Halo 3 breaking sales records

By GamesIndustry International Published 26 September, 2007

Baker and Akabusi close in.

UK shops have said copies of Halo 3 are selling faster than lovely hot cakes, with Woolworths praising "record breaking" sales, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

Numerous retailers around the country looked to capitalise on its popularity by opening at midnight or early this morning, and some are suggesting the game may even beat day one sales for the biggest DVD or CD releases.

"Halo 3 has been flying off the shelves this morning," said Gerry Berkley, trading manager for games at Woolworths.

"In the first two hours that our stores were open it sold thousands and thousands of copies, breaking all previous first morning sales records for a computer game.

"If sales continue at this rapid pace, it could end up being the biggest ever first day sales number for an entertainment product, beating any CD, DVD or book that has gone before it," he revealed.

Specialist shop Gamestation also saw a successful launch, as it opened over 190 stores at midnight throughout the UK, and provided a link-up for customers in two different cities to play against each other.

"Our midnight openings were a great success. Big crowds showed up with customers and staff alike in great spirits," offered Jenny Leach, senior product manager for Gamestation.

"The live link-up between our Birmingham flagship and Edinburgh stores added another exciting new dimension to the launch, providing extra entertainment during the lead up to midnight."

Don McCabe, managing director of Chips, said that some stores were close to selling out already, and he expected to be ordering more before the weekend.

"It's gone very, very well indeed," he said.

"In hindsight I wish we'd ordered more. Quite a few shops are heading for a sell-out by the end of the day and we'll be restocking for the weekend.

"Microsoft and (distributor) Gem have done a very good job, they deserve praise for keeping the supply lines strong and giving us everything we've asked for," he added.

Following a successful launch in the US, Microsoft treated a select audience of UK gamers to a special red carpet screening of Halo 3 last night at London's iMAX cinema. Pop into our launch night coverage to see what Ellie thought of the event.

If fiction was a record, GamesIndustry.biz would have broken it many times over, each time reassembling it as solid news fact.

Picture of GamesIndustry.

About GamesIndustry International

GamesIndustry International is the world's leading games industry website, incorporating GamesIndustry.biz and IndustryGamers.com.

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Comments (54) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • Kingofnothin #1 5 years ago

    Wow didnt see that happening

    /sarcasm

  • Sid-Nice #2 5 years ago

    Specialist shop Gamestation

    What do Gamestation specialise in apart from bullshit?

  • Sebo #3 5 years ago

    Figures please.

    What has it sold in first hour?

    What are the benchmarks it has to reach?

    What a sparse and meaningless article this is. We all bloody knew Halo 3 was going to sell.

  • thepiedpiper #4 5 years ago

    "What do Gamestation specialise in apart from bullshit?"

    specky twats?

    stained pants?

    90's decor?

    greasy hair?

    take your pick...

  • Pac #5 5 years ago

    "If sales continue at this rapid pace, it could end up being the biggest ever first day sales number for an entertainment product, beating any CD, DVD or book that has gone before it"

    He's kidding right?

  • Azazel #6 5 years ago

    Oh noes! Game being sold to many people! /kills self

  • kangarootoo #7 5 years ago

    I'm sure that some (read that as many) will find someway to attempt to either turn this into bad news, or pretend it somehow doesn't matter. And no doubt this thread will turn into the embarassment that the Halo review thread turned into.

  • JohnnyWashnGo #8 5 years ago

    @thepiedpiper

    You forget to mention Gamestations speciality: Foul Odours and lots of them :(

  • polar #9 5 years ago

    I'm glad it's doing well - it's really not very often that something of this magnitude lands. I went and bought it last midnight purely for the novelty factor - there were plenty of other people buying then as well - there was certainly a sense of occasion if nothing else. If people want to berate the game and flame the comments threads than they're welcome to imo, as I've had my fun and that's all that matters.

  • rodpad #10 5 years ago

    Akaboosii.

  • Ignatius_Cheese #11 5 years ago

    Two words...


    Harry. Potter.


    ;o)

  • smelly #12 5 years ago

    Is it really suprising it's selling so well?

    What with every single website/magazine/tv show devoting so much coverage to it?

    ENOUGH ABOUT HALO ALREADY!!!

    (wonders how many backhand deals are going on here... and whether msoft will make any profits after paying everyone off...)
    Edited by smelly at 26/09/07 @ 16:28

  • Eighthours #13 5 years ago

    Rumours for US sales point to roughly 2.5 million copies sold in the first 24 hours, including pre-orders.

    If we say that all the sold copies are priced the same as the standard edition, then this would equal a first day gross of $150 million. When you then factor in the higher prices of the Limited and Legendary Editions, this figure could go up further.

    Seems to be a bit of a phenomenon.

  • KoenigMKII #14 5 years ago

    [link url=http://www.bungie.net/Online/Default.aspx
    ]http://www.bungie.net/Online/Default.aspx
    [/link]

    Oh look pretty map with points of light. Lots of innocent little numbers....

  • kangarootoo #15 5 years ago

    The last Harry Potter book sold 2.7m in the first day in the UK. Don't know what Halo 3 sold.

    @smelly

    Jesus dude, just piss off and find another thread or something if you don't want to read about Halo.

    "wonders how many backhand deals are going on here... and whether msoft will make any profits after paying everyone off"

    YAWWWNNNN. Just grow up ffs.

  • AcidSnake #16 5 years ago

    @Koenig:
    Wow...That's really pretty to see...
    Also funny to see some points being all alone in the middle of nowhere...

  • richardiox #17 5 years ago

    Smelly - dont think the success of Halo 3 has anything to do with backhanders. More to do with the 150+ like minded gamers I queued with at midnight last night who simply love the franchise.

    Although they were all probably on the MS payroll, right?

  • homerramone #18 5 years ago

    In other news, scientists have said that for most people it will get dark later on this evening.

  • mossychops001 #19 5 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:49:27 04-05-2012

  • Paukl #20 5 years ago

    They were also flying off the shelves in Woolworths yesterday, maybe that helps their record 'first day' sales figures.

  • LeD #21 5 years ago

    Ah ah the bitterness of some people here! :D

    A joy to read, you can almost see their little green faces contorted with blind jealous rage!

    It's only a game, the end of a trilogy of games in fact. Let it have it's moment of triumph, where is the problem? Ride the wave, it will wash over in a matter of weeks.

    Who knows? By then we might be ready to revel in the success in another best-love series, be it Metroid Prime 3, Metal Gear Solid 4 - albeit probably in 2008, Mario Galaxy...

  • LeD #22 5 years ago

    Let's call them 'Front-Tards'. I like the sound of that.

  • Dixons #23 5 years ago

    I wonder would smelly proudly tell all his friends and family that he spends this amount of time on a gaming website complaining because a game he doesn't like has been a rip-roaring success on all fronts?

  • Sid-Nice #24 5 years ago

    Who buys this shit?

  • Dizzy #25 5 years ago

    Walked into my local software shop this morning expecting to pick up a CE (didnt pre-order) and they ran out!!!! That has never happened before so I guess it is selling like crazy.

  • nickthegun #26 5 years ago

    Can someone confuse Akabusi with Fashanu again?

    Because I never get tired of hearing that joke....

  • bivith #27 5 years ago

    In Woking Gamestation at lunchtime, they'd already sold 250 copies in just that one store.

  • Calgon #28 5 years ago

    Excellent I wonder if its starting to shift consoles too... anyone care to tell Smelly and the likes if theyve seen alot of it? Thats sure to tick them off, which is odd its just a successfull launch for a big game might well see some more impressive hardware sales this year as a result... but it wont make the consoles and games you follow any less enjoyable.
    Edited by Calgon at 26/09/07 @ 18:01

  • skx #29 5 years ago

    ...UK... taking everything what USA has to offer...?...

  • smelly #30 5 years ago

    >Jesus dude, just piss off and find another thread or something if you don't want to read about Halo.

    Arent you the one who keeps moaning about the wii sales threads?


    >YAWWWNNNN. Just grow up ffs.

    Aw.. how sweet... You're very naieve if you dont think that's happening ..
    Edited by smelly at 26/09/07 @ 18:20

  • smelly #31 5 years ago

    "dont think the success of Halo 3 has anything to do with backhanders. "


    Nope.. but the amount of press? Oh brother.. forget it.

  • smelly #32 5 years ago

    >Excellent I wonder if its starting to shift consoles too...

    Course it will.. The press are making this out to be the 2nd coming or something, of course it'll sell machines. That's part of the reasons behind pushing something like this so badly.

    Great games come all the time, but you dont see websites devoting this much press to them do you? Or indeed mainstream press such as bbc news (for example)?


    >anyone care to tell Smelly and the likes if theyve seen alot of it?
    >Thats sure to tick them off,


    Erm, i dont care. I'm happy playing Skate at the moment thank you.. I play one game a month, all i have time for. I certainly aint spending that time playing a generic fps game just because it's been well promoted (no matter how tempted i am).

    > which is odd its just a successfull launch for a big game might well see
    >some more impressive hardware sales this year as a result...

    agree

    >but it wont make the consoles and games you follow any less enjoyable.

    Nope. I just want to read about other games.. Every website is treating halo like the second coming or something.. it isnt.. it's just another shooter.

  • Sid-Nice #33 5 years ago

    Tyneside has gone Halo crazy; everywhere has sold out. Luke Stephenson manager of Game Eldon Square said "I've worked in the video games market for over 10 years and I haven't witnessed anything like today." "Our 3 Newcastle stores have completely sold out as have the Metro Centre branches." Nationwide Game claim to have almost sold their allocation of 2 million Halo 3 games including 100,000 Halo 3 themed Xbox 360 consoles and a further 400,000 Xbox 360 Halo 3 bundles.

    Luke continued... "If this had of been the launch of the Xbox 360 it would have out sold the Wii launch by 4 to 1; I think we can safely say that the console war is now over and Microsoft have won."

    Source Newcastle Evening Chronicle.

  • Calgon #34 5 years ago

    lol Sid that looked pretty real at first you got me... maybe Im a bit tired too though.

    edit: unless its real... if it is real then that's really promising for MS, its just that last quote sounds strange from a person like that, unless he's a gamer too.
    Edited by Calgon at 26/09/07 @ 19:04

  • smelly #35 5 years ago

    That said.. I guess i'm happier having games sell out as opposed to consoles.

    After all games are more important than the consoles their being played on.

    Just wish it was something a bit more.. worthy

  • DonnieDarko333 #36 5 years ago

    GO HALO!

    Seriously, it deserved to right?

    Mario Galaxy will be next!

  • Perjoss #37 5 years ago

    a friend of mine bought a limited edition copy and it was scratched, i know there is a news story about this already but anyway, he took it back to the shop, they had to open 17 (seventeen) more copies to find him one that was not scratched, so just be careful if you buy a limited version, dont travel all the way home and then be super pissed off, open it in the shop!

    I'm not a big halo fan myself, but I think that the halo-haters are pathetic, please get a life. I would understand all the anger if the game sold millions but it was actually crap, but its a good game, just read the reviews :)

  • Machiavellian #38 5 years ago

    Actually Smelly you should change your line to "something that is a bit more worthy to ME". In a lot of people's mind, millions of them, Halo is worthy.

  • smelly #39 5 years ago

    >Mario Galaxy will be next!

    No it wont! You're naieve if you think it will

    Nintendo wont spend the same amount on marketing. Microsoft have spent over $10 million on marketing for halo 3.. Which is why you cant go to any website/news station/etc etc without reading articles about it..

    I didnt like the first 2 games.. but even i am tempted to buy halo 3 off the back of the way it's getting promoted so much.. i feel like i'm missing out not owning it!


    "I would understand all the anger if the game sold millions but it was actually crap, but its a good game, just read the reviews :)"

    I dont think it's crap, and i'm not angry it's sold millions. What i am a bit mythed about is the way sites seem to be easily "won over"

    Edited by smelly at 26/09/07 @ 20:02

  • urban #40 5 years ago

    meh.

  • bonker #41 5 years ago

    "Luke continued... "If this had of been the launch of the Xbox 360 it would have out sold the Wii launch by 4 to 1; I think we can safely say that the console war is now over and Microsoft have won."

    LMAO!!!
    Edited by bonker at 26/09/07 @ 22:01

  • Walshicus #42 5 years ago

    It sold $170m in the US alone on its first day... can you imagine what that figure would look like when you add the worldwide sales to it? With the weak dollar we could be looking at close to a quarter of a billion dollars being made in income on one game in one 24 hour period.

  • captain-future #43 5 years ago

    Poor Spidey 3... guess Sony has to do a FOURTH flick now.

  • Ryze #44 5 years ago

    Damn, I must really watch f*ck all TV nowadays.

    I've not seen a single advert for Halo 3 anywhere but on the Internet.

    Maybe it's just that everyone is on the Internet in 2007 - Facebooking, or perhaps that only geeks buy Halo 3.

    Or maybe the geek population of Britain has swollen massively?

    Maybe everyone buying Halo 3 already bought Halo 2, so have been waiting since 2004 or whenever?

    /stops pondering

  • Ryze #45 5 years ago

    News reports saying [insert retail product] is breaking sales records / expected to hit number one next week, are usually there to boost sales.

    I cry foul. It's promotional bullshit.

    It will be selling by the bucketload though.

    These tabloid-esque traits tarnish Eurogamer.

    Next you'll be calling every misbehaving black entertainer a 'rap star'.

  • smelly #46 5 years ago

    >I cry foul. It's promotional bullshit.

    Of course it is.. as are the millions of the other halo 3 "stories" this week.

  • Genji #47 5 years ago

    Well, Microsoft spent zillions on advertising the thing, so this isn't exactly surprising.

  • Daikon #48 5 years ago

    In other Halo 3 news:

    Play-Asia changes item specifics for the Asian version from "English" to "Chinese Voice - English Subtitles" without letting people who pre-ordered the game know about it or give them a chance to change to the US version or cancel.

    DO NOT BUY FROM THEM - they can't be trusted.

  • jlaakso #49 5 years ago

    Gamers are just happy that they're getting attention, let us celebrate a bit ffs. Even if I wasn't interested in Halo 3, I think it would be cool to be in all this buzz. Even non-gamers know Halo 3.

    And that it actually delivers on the hype and gargantuan marketing - well, that's just icing.

    If you're just not interested, go play something and bite your tongue for a while. There won't be too many Halo stories next week.

  • kangarootoo #50 5 years ago

    @Ryze

    What on earth are you going on about? Are you saying that reports of sales records being broken aren't true? Or just that you don't like hearing about it?


    @smelly
    "Arent you the one who keeps moaning about the wii sales threads? "

    Christ, you're actually tracking my activity on here more closely than I am. As it happens, I'm pretty damn sure I've never commented on Wii sales figures. I've certainly said that it needs more decent games, but I think the Wii is a great system otherwise and I have always commented as objectively as I can. You just seem to despise everything Halo related, and its quite clear you are incapable of being objective on the subject.

    Regardless, given that we are both adults, and we agree that tit for tat diversion is the realm if children, what is your point exactly?


    "Aw.. how sweet... You're very naieve if you dont think that's happening"

    Well thats that cleared up then. All I needed to convince me that the conspiracy is true is some fanboy bluffing me with patronising tones. Its a good job I don't know my own mind, or I would never see the truth would I? Thanks for saving me from my objective denial. You are indeed the Prohet of Truth (see what I did there).


    P.s. you can't spell naive. Lol, sorry, that was pathetic of me, but it seemed approriate given seem to be having a bit of a poo flinging contest :)

  • Wite_Noiz #51 5 years ago

    kangarootoo: "see what I did there"
    What? Spell "Prophet" wrong? Yeah, that showed him ;)

    Seriously, I've no interest in Halo. 1 was alright, 2 was meh.
    But hats-off to MS for playing the marketing game well.

    I disagree with that quote saying MS has won the "console war" (whatever that may mean).
    It's one game. In a few months there'll be another must-have one on another system - maybe it won't sell as many so quickly, but Halo 3 will be old and forgotten.

    Personally, October 10th can't come fast enough for me (Portal!), but TF2 is rocking my small, self-centred universe until then.

  • kangarootoo #52 5 years ago

    @Wite_Noiz

    "What? Spell "Prophet" wrong? Yeah, that showed him ;)"

    Shiiiiittt!

    Though technically, that was a typo rather than a spelling error. I make a distinction between the two (but then I suppose I would).

    If I had written "Profet", then I would plead guilty to idiocy.


    "I disagree with that quote saying MS has won the "console war" (whatever that may mean)"

    It doesn't mean anything. Its crazy words from crazy minds. Neither MS, Sony nor Nintendo talk in such terms.

  • smelly #53 5 years ago

    Kanga.. Admitidely i've not been in the industry for a long time. But I used to be back in the 16 bit days.

    And it used to be a done thing to say (for example) to reviewers "man if this game gets 9/10 scores we'll through a party in the bahamas to celebrate, and if you like we'll take all the press who liked us as well... nudge nudge wink wink"

    or the other favourite was "hmm.. we're considering taking out a 6 page pullout advert, however we dont know if it's worth our money doing so. So we'll wait to see what review score you give us before we do so"


    Maybe things have changed..

  • strakna #54 5 years ago

    and why not awsome game and awsome console ps3 dead in the water use it for toasting