exactly how many man hours, cost and dedication goes into making this content. These are very talented people making money from delivering a quality product. I really don't see a problem with that.

    My last comment got negged... I fail to see why. I'm not a COD fanboy or anything like that and hate to be pegged as an idiot or mug... I'm a fan of all military shooters and shall be purchasing both BF3 and MW3... along with any DLC on offer. Why? Cos I love the games and like to add to the playability.

  • t8yman #40 9 months ago

    people moaning that it sets a precedent need to calm down a bit. I'm not in the hater camp, but I'm also not a fanboy - I actually prefer BF. But paying $15 to extend a games lifespan by another couple of months is no big deal. many many people put in days and days of gametime on cod, so they are obviously enjoying themselves, and are going to pay. I'm usually one of the first to bash companies milking the cash cow, but is this really that bad? its keeping some devs in a job for a start...

  • ajaxpliskin #41 9 months ago

    @steveex

    Not the last time I tried to play. It wouldn't let me join almost all of the matchmaking lists, including Team Slayer and Big Team Battle. I'll try again tonight though.

  • Sicho #42 9 months ago

    here, they are complaining that people are paying for a product they enjoy.
    in the next thread, you are complaining that pirates don't pay for the content they enjoy.
    internet users of today ...

  • Jonny5Alive7 #43 9 months ago

    People buy them because those 4 extra maps give people hours and hours of playing time, so from their point of view its easily worth it. I bought the first map pack, but I'd stopped playing by the time the second one came out.

  • Sir_STRESSHEaD #44 9 months ago

    I am wondering what is worse... the many assholes I've come across on xbox live whilst playing CoD or the elitist f**kholes on here who won't touch CoD and bitch about everyone who does.

    I'll spend my money on whatever I like cheers very much. Neg me if it'll make you feel special.


  • RedPanda #45 9 months ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • gallow #46 9 months ago

    Remembers a time on the PC when official maps were released for free as a reward to the community for supporting the game. I guess those times are long gone.

  • matty_matt_mattmatt #47 9 months ago

    their money bin must be bigger than scrooges

  • lorik #48 9 months ago

    GEEEZZUUUSSSSS What is happening to u ppl...are u fucking nuts ! paying that much for DLC is soo stupid in fact they should be giving it for free ffs.
    Edited by lorik at 02/09/11 @ 10:26

  • Monkey_Puncher #49 9 months ago

    Gotta say their DLC output for Black Ops has looked pretty good quality from what I've seen of it. That's coming from someone who hasn't and has no intention of ever playing the game.

  • Bullet_Tunnel #50 9 months ago

    i can just see every other kotic wannabe boss man calling in a emergency meeting, they will discuss that this is great, and proves we as consumers really want to pay lots of extra on games.... look forwards to a bright future of getting half a game on disc, then paying through the nose for "extras" because thats what we all want as gamers, right? line up bovines, down the ramp and past the man with the bolt gun.

  • Sir_STRESSHEaD #51 9 months ago

    So, are you people whom are against this paid for DLC malarky actually suggesting that we refuse to buy the map packs until they decide to give them away for free? Is that it?

    What the hell is wrong with you people? If the price goes up... then it goes up. Nothing will change that. They aren't going to start selling us half a game in order to rip us off because these studios are dedicated to delivering the best experience they can.

    Anyone with half a business brain can see that what they are doing is actually good for the fans of the games and it's good for the industry.

    All you cry babies that want everything for free aren't going to change the world with your tears, you will just be cutting your nose off to spite your face.

    Don't want to play? Then don't pay... but please don't continue to fill these forums with your incessant whining!

  • Bullet_Tunnel #52 9 months ago

    i dont think most people are complaining because they want free stuff stresshead, (i think dlc is cool, if its some form of worthwhile extension to the game. i think map packs are great, wouldnt pay 1200 each for them though). i hope people are upset because it signifies a future of stuff like capcoms up n coming pallete swap payments, what used to be standard is now extra and chargable. if we keep paying, they will keep testing what shit they can get away with.

  • cyber_nicco #53 9 months ago

    The COD games are good, and I tire of the bashing, but I have to admit that my interest has dwindled a bit lately.

    I'm not really sure what I'm going to do this time around...

  • Sir_STRESSHEaD #54 9 months ago

    @Bullet_Tunnel

    I know why people are upset but I honestly believe that £10 for four multiplayer maps + zombie content is value for money! It's worth it. No two ways about it. It's well made and expands the lifetime playability of the game...

    As for publishers testing the water and seeing what they can get away with charging us... that's gonna happen anyway. As Gaming grows so does demand along with it and costs to keep servers running and maintaining online multiplayer etc. becomes more expensive.

    Don't get me wrong... I really hope that this kind of DLC doesn't get too much more expensive but to be tagged as an "idiot" or "mug" for spending my money on content for games that I love is just stupid and provokes a defensive response.

  • Sir_STRESSHEaD #55 9 months ago

    @gotyourmoney

    Guess what?Times have changed. Console gaming dwarfs PC gaming now and this is how the industry has panned out.

    I don't think these map packs should be given away for free... However I am starting to agree that we should get something every now and then in way of thanks for supporting the game/s.