Early copies of MW2 break street date

By Games Industry.biz Published 6 November, 2009

The Hut/LoveFilm admit mistake.

Copies of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 have begun turning up on consumer's doormats, with both LoveFilm and The Hut sending the game out early.

In mainland Europe High Street retailers have begun selling copies of the game in-store, with one consumer showing GamesIndustry.biz copies of the PC version of the game and a receipt as proof of purchase.

The Hut, which also dispatches games for LoveFilm, admitted the blunder in a statement to GamesIndustry.biz, stating: "We are dedicated to getting products to customers on release. We use Royal Mail as our preferred courier and were advised to dispatch on Thursday for delivery on Tuesday due to the impending strike action. This was called off on Thursday evening and we have contacted Royal Mail to hold the product until Tuesday."

Images of the game along with covering notes from retailers have begun surfacing on the internet, as users post pictures and gain the kudos of playing the game early.

Activision's title isn't officially due until Tuesday 10th November, with retailers opening at midnight to begin selling the game. In the UK, an official launch will take place at HMV in London, with rival retailers GAME and Gamestation also opening the majority of their outlets for eager consumers.

HMV said earlier this week that it would not be sending out early copies of the game, and today GAME told Eurogamer.net that it would honour the street date.

Picture of Games.

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Comments (80) 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • VandelayIndustries #1 2 years ago

    Come on ShopTo Vandelay want's his MW2.

  • Vice.Destroyer #2 2 years ago

    Is it fair to say that this is one instance where the postal strike actually worked in gamers favour?

  • Xerx3s #3 2 years ago

    Fuck, and I cancelled because the hut screwed me over the last time. FFS. Oh well.

  • bad09 #4 2 years ago

    I dreading seeing the sales figures for MW2 in a week or two. From the sounds of it not many are bothered by the price hike sadly.

    Pandoras box is open people and gamers helped them open it....

  • paulf #5 2 years ago

    @bad09

    if its as good as the first the price raise will be worth it - for this game only, people just won't spend 55 quid on any bog standard game

    got mine for 40 anyway .. ;)

  • bad09 #6 2 years ago

    No game is worth £55rrp but keep telling your it's a good deal paulf :)

    You got MW2 for £40 because all the retail outlets know they can afford a little hit on this one as all the sheep will still buy it but how long do you think retail will swallow the rise? Don't think for a second EVERY big game won't come at higher price now. You've all given the industry a green light.

    Oh well not my problem anymore, I rent unless it's under £25! :)

  • frankfurter209 #7 2 years ago

    Tomorrow for every story on MW2 have 2 drinks. You will be shitfaced in no time

  • Skurmedel #8 2 years ago

    bad09: I agree, I would like to see it crash and burn, but yeah... I expect it to be a roaring success for them as well.

  • Fat_Pigeon #9 2 years ago

    The games industry has been due a price hike for a long time, it was coming weather we liked it or not, it just took a big name to bite the bullet and take all the flak!

    Stop with all the 'you idiots caused games to be more expensive' bollock's it becoming tiresome before other devs have even started...

    Also it's £5 and I'm going to guess I will get more than 10% more gameplay out of it then say the very good batman AA
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/09 @ 18:50

  • Der_tolle_Emil #10 2 years ago

    All I can say is: Welcome to Europe my fellow British people - where the RRP of games has been 60 pounds for at least 15 years.

  • Breach #11 2 years ago

    They will charge what people will pay, its business.

    £55 is expensive but i doubt many will pay the RRP.
    25 years ago, Atari 2600 new release games were £30, so in that sense it doesnt seem too bad.

  • Ansob. #12 2 years ago

    Does it actually count as breaking the street date if something was sent out on time to arrive on release day but due to the Royal Mail unexpectedly doing their job well it arrived a bit early?

  • youhavenomail #13 2 years ago

    Well, it's rumoured (I'd imagine purely on the law of averages) that Asda will be doing it for £27 for 48 hours, so the price hike isn't much of a concern to me. If I buy it on Tuesday or sometime next year, that's around what I'll be paying for it. No more, hopefully less.

  • waynenot #14 2 years ago

    I've only done the first two missions, three hours of MP and two different spec ops missions and must say I'd have paid triple the asking price without blinking. It's astoundingly comprehensive and will provide years of entertainment.

    If only more big sequels lived up to the hype like this.

  • Shadders #15 2 years ago

    How could they make this "mistake"?

  • Benno #16 2 years ago

    LOL, and I used to rip my housemate so much for using the HUT

    he has one over on me now though

  • Syrette #17 2 years ago

    waynerot probably has more money than sense.

  • HoriZon #18 2 years ago

    Got mine today but its a bit crap so sold it on eBay last week.

    7/10

  • waynenot #19 2 years ago

    @foreverafternothing

    I did pay 70 quid to get my copy today, but that phrase is always a curious one as the sense I have has put me in the position not be worried about money these days. Go figure.

  • Fat_Pigeon #20 2 years ago

    Bad is a gamer who only buys preowned and rents games so will probably rent modern warfare making him a hypocrit on one hand (he's still endorsing the game it still had to be bought to be rented out) and on the other hand buying only pre owned games Therefore he's crippiling the gaming industry and forcing the price hike.... Go figgure
    Edited by 2 at 06/11/09 @ 20:45

  • bad09 #21 2 years ago

    @ Zedfragg

    Well it's not a high horse I'm just very consumer minded and get annoyed for everyone (it's a curse!), It's just a shame most consumers aren't the same :) I don't claim to be any better than anyone either, but I'm not just gonna say "oh well gamers are quite happy with that price so it don't matter". It does matter and it's wrong many off you all rushing for it.

    Sorry you are all sheep IMO. Acti raise the price (for no real reason as far as I can see considering the obscene money COD and it's DLC rakes in) so retailers need to cut THEIR price to make it reasonable and you all still rush with open arms, that to me is sheep. Besides did you not read the post above you!

    Like I said now you all have shown everyone that they can do it and how long before retailers stop taking the hit? By buying COD you have all given all of us a price hike. Do you REALLY think all won't follow Acti? Some games went up as soon as the MW2 price was announced! I think that gives me and other not happy about the pricing reason to slag you all off a little :)

    Of course some people on here madly think the price is worth it but I wonder How many of these MW2 buyers will be so happy when EVERY game is at a higher price and retailers can't afford to take that bullet for us...


    @ waynenot

    Dude 70 notes?.....70?.....on one game?....7000 pennies?......One? One game? Sorry dude I loved MW (and every COD even 5) but WFT is wrong with you?

  • Skurmedel #22 2 years ago

    Yes, what a horrible man. If nobody bought second hand games surely prices would be extremely low. He should be hung high for pushing the price up with his frugal antics. In fact we should gut him and knit a sweater of his intestines and let slip the dogs on it.

  • bad09 #23 2 years ago

    @ Fat_Pigeon

    Actually no out of principal I won't be renting. Also informed the family no MW2 for birthday or Xmas.

    Oh and I'm not killing the industry (they've had my cash for over Twenty years) their pricing and DLC tatics pushed to renting and a price rule. I can't afford all the games I want to play at their pricing so at their pricing it's not a lost sale as I won't buy at that.

    Also while all the console stuff is rented now I actually don't buy much 2nd hand TBH (well except PS2). See with a price rule I no longer pay the stupid pricing so I no longer need to sell my old games to fund the new ones - funny how works isn't it? Nowadays when I do I buy on Steam, so when I say I pay no more £25 that is rarely in a shop or 2nd hand.

    OK enough consumerwatch now, I'm neglecting the Mrs so I'm off before I get in trouble! Enjoy your evening guys!

  • local_celebrity #24 2 years ago

    Tried my luck with Argos today. Picked up one of the copies they had out, sauntered over to a bloke who looked like a bit of a geezer, checked there were no managers about, then asked him - in a nudge, nudge, wink, wink kinda way - if they had the game in stock.

    His reply?

    "Yeah man, but I can't sell it to you. Why don't you just mod your Xbox? Download it for FREE, innit?"
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/09 @ 12:30

  • slimspudly #25 2 years ago

    no one seems to remember that when the 360 was first released back in 2005 every game that game out with it was around 49.99

    now when you think about it one of those games was perfect dark zero people paid that price for a pretty shoddy game. if you enjoy COD enough the price tag should warrant itself and to me it does. am i mad? YES

  • HardCoreGamer999 #26 2 years ago

    please EUROGAMER ...turn off the annoying bravehaert banner !!
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/09 @ 22:10

  • tachometer #27 2 years ago

    Streets of Rage 2 on Megadrive 1993 - £49.99 - adjusted for inflation £80.00 - we've never had it so good!

  • woof1989 #28 2 years ago

    I'm the guy who posted the Lovefilm one :D

  • waynenot #29 2 years ago

    @bad09

    Calm down young man, you're listening to too many Rage Against the Machine/Oasis records.

    Edited by 1 at 07/11/09 @ 07:41

  • Skurmedel #30 2 years ago

    You can only listen on too little Rage Against the Machine and too much Oasis :)

  • ChadSexington #31 2 years ago

    No trophies in Modern Warfare 2 yet -- I'm guessing there will be a patch on Tuesday.

  • siro #32 2 years ago

    This mistake probably happened to swing people over to preordering with them for the next big game... :)

  • kendoji #33 2 years ago

    So what's this MW2 - I haven't heard about it before. Sounds gay.

  • Charlie_Miso #34 2 years ago

    Who cares?

  • dr_faulk #35 2 years ago

    Why's everyone so eager for Mickey Willies 2?

  • SG #36 2 years ago

    "We are dedicated to getting products to customers on release. We use Royal Mail as our preferred courier and were advised to dispatch on Thursday for delivery on Tuesday due to the impending strike action. This was called off on Thursday evening and we have contacted Royal Mail to hold the product until Tuesday."

    But but but... WHY?! Because of an official 'release' date, you have to hold a game away from someone even though it's already been sent out? Where the FUCK is there any kind of sense in that?

    What does it achieve?

  • CrunchinJelly #37 2 years ago

    Streets of Rage 2 on Megadrive 1993 - £49.99 - adjusted for inflation £80.00 - we've never had it so good!

    Yeah, but Streets of Rage 2 was actually good.

  • peteb #38 2 years ago

    My mate and i got ours yesterday at our local indie shop that has zero respect for streetdates. Every game this year was bought days before release :D

    Anyway, played it a bit at mates house last night, tis really good so far but the levels seem to be over quite quickly, feels like we were just racing through it!

  • penhalion #39 2 years ago

    It's their own fault. Why the heck wasn't it released on Friday instead of Tuesday? Just so that it can have a day all to itself? Yea that's intelligent, given that people work during the week and so wouldn't have time to play the bloody thing anyway! Idiots!

  • weaselrat #40 2 years ago

    Mugs! £39.99 on PLAY and I remember when games like streetfighter were retailing at £70 on the SNES/Megadrive. You get alot more for your money with games now. How about the people moaning get a job and buy the game that way you don't have to worry about not eating for a week. You will not be disappointed.
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/09 @ 09:47

  • t8yman #41 2 years ago

    @waynenot

    whilst I'm sure the MP will provide hours of entertainment - playing the first two missions will not give you an accurate view of the sp as a whole, once act1 is over it gets quite dull for acts 2 & 3 IMHO.
    I was raving like mad to mates when I first started playing, but when I finished it, it was quite "meh". Ive said elsewhere - the ending is absolute gash. Spec Ops is OK, but the fact that there are at least 2 "2 player only" games - it makes progressing quite hard on as a single player. cant see me unlocking "echo" anytime soon cos 6 stars are completely un-earnable solo.

  • BBIAJ #42 2 years ago

    Well, not only did TheHut get my order to me early, as it arrived this morning from zavvi.com, they also managed to send me the wrong copy of the game (standard, not Hardened), and their customer service is not open at weekends, so I can't do anything about it until next week.

    Last time I pre-order anything with them methinks...

  • Blackthorned #43 2 years ago

    I hear talk of a one day only, one copy per person, deal at Sainsbury's for £26.

  • waynenot #44 2 years ago

    @t8wyman

    Two thirds of the way through and if you thought any of this was 'meh', I'd have your pulse checked. It's absolutely spectacular.

    We obviously disagree.
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/09 @ 11:39

  • SleepyDeathFred #45 2 years ago

    Mine's still processing at ShopTo... Anyone's shipped from there yet?

    It matters not. My 360 has just committed suicide.

    Anyway, still hasn't been dispatched apparently.
    Edited by 2 at 07/11/09 @ 13:22

  • whome #46 2 years ago

    my order from shopto says dispatched, but from what I've read on their forums they're being processed over weekend but not sent out till Monday by for delivery Tues AM by UkMail.

    just got dispatch email & text, asked them to confirm a, might be arriving monday :)
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/09 @ 12:14

  • STEVE-O- #47 2 years ago

    mine was dispatched on wednesday from gameplay, by courier, but still hasnt arrived :(
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/09 @ 14:07

  • Cryguy #48 2 years ago

    Mine arrived this morning from an online website. Paid comfortably sub-£40 too on pre-order. Usually use Shopto.net, but I've paid £5 less at this site I've not used before but came well-recommended. Will certainly be using them again!

  • SleepyDeathFred #49 2 years ago

    Do you need to be so enigmatic about where you got it from Cryguy?

  • Emmit_Assassin #50 2 years ago

    I got my copy this morning from Coolshop. Haven't played it yet as the wife is ill and I gotta watch the kids!
    Edited by 2 at 07/11/09 @ 20:03

  • fisherpot #51 2 years ago

    Hey Vanderlay did you get your name from Seinfeld?

    On mw2 it's what happens in business I mean who said they would stop smoking fags if they got to £5 10-15 years ago! It's part of life! There are always ways to get thing cheaper but if you can't be bothered to look elsewhere then don't complain about the price! I will be there at midnight to get it and I can't wait!

  • Iain815 #52 2 years ago

    Has anyone using Play.com heard anything?

  • SleepyDeathFred #53 2 years ago

    Apparently (presumably according to whoever marked everyone down) it's okay to talk about videogames as long as you don't show interest in one that has had a minor price-hike.

    I remember buying Perfect Dark with the mandatory Nintendo 64 expansion pack. It was a lot more expensive than MW2.

    Edit: That's not to say that I agree with the price increase, I just get the feeling that it won't work for games other than the guaranteed hit that is Modern Warfare 2.
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/09 @ 20:09

  • jambo74 #54 2 years ago

    Mistake, yeah right

  • jambo74 #55 2 years ago

    It will be 1/2 price the week after release

  • DanXan #56 2 years ago

    Got mine this morning pissed me off more than getting it on tuesday lol sat here and cant play :@

    Pc gamers cant activate the code till tuesday :(
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/09 @ 20:58

  • Apostle #57 2 years ago

    Tuesday will come around soon enough. I expect I'll be playing this well into next year anyway (MP, of course).

  • ps3owner #58 2 years ago

    you all suck. :p

  • chessboxer #59 2 years ago

    I remember Art Vanderlay.

    I doubt MW2 will see a big price reduction so soon. Looking at COD4 (PS3/360), many retailers are still quoting £29.99 - £49.99 (brand new) and that's not even the GOTY edition (check out GAME and Play.com, they have the standard version in stock).

  • actionfitz #60 2 years ago

    Not that I normally condone this sort of behaviour but... seeing as it's Activision, seeing as they have earned a special place on my heart, seeing as there is a picture of Bob Kotick beside the word 'Cunt' in the gamers dictionary...

    "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me

    We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot
    Drink up me hearties, yo ho
    We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
    Drink up me hearties, yo ho

    Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me

    We extort, we pilfer, we filch and sack
    Drink up me hearties, yo ho
    Maraud and embezzle and even high-jack
    Drink up me hearties yo ho

    Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me

    We kindle and char, inflame and ignite
    Drink up me hearties, yo ho
    We burn up the city, we're really a fright
    Drink up me hearties, yo ho

    We're rascals, scoundrels, villains, and knaves
    Drink up me hearties, yo ho
    We're devils and black sheep, really bad eggs
    Drink up me hearties, yo ho

    Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me

    We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads
    Drink up me hearties, yo ho
    Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads
    Drink up me hearties, yo ho"

  • tachometer #61 2 years ago

    You fight like a cow!

  • captainrentboy #62 2 years ago

    fightman9m you is craaaazy.....
    Dont attempt to justify the fact that you're basically a scummy thief by going on about the price of the game, it's looking like it'll be £45 pretty much everywhere on the highstreet, not a new release price that's that unheard of this generation and certainly not as high a price as most thought it would be.
    Daft bastard.
    Annyway, I've played it in work for an hour and it's definitely a whole lot more of the same, albeit considerably ramped up, action and set piece wise, from the first one. I just finished the ole controversial terrorist level, is it wrong that I found it all strangely awesome? :)

  • Emmit_Assassin #63 2 years ago

    I decided not to play the 'airport massacre' and am glad I did. It made no difference to the story. It seemed like it was just stuck in to get headlines. I like the idea to put in the skip, though.
    Other than that, enjoying the game loads, good SP, but like the others are saying, just more of the same. MP is full of annoying Americans all swearing at each other, so I'm avoiding till Tuesday. Aren't they going to reset everything anyway?
    Special Ops is a welcome addition. Nice they put something new in rather than the usual 'more guns and that's yer lot, cough up'.
    My brother in law finished the story in a few hours, so I'm going to take my time with it.
    Anyway, thanks Coolshop and Royal Mail!

  • Errol #64 2 years ago

    Airport massacre? Sounds cool.

    Die Hard II anyone?

  • carlitoswagon #65 2 years ago

    So many posts patting eachother on the back for complaining like a bunch of girls....

    Its so fucking boring. If you don't like the price or the package of MW2 then suck it up soldier. Its like a broken record. £55, £55, £55, £55, blah, blah, I'll get it in the bargain bucket!!!! (none of you will be missed BTW).

    On a personal note, I can't fucking wait. £44.99 will be the best £44.99 I've spent this year and will keep me entertained until next year.

    Fuk yeah.

  • fjharps #66 2 years ago

    Airport massacre is too much and certainly not needed in this great game when I was playin at first i was amazed by the detail and graphics of it all until I noticed my son coming into the room and asking me what was I doing in the airport killing everyone and then why was i helping the 'baddies' turned it off immediately after.

  • Emmit_Assassin #67 2 years ago

    @Errol
    "Airport massacre? Sounds cool!"

    You're a fucking idiot. And I guarantee you're still at school.

  • Nephirion #68 2 years ago

    I was expecting to see a review but rumour has it there is a ban on any reviews before Wed the 11th wtf :o

    I really want to lol @ the PC review ^^
    Edited by 1 at 08/11/09 @ 19:21

  • Wyrm #69 2 years ago

    'I dreading seeing the sales figures for MW2 in a week or two. From the sounds of it not many are bothered by the price hike sadly.'

    I'd be very interested to see if anyone has paid £55 for it, or indeed if anywhere is actually charging £55. It is available online for a very acceptable £38.

  • Emmit_Assassin #70 2 years ago

    I paid £37.98 for my copy, having played about half of the single player story, I'd have paid the full £44.99 most shops started it off at. And this is coming from someone who buys 99% of their games from ebay second hand. I have only ever pre-ordered one game before this, and I regretted that.

    As for those who are whinging about £54.99 price tag - only a complete idiot would pay that, and every shop and online outlet knows this. So do Activision. They didn't up the price to £54.99, they upped it to £44.9, knowing full well all the shops would add their own discount to it straight away.

  • Iain815 #71 2 years ago

    I don't really get why so many people are upset about the whole airport thing.

    You have all heard of GTA, right?

  • CUTZ-SIX #72 2 years ago

    Jeez, thanks for the semi spoiler

  • spekkeh #73 2 years ago

    So, no point in sticking to the review embargo now right?

  • beckyh #74 2 years ago

    Got mine today but its a bit crap so sold it on eBay last week.

    Are you some kind of time traveller?

  • Emmit_Assassin #75 2 years ago

    @Iain815
    Only idiots are still going on about MW2 and GTA4 comparisons. You cannot compare them. For god's sake. And only someone immature or hasn't played the game would agree that they wanted to play that part of MW2.

  • actionfitz #76 2 years ago

    enter the actibastard fan boys dishing out 'the Negs' for anyone critical of MW2 hehe.
    nom nom nom. your tears make me stronger.
    -" if you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you can imagine..."

  • melch #77 2 years ago

    how are game and gamestation rivals ? owned by the same people arent they ?

  • NGCes26294BIV #78 2 years ago

    From the sounds of it not many are bothered by the price hike sadly.

    Pandoras box is open people and gamers helped them open it....
    --------------------

    Not really, a ton of preorders have come from discounted versions - Argos, Toys R Us, Gamestation's trade-in deal. I don't think anybody has spent £54.99 on it.

  • chessboxer #79 2 years ago

    My Prestige Edition just turned up. Time to see what the fuss is all about...

  • Emmit_Assassin #80 2 years ago

    There's something I don't like about the single player campaign I just can't put my finger on....the graphics are awesome...the story is top notch....hmmm.....good action...great settings....not sure what it is.
    I think the story would mean a lot more if I were American, but it's still good.
    I bet the ruskies aint happy...