Gears 2 sells 2 million in opening weekend

By Robert Purchese Published 12 November, 2008

Gamers notch up 15 million hours of play.

Microsoft has boasted selling over 2 million copies of Gears of War 2 during its opening weekend.

Furthermore, more than 1.5 million Xbox Live account holders played the game, according to Major Nelson - clocking up a record 15 million gameplay hours between them.

During that thumb-twiddling period, more than 19 million Gears of War 2 Achievements were unlocked.

Gears of War 2 launched in the UK last Friday and promptly surged to the top of the regional All-Formats chart, becoming the third-fastest seller ever on Xbox 360 - behind GTA IV and Halo 3.

The beefy shooter's performance also embarrassed rival console exclusive LittleBigPlanet, which only managed to finish fourth.

Roadie Run over to our Gears of War 2 review for our thoughts on the excellent sequel.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (69) Latest comment 3 years ago

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

  • mattigan #1 3 years ago

    Not surprised, it's a bit good

  • rotmm #2 3 years ago

    "The beefy shooter's performance also embarrassed rival console exclusive LittleBigPlanet, which only managed to finish fourth."

    unnecessary comment.

  • layleeloo #3 3 years ago

    Hardly surprising to anyone is it. I am at the end of the game now but refuse to finish ut just as i dont want it to be over in 2 days haha. As for Little Big Planet coming in 4th, well there are a few less PS3 owners to be honest. But then hey, I am off to go and get yet another PS3 today solely for LBP. IM just hoping I am not plagued by the bluetooth problems I have had with the last 3. But Gears and LBP - the best of both world for me. Hurrah

  • mattigan #4 3 years ago

    Oh, and WTF is the Shaun White AD along the top of the screen all about, it makes my eyes bleed every time I browse to the site!

  • the_dudefather #5 3 years ago

    For LBP VS gears sales arguments, please visit http://ww w.eurogamer.net/article_discuss... for all your console war needs
    Edited by 1 at 12/11/08 @ 09:38

  • Vanmunt #6 3 years ago

    pathetic comment on the LBP front...

    EG really are quite a bunch of tossers these days.

    GOW2 is amazing but then so is LBP, which unlike the other will continue to sell for months.

  • chrisjm #7 3 years ago

    i sense sour grapes. EG always makes sarcy comments like that, its not like they have dissed your mum.

  • rotmm #8 3 years ago

    @DunkelDog,

    We are all pissed off about the ad.

  • Dizzy #9 3 years ago

    Oh dear... I expect at least a 1000 whine posts here.

  • woodnotes #10 3 years ago

    "The beefy shooter's performance also embarrassed rival console exclusive LittleBigPlanet, which only managed to finish fourth."

    unnecessary comment.

    The whole site is unnecessary. Even the Internet is unneccesary. And life itself. So, what's your point?

    LBP did very well considering there are 50% the number of PS3s as 360s in a week that has Gears of War released, a game that is a sequel to a big selling and highly anticipated game.

    The first Gears launch outsold the LBP launch.


    And people do realise that EG purposefully put that comment in there to wind up the fanboys, right? And it worked. So predictable.
    Edited by 4 at 12/11/08 @ 09:59

  • robg #11 3 years ago

    The whole site is unnecessary. Even the Internet is unneccesary. And life itself. So, what's your point?

    Presumably you'd say that because he's unnecessary, he has no point.

  • rotmm #12 3 years ago

    "Edited 2 times. Most recently by woodnotes at 09:56 on 12/11/2008"

    Damn. It was necessary to edit the post 2 times.

  • rotmm #13 3 years ago

    3 times now.

  • woodnotes #14 3 years ago

    I edited my post 4 times.

    It was necessary for you to POST 4 times in this thread though.

    EDIT: Now you've posted 5 times :p
    Edited by 1 at 12/11/08 @ 10:07

  • rotmm #15 3 years ago

    "I edited my post 4 times.

    It was necessary for your to POST 4 times in this thread though."

    It's probably necessary to edit and fix that.

  • drumbaby #16 3 years ago

    Tw@ of a website.

  • Tomo #17 3 years ago

    Touchy touchy!

  • DB2k #18 3 years ago

    this game is a bit easy. and the achievements for the game are well boring.. where's all the shit about 10 perfect active reloads, and sniping peoples heads and whatever. There was a perfect oppertunity to have a sniping achievement when you see the rifle over a cliff face with a squad of baddies below. Killing all of them should of been an achievement. For shame!

  • zuljin #19 3 years ago

    Bit pissed off with this at the moment. The lag playing yesterday was horrendous... And wtf why can I not choose a simple warzone game? Not everyone want to play groups of effin gamemodes...

  • zombies #20 3 years ago

    It's take from a MS press release... no wonder they're taunting LBP.

    Now calm down!

  • HardCoreGamer999 #21 3 years ago

    finished the campaign (longer than 1st one) yesterday ...what a rush !
    fantastic game , thanks Epic

  • Dizzy #22 3 years ago

    "And wtf why can I not choose a simple warzone game? Not everyone want to play groups of effin gamemodes... "

    ?????

  • zuljin #23 3 years ago

    @Dizzy

    I can't choose a simple "Warzone" mode. Its a group of modes (Execution, Warzone, one other I can't rmember)... Is this where you tell me you choose a specific one on the next screen?

  • rotmm #24 3 years ago

    @zombies,

    You do realise that the LBP comment was Rob's and not Microsoft's, don't you?

  • PiranhaUK #25 3 years ago

    Loving both LBP and GoW2. Keep switching between the two, but dont usually play both in the same evening..... They're the complete opposites in gaming!

    My prediction, GoW2 sales drop off dramatically within weeks. LBP sales increase steadily into next year.....

  • anomagnus #26 3 years ago

    third play through now on gears

    god damn i love it - playing a mini marathon with it this weekend, gears one and two back to back, hardcore level, volume up full

    i imagine i'll be a danger to anyone for hours afterwards

  • desc #27 3 years ago

    Rar 2million copies in the opening weekend.

    Hope they spend some money on sorting out the Match Making and Online MP lag otherwise I can see a new headline coming:

    1.5 million copies of GoW2 traded in on CoD:W@W release day !!

  • chrisjm #28 3 years ago

    'where's all the shit about 10 perfect active reloads'

    there is a perfect reload achievement

  • Dizzy #29 3 years ago

    "I can't choose a simple "Warzone" mode. Its a group of modes (Execution, Warzone, one other I can't rmember)... Is this where you tell me you choose a specific one on the next screen? "

    Ha ic.. everyone is picking a non-warzone game in the second setup screen. Yea that is always a problem... you should probably play some private games with the EG gang?

  • CreepinJesus #30 3 years ago

    I haven't even seen anyone on it! Maybe I need some more friends...

  • chrisjm #31 3 years ago

    i still think it could be peoples ISP's as i've not noticed any lag

  • chrisjm #32 3 years ago

    but care enough to comment....

  • guernican #33 3 years ago

    THe Internet's unnecessary?

    Not in terms of my porn addiction, it fucking isn't.

  • Doctor_What #34 3 years ago

    @ KingsXKing: every post I've read by you seems to be both tosh and piffle.

    I agree with the sentiment of others: I suspect LBP will be a long-term seller. GoW2 will probably hold on for a few months though, it is a high quality release after all.

  • Luvbeers #35 3 years ago

    LBP sales will always be low because sony has to give it away in bundles. Only my mates with small kids like it because they can play it around them.

  • stepneg #36 3 years ago

    "Hope they spend some money on sorting out the Match Making and Online MP lag"

    I haven't had to much bad lag but it can sometimes take a fucking age to find a game using the matchmaking, that needs fixing asap. Also it's rather glitchy in places, last night playing submission the meat flag managed to float 20 meters above the game map and effectively end the game as no one could win. Other than that tho it's a great game that I can see lasting years like the original.

  • BobsUncle #37 3 years ago

    News just in, Gears of War 2 trounces LBP in game sales.

    in reaction PS3 owners thrown thier toys out of the cot and complain that EG shouldn't have pointed out the fact.

  • Les #38 3 years ago

    "The beefy shooter's performance also embarrassed rival console exclusive LittleBigPlanet, which only managed to finish fourth."

    Does EG staff really wonder why most regular visitors don't take them serious anymore or is it just a pose?! Stupid wankers. The only reason I come here is for the sometimes insightful discussions. Editorial content in general is crap.

  • HardCoreGamer999 #39 3 years ago

    concern LBPlvsgow2

    ls lbp comparable with gow2 ?
    no , it's not
    resistance2 will be the comparable game.
    putting an estimation on how little big planet will sell on long term may depend on how it will be advertised? I think it will be difficult to beat gears2 even with ps3 bundle. Ps3 price is to high comparable with Wii and even 360.

    Ive been to Next08 (most important videogame fair ) in Belgium (Brussels). Here in Belgium the Wii is king and Over- represented.
    So i think gamerwise if gamers are possibly attracted in LBP , they more likely looking towards Nintendo for a comparable game.



  • Les #40 3 years ago

    In reaction rational console owners of any alignment point to the pathetic attempt to fule the console war in the manner that EG points out the fact.

    /fixed

  • illusiondance #41 3 years ago

    whot shaun white ad?

  • glaeken #42 3 years ago

    Some of you fan boys need to get a sense of humor. The LBP comment was obviously a joke to get you all foaming at the mouth and it appears to have worked perfectly.

  • Les #43 3 years ago

    "Some of you fan boys need to get a sense of humor. The LBP comment was obviously a joke to get you all foaming at the mouth and it appears to have worked perfectly."

    Or maybe it isn't as 'obviously' funny given the large percentage of mentally challenged visitors of this website. And given EG's numerous attempts to keep the console wars alive, such a joke would be a bit hypocritical to say the least...

  • Triggerhappytel #44 3 years ago

    Just out of interest, is there anyone else here who doesn't think Gears is all that? I mean, it's a fine game and everything, but I've played a bit of the first and about an hour of the second and wasn't that fussed on it either way.

    I think lots of the enemy designs are stupid, the level design too frustrating and enclosed and it's a bit too homoerotic and gory for my tastes. Not that I mind a bit of gore, it's just that this game seems to revel in it because its butch.

  • chrisjm #45 3 years ago

    you can turn the gore off if its really getting on your nerves.

  • Triggerhappytel #46 3 years ago

    I don't have the game, just watched and played it over a pal's house at the weekend. It's a decent game; I just couldn't really see what all the fuss was about.

  • Vanmunt #47 3 years ago

    @cabbadge

    sorry Dad.

  • glaeken #48 3 years ago

    @Les

    Or maybe it isn't really offensive at all and fan boys take their love of a circut board in a plastic box made by company X a little too seriously.
    Edited by 1 at 12/11/08 @ 13:52

  • Apologie #49 3 years ago

    generic FPS that adds nothing to an already saturated genre... nontheless is not a bad game by any means, i will buy it if they release a PC version.

  • jetsetdemo #50 3 years ago

    GOW2 fantastic, the best £5 spent on a rental in an age. To short to buy to sweet to replay.

    LBP, that's been bought to put under the tree for christmass, renting would not be an option as my kids are going to love this.

    As for ShaunWhite, well done EG thanks to this banner i have been totaly put off going any where near this title, not the effect i guees the ad is looking for!

  • Xerx3s #51 3 years ago

    Ah yes, no 360 thread is complete without the likes of les expressing their insecurity.

  • Les #52 3 years ago

    "Or maybe it isn't really offensive at all and fan boys take their love of a circut board in a plastic box made by company X a little too seriously."

    I'm not sayiing it's offensive (why would it be offensive?) but rather pathetic and stupid given the silly console war atmosphere around these comments sections. EG should know better or hire someone to actually write funny jokes instead of just fuling the pointless argument.

  • Machiavellian #53 3 years ago

    Actually Les, I would say that your reaction is exactly why it's funny. Nothing is more fun then railing up the fanboys or the ones who think they are above it all only to be at ground zero themselves. It's such an obvious stab at you guys that it's just funny to see you scrambling to shoot the statement down or find the high brow statement. Who knows, maybe Rob made that statement so people can fill up their ignore list because you know you are going to get a lot of empty headed comments from both sides

    On the LBP front, I guess I have no heart because I became bored with the game quick. My Main problem are the controls which if compared to some of the great platform games I have played are bad IMHO. I have played some levels created by the community but after playing a few, the levels start to get repetitive. I guess the problem I see is that you cannot change how the sackboy interact within the levels you create. I wish you could make then do wall jumps, Double Jumps, running jumps or change the way they jump period. I would love to be able to change how the sackboys move which would open up so much game play IMO.

    My son on the other hand loves LBP. He and his friend do not play the single player but instead just do stupid stuff in the editor which entertain them endlessly. He stills likes to play Halo 3 and create his levels in forge more (probably because he can understand how to create the levels better) but LBP is still a big hit with him..

  • Apologie #54 3 years ago

    farticusmaximus

    you, calling me a fanboy??? lol what a joke...:) i even said that i will buy the game for Pc as soon as they release it, its fun, but becomes boring really fast, no value after your done with the single player.
    In what concerns multiplayer, lets be realistic about it, games like COD4, RESISTANCE2, COD5 etc... totally rape Gears.

    As i said its a well done 3rd person shooter that just happens to be little overrated...... i would give it a 9/10.

  • migasUK #55 3 years ago

    poor little big pancake... so much hype for no place in the podium...LOL

  • iago71 #56 3 years ago

    It seems pretty pointless getting upset about any comparisons between GOW2 and LBP. Of course GOW was going to shift huge amounts - it goes without saying it deserves to as well (IMHO).

    LBP is a totally different game and doesn't have the advantage of an already established fanbase from previous iterations of the game. It is, however, an amazing game and when Ive finished Gears (tonight hopefully) Im looking forward to going back to it and getting stuck in to making some levels and I know I can speak for my Gears playing buddies.

    I wouldn't take EGs mention of the compared figures as an attempt to antagonise PS3 owners. Its hardly a surprise really and certainly doesn't reflect LBP as an inferior title to Gears. On the contrary, LBP is a game that is likely to sell long after Gears has been worn out purely due to its open ended nature. I think it'll be a more gradual trickle as the community and awareness of its charm grow.

  • Les #57 3 years ago

    "Actually Les, I would say that your reaction is exactly why it's funny."

    So if someone makes a stupid remark and other people point to the stupidity, all of a sudden the stupid remark is transformed into a good joke?!

    Making fun of the fanboys is fine with me. But I don't see how begging for idiotic fanboy reactions is funny or clever. It's rather a pathetic 'see if they take the bait' game with 100% certainty because you're trying to bait idiots. Nothing high-brow about pointing out the shallowness of such 'humour'.

    But then again, I'm probably in the minority in wanting an information source about games actually supplying me with information. EG unfortunately thinks that they should try to compete with the medium they are covering when it comes to entertainment value. If I want to be entertained, I read a book, play a game, post in the comments section around here or listen to some music. I do not however go read articles at a games site.

  • Les #58 3 years ago

    "Come one, if it was the other way around PS3 fanboys would be doing the same."

    Yeah, let's re-use that infallible argument for moral justification...

  • cyber_nicco #59 3 years ago

    It's hard to say what will sell more in the long run (LBP vs. Gears2), but one this is for certain. Little Big Planet has been the big recipient of the Sony marketing machine for months now - everyone saying that it is a big system-seller, and sackboy is the new mascot of the PS3. So, I think it is reasonable to point out that it is being outperformed by another title on another console.

    I mean, come on! I am so sick of hearing about LBP, that seeing it do less than hoped for is my guilty pleasure. :)

  • SilentScream #60 3 years ago

    Apparently Microsoft fund Eurogamer so..

    http://www.e urogamer.net/how-we-work.php

    That's piss funny.
    Edited by 1 at 12/11/08 @ 16:01

  • Les #61 3 years ago

    "Its hardly a surprise really and certainly doesn't reflect LBP as an inferior title to Gears. On the contrary, LBP is a game that is likely to sell long after Gears has been worn out purely due to its open ended nature. I think it'll be a more gradual trickle as the community and awareness of its charm grow."

    Fully agree. But shouldn't these kinds of analyses be expected from journalists professionally covering an industry? Especially given the fact that 90% of their readership is too stupid to make more complicated logical deductions than "pressing the right trigger fires my gun"... But for some reason the rare nuggets of insight around EG have to come from comments sections instead of from the editorial content.

  • migasUK #62 3 years ago

    @desc
    "Rar 2million copies in the opening weekend.

    Hope they spend some money on sorting out the Match Making and Online MP lag otherwise I can see a new headline coming:

    1.5 million copies of GoW2 traded in on CoD:W@W release day !!"

    1- this is Live Jump In;

    2- this is not R2, this is Gears baby... What I mean is, it just don't disappoint!

    LOL sorry pal... and btw CoD WaW is shit... perhaps if you have a Puss3, maybe will be better than R2 ihiihih

  • Vanmunt #63 3 years ago

    LOL sorry pal... and btw CoD WaW is shit... perhaps if you have a Puss3, maybe will be better than R2 ihiihih

    can anybody translate this for me?

  • Widge #64 3 years ago

    Migas is a bit of a cock

  • GamerG #65 3 years ago

    WOW Gears 2 beats Resistance 1 LTD sales in its opening weekend!

    Simply WOW

  • StealthAcolyte #66 3 years ago

    The thing is though, I found Gears Of War 2, nothing compared to Gears Of War 1, campaign is boring etc. All they have done is added new enemies and new weapons, a few minor changes and thats it. Without graphic comparison I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Begs the question what the hell have they been doing over the past few years? Nothing really.

    Gears Of War 2 campaign in the worm with the walls that come down on you, Lara Croft/Crash Bandicoot like. I was playing through it with my brother thinking "What the fuck is this, it's an embarrassment, and I feel embarrassed playing on something 'next-gen' with ideas from 20 years ago". And we would predict the storyline in advance whilst playing as a joke and it would happen before our very eyes! It was so predictable and unimaginative. Online matchmaking is ass as well, should have kept it how it was. Takes forever to find a game and when you do its with a bunch of assholes or people who have no idea what they're doing.

    Thinking of selling it already, because its boring and nothing special really. And through playing Gears Of War 2 I would continually think about Little Big Planet, physically missing it, and thinking of ideas to create in levels etc. So really the Xbox 360 is dead to me now for they have no good games coming out.

  • Widge #67 3 years ago

    Now Left 4 Dead... THATS awesome!

    I was skeptical of it, but after getting hands on, more than happy to champion that fucker!
    Edited by 1 at 12/11/08 @ 16:55

  • des #68 3 years ago

    Did some people really expected LBP to be a competition to Gears of War?lol
    R2 will outsell it easily,sorry but LBP is like new Okami,majority of gamers only want to shoot things(apparently zombies are now popular).

  • captainrentboy #69 3 years ago

    I hope Les posted in the numerous 'Console sales' related comments sections this year, y'know the ones where EG blatantly took the piss out of the 360's abysmal sales in Japan. It's only fair that he valiantly defended the 360 in its hour of need too.