Modern Warfare 2 sets Xbox Live records

By Tom Bramwell Published 19 November, 2009

Stat-happy Activision blows trumpet.

Activision has reeled off some stats to support its claim that Modern Warfare 2 "redefines entertainment".

It certainly prompted a lot of activity on Xbox Live, according to the publisher, which reports that more than 2.2 million people played it on Xbox 360 on 10th November, logging more than 5.2 million hours of multiplayer between them.

They also managed to unlock a whopping 11 million Achievements between them, apparently. UAVs all round!

And while Activision only has its "internal estimates" to go by, it's claiming that the first five days of sales account for $550 million, besting everything from Grand Theft Auto IV to Harry Potter books and The Dark Knight.

"The title's success redefines entertainment as millions of consumers have chosen to play Modern Warfare 2 at unprecedented levels rather than engage in other forms of media," said bubbly brunette Bobby Kotick.

The game's also done quantifiably alright in the UK, where it sold more than 1.7 million copies in its first week and, not unsurprisingly, topped the charts.

We thought it was pretty good, although it's still a poor man's Viva Pinata if you ask me. Horstachio forever.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (26) Latest comment 7 months ago

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

  • bad09 #1 2 years ago

    I was talking on the forum yesterday, I might give up my boycott on this and some trade stuff in (not bloody paying the stupid Steam price THAT'S for sure!). You all bloody bought it anyway and the damage is already done so what's the bloody point in me going without?

    Just gotta suck up those higher prices from now on :(

  • Xerx3s #2 2 years ago

    "Modern Warfare 2 "redefines entertainment""

    The lag spikes yesterday most definitely did. :/

  • space_ace #3 2 years ago

    of course we'd play "modern warfare 2" instead of watching reality tv

  • tossetaz #4 2 years ago

    Maybe report on this: http://ww w.tek-9.org/news/iwnet_allegedl... ?

  • Kill_Crazy #5 2 years ago

    What a false virus alert?

  • GamerG #6 2 years ago

    I think it was actually 2.2m concurrent users ie at the same time, pretty incredible

  • login_name #7 2 years ago

    You all bloody bought it anyway and the damage is already done so what's the bloody point in me going without?

    I'm sure that's exactly how they rationalised it too. Welcome to the herd, leave your principles at the door.

  • bad09 #8 2 years ago

    @ login_name

    Yeah, being a big hypocrite isn't nice TBH, but like glaeken said to me yesterday...

    "You should really abandon your boycott now. Such a thing was only worth sticking too if it had any sort of negative impact on Activision but given the sales levels for MW2 its clear the boycott failed.

    At this point if you don't pick up a game you have really been looking forward too the only person being impacted by that is you."

  • ps3owner #9 2 years ago

    $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  • asphaltcowboy #10 2 years ago

    Yeah, I was quite surprised at how smooth the launch was and how great Xbox Live handled everything during the first few days. Unfortunately the past two days have been absolute dogshit on Live. Horrible, laggy games, disconnects, party members being ejected, unable to find games...

    Just really, really dogshit.

  • Gregolution #11 2 years ago

    that's interesting that live is struggling now. PSN is fine for MW2 and although there aren't as many playing as the 360, it's still over 2 million. I wonder where all those Xbox people are that jumped at PSN being rubbish when we couldn't play for the first 12 hours? Muhahahah, I usually wouldn't be this direct for a console wars comment but I'm hungover so sod it... IN YOUR FACE!

  • kangarootoo #12 2 years ago

    I guess online is where its at with this title. A friend quoted me 4.5 hours for a play through of the single player campaign the other day.

    I'm not really a competetive online person, but the spec ops coop stuff does sound very interesting. Anyone had much experience with that side of the game? Much replay value in those missions?

  • Fl0yd #13 2 years ago

    I really like the Special Ops, played online co-op with a friend last night - at about 11pm he said was only going to be online for another half an hour. Yeah, we were up till 1 am trying to crack some of the Veteran stuff. Very nice, simple challenges, very well done and VERY addictive. LIVE shit itself a couple of times, but we coped.

  • asphaltcowboy #14 2 years ago

    @kangarootoo Spec Ops is very, very good and very replayable too!

  • kangarootoo #15 2 years ago

    Thanks people. Will rent it and see how I go.

  • JensonJet #16 2 years ago

    Has anyone defeated the MW2 penultimate Spec Ops mission on three stars yet? Is there a clever strategy to defeating those armoured guys using only explosives (and a knife!)?

  • ThisWillDestroyYou #17 2 years ago

    im suprised more wasnt made of the spec ops in reviews tbh, been having a great time going through it with a mate, quite a comprehensive feature and provides some really awesome moments, completing it all on veteran will take as long as the full game i reckon

  • asphaltcowboy #18 2 years ago

    They really need to implement leaderboards for SpecOps. Surprised they didn't ship with it. Hopefully they'll add it (FOR FREE, Kotick :p)!

  • Redeye #19 2 years ago

    Hey, Activision - blow my trumpet.

    *gives mid-digit salute*

  • the_mtfr #20 2 years ago

    Bubbly brunette Bobby :D

  • Quixz #21 2 years ago

    Playing spec ops with a friend has been the best part of Mw2 for me.

    WE NEED MORE MAPS PLEASE AND FOR FREEEEEE!

  • Spooke #22 2 years ago

    I went to the launch party and got my copy for free so I can't really complain about the price but even if I had shelled out for my Xbox version it's been well worth 50 quid of anyone's money. The single player is short but excellently put together and the spec ops are a fabulous addition. When you add in the MP this is a game well worth the money. I really don't think many other games are going to be able to justify the price hike, they simply won't sell so I wouldn't assume that everything is going to be 50 quid from now on.

  • mega7ech #23 2 years ago

    "You all bloody bought it anyway and the damage is already done so what's the bloody point in me going without?"

    Mate, your first mistake was believing what anybody ever tells you on the internet! I'll boycott anything and everything*




    *for example

  • lunnyt00n #24 2 years ago

    Wait till we all get a load of the 3rd installment lol

    http://ww w.theonion.com/content/video/ul...

  • Bravestinsane #25 2 years ago

    " said bubbly brunette Bobby Kotick."

    Seriously EG well all know he is a complete and utter twat stop calling him bubbly jeese

  • james-mw3-mw3 #26 7 months ago

    I find it funny that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (abbreviated as Call of Duty: MW3 or simply MW3) is currently in development by Infinity Ward with assisted development from Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software co-developing multiplayer development, e.g. weapons, maps, perks, etc. That's a lot of developers making MW3!