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UK top 40: Modern Warfare 3 sells fewer than Black Ops

Skyrim, second, is fifth biggest of 2011.

UPDATE: The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment has been in touch to say the "just under two million units sales" and £83.1 million revenue figures for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 are "unverified" and should be disregarded.

ORIGINAL STORY: Modern Warfare 3 demolished all opposition to conquer the UK video game sales chart this week.

Surprisingly, Modern Warfare 3 sold fewer units in the UK in one week than previous Call of Duty instalment Black Ops.

Modern Warfare 3 sold "just under" two million copies - 1.6 per cent less than Black Ops, according to Gfk Chart-Track.

However, Modern Warfare 3 took more money than Black Ops, raking in £83.1 million - 1.5 per cent more.

Combine the money made by Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops' in their opening weeks, and they total more than the combined opening weekends of all eight Harry Potter films in the UK.

More copies of Modern Warfare 3 were sold on Xbox 360 than on PlayStation 3 - 59 per cent to 41 per cent.

Activision announced that Modern Warfare 3 sold a record breaking 6.5 million copies in the US and UK in one day. Those sales generated $400 million, which made Modern Warfare 3 the biggest entertainment launch - including movies' opening weekends - ever.

Modern Warfare 3's unassailable lead meant RPG Goliath Skyrim settled for a second-place debut. But what a second-place; Skyrim had the fifth biggest opening week of the year (after Modern Warfare 3, FIFA 12, Battlefield 3 and only just behind Gears of War 3). Also, Skyrim more than doubled the opening week tally of Fallout: New Vegas, making it Bethesda's fastest selling game ever.

Xbox 360 claimed a huge retail majority of Skyrim sales, with 59 per cent. Only 26 per cent of shop-bought Skyrim copies were on PS3, and 15 per cent were on PC (digital sales aren't counted).

The launch of two huge titles, plus a chart filled with numerous blockbusters, meant this week was the biggest ever for UK video games. Total take for the week was £120.8 million (you can see how much Modern Warfare 3 dominated).

Uncharted 3 was sixth, followed by Nintendo DS newcomer Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo. Moshi Monsters is a massive web-based MMO for kids, in case you're wondering.

Batman: Arkham City, Zumba Fitness and Wii Party rounded out the top 10.

This Week Last Week Title Platform(s)
1 New entry Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 DS, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
2 New entry The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim PC, PS3, Xbox 360
3 1 Battlefield 3 PC, PS3, Xbox 360
4 3 FIFA 12 PS3, Xbox 360
5 5 Just Dance 3 Wii, Xbox 360
6 2 Uncharted 3 PS3
7 New entry Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo DS
8 4 Batman: Arkham City PS3, Xbox 360
9 8 Zumba Fitness Wii, PS3, Xbox 360
10 38 Wii Party Xbox 360
11 9 Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure 3DS, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
12 7 Forza 4 Xbox 360
13 15 Michael Jackson: The Experience DS, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
14 6 Football Manager 2012 PC
15 12 Kinect Sports: Season 2 Xbox 360
16 14 Lego Pirates of the Caribbean 3DS, DS, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
17 20 Rage PC, PS3, Xbox 360
18 13 PES 2012 PS3, PC, Xbox 360
19 22 Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn 3DS, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
20 11 F1 2011 PC, PS3, Xbox 360
21 10 Sonic Generations PS3, Xbox 360
22 27 Cars 2 DS, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
23 21 Mario Kart Wii Wii
24 16 GoldenEye Reloaded PS3, Xbox 360
25 17 The Sims 3: Pets 3DS, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
26 18 Deus Ex: Human Revolution PC, PS3, Xbox 360
27 24 Driver: San Francisco PC, PS3, Xbox 360
28 35 Just Dance 2 Wii
29 19 Gears of War 3 Xbox 360
30 23 Dead Island PC, PS3, Xbox 360
31 25 Disney Universe PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
32 26 Wii Sports Resort Wii
33 39 Dance Central 2 Xbox 360
34 29 Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 DS, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
35 28 The Sims 3 DS, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
36 30 Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood PC, PS3, Xbox 360
37 33 Let's Draw DS
38 Re-entry L.A. Noire PC, PS3, Xbox 360
39 New entry Go Vacation Wii
40 34 Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars 3DS, DS, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360

UKIE Games Charts compiled by GfK Chart-Track.