MW2 stock has "not been sent out"

By Robert Purchese Published 4 November, 2009

HMV explains delivery emails.

HMV has clarified to Eurogamer that no copies of Modern Warfare 2 have been sent to customers, despite official emails stating otherwise.

"Some customers may have received an email alert suggesting that the dispatch process is under way, but the stock has not yet been sent," a spokesperson for the retailer told us.

"Fulfilling orders will obviously be a major undertaking, and in order to implement this in a timely manner, we have had to initiate the transaction process to begin printing off address labels. This has triggered the email alert, but stock has not been shipped.

"HMV would never knowingly break a street date," the spokesperson added.

Modern Warfare 2 launches on Tuesday, 10th November. Some retailers, such as ShopTo, are still awaiting stock.

Where, if anywhere, will the street-date break? Look to the supermarkets, if past launches are anything to go by. Do let us know if you see anything.

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 (38) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • AphoticCosmos #1 2 years ago

    It's probably also something to do with the postal strike. I know that Game processed my Dragon Age order about a week before they dispatched it, which is unusual for them. They then sent an explanatory e-mail about processing orders in advance to allow for timely dispatching.
    Edited by 1 at 04/11/09 @ 18:55

  • pacrifice #2 2 years ago

    I've had an email from Game earlier confirming despatch and giving me a Parcel Force tracking number.

    I hope to fuck i get it tomorrow...


    oh fuck yes! Checked the tracking on Parcel Force and it's the 24 hour service...... why do i have to work?!?!?? =(

    still though, mine is in a van and it's on it's way =)
    Edited by 1 at 04/11/09 @ 19:02

  • Gazza_UK #3 2 years ago

    I was completely calm about the whole situation BUT THEN you had to say that ShopTo has no stock yet... are doing this just to hurt me?

    Not that i'm bothered of course... its just a fps, simple, generic, PROBABLY BLOODY GAME OF THE YEAR.. although Uncharted so far.. am i still typing? is this normal? .... .. .

  • Hantheman #4 2 years ago

    This and DA:o have been dispatched by gameplay. Will I get either by the end of the week?

  • starfishjay #5 2 years ago

    Sorry to burst your bubble Pacrifice but many have had that over at the xbox forums too. They have called the depot and have been told to hold off on delivery. http://fo rums.xbox.com/34/29803095/ShowP... Linky if ur interested?
    Edited by 1 at 04/11/09 @ 19:09

  • pacrifice #6 2 years ago

    ,....... ='(

  • chanandler #7 2 years ago

    Damn it, I got the HMV mail yesterday and was hoping it would turn up before the weekend lol.

  • starfishjay #8 2 years ago

    I have mine preordered with shopto. They have also announced on thier forum that it wont arrive until release day :(

  • paketep #9 2 years ago

    IW has pushed and pushed and pushed and removed enough functionality for me to finally say no and cancel my preorder.

    Fuck you, IW, and your 9vs9, no console, no modding, no mapping, no dedicated servers, no nothing that you don't consider THE WAY to play.

  • JahB #10 2 years ago

    they're doing a damn good job keeping that game under wraps. not even copies on ebay yet...

    tuesday better come fast

  • retr0gamer #11 2 years ago

    I'll put money on this not selling out and Activision spinning the numbers so they can have a 'Biggest entertainment release evar!!!!!!' press release.

  • liamthemaster #12 2 years ago

    why do people who order games online seem to think that guarantees them to get the game early it should be the other way round where people who actually have to leave their front door to get the game should get it early.
    don't mark me down because your all lazy sods you know who you are xD
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/09 @ 16:11

  • Razorus #13 2 years ago

    Even if you do get it early, I strongly advise against playing it online. Microsoft may very well bar you from Xbox Live.

  • Number9uk #14 2 years ago

    Theres been quite a few of my friends who've received it from Game,one got it Tuesday!!! So,it IS getting sent out.

  • Dreadaxe #15 2 years ago

    they needn't bother shipping the pc version, this is the first time i've ever decided to boycott a game.

  • Xerx3s #16 2 years ago

    ""Fulfilling orders will obviously be a major undertaking, and in order to implement this in a timely manner, we have had to initiate the transaction process to begin printing off address labels. This has triggered the email alert, but stock has not been shipped."

    Trying to stop people from cancelling and getting it in a shop probably has something to do with it as well. :/

  • frankfurter209 #17 2 years ago

    Fuck this game

  • icematt12 #18 2 years ago

    Retailers are in a difficult spot, trying to please both Activision and their customers even without postal strikes. I wonder how much pressure Activision is applying.

  • MiniAmin #19 2 years ago

    THANKS MEM IF YOU DIDNT POST IN CAPS LOCK I WOULDNT HAVE NOTICED YOUR INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT POST.

    See how annoying it is? Please refrain from typing in Caps again, especially when you can't spell.

  • t8yman #20 2 years ago

    Its just a shame the game is a disappointment, 2 years dev time, and an increased RRP for this? I'm expecting a 7/10 review.
    Granted the MP will be popular, but the campaign is nowhere near as good as either MW or WAW, and the ending is absolute gash. Spec Ops is OK, but nowhere near the replay value of Horde or Firefight. Colour me disappointed. The best positive I can find about it is that the endless respawning enemies are gone, but as a result the game is far far easier than the previous ones, I always play the games through on hardened first time, and move on to veteran. MW took me about 10hrs on H, this was a breezy 7h40m.
    Anyone know when the review embargo lifts? I'm interested to see what the official line is on "the most anticipated game of the decade".
    This post isnt flamebait, its meant as a warning for people to drop their expectations.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/09 @ 06:46

  • LR100 #21 2 years ago

    Odd, when I log into my HMV account and check my order history, it's telling me 'completely shipped', is this a lie too then? I am gutted, I thought I would get it before the weekend! If the postal strikes mean it doesn't arrive by Monday, I am getting a midnight sales copy! I can return it or trade it in, or give it as a present when my proper copy arrives. lol

  • muscleblade #22 2 years ago

    A lot of people on my friendslist is already playing this game and i know for a fact that they have the retail version.

    Check my friendlist on Xbox Live and you see for yourself.

  • muscleblade #23 2 years ago

    "I'm expecting a 7/10 review."

    LOL! Im expecting at least 9/10

    Im really happy the respawning enemies is gone. I hated that. A game shouldnt be difficult for the wrong reasons and i think COD4 was just that. Ive completed it on veteran without to much trouble but to complete it on veteran you needed to know the respawns well. I would like to complete MW2 on veteran right off the bat and i bet that will be hard enough.

  • elephant_stone #24 2 years ago

    I got an email from Game yesterday saying mine had been dispatched! I hope they break street day for my sake!!!!

  • t8yman #25 2 years ago

    sorry, I said "I'm expecting a 7/10", kinda meant - I rate it a 7 or maybe 8 at a push, which is why I am looking forward to the pro's views. I actually expect EG might be close to the truth, and everyone will be WTF!!!11!!!!

  • Johnsters #26 2 years ago

    I got an email from Play.com yesterday saying that they wont use Royal mail but a courier service to ensure I get MW2 by the release date. I've read that as weekend play!! Woohoo!

  • Xerx3s #27 2 years ago

    "LOL! Im expecting at least 9/10"

    Will you explode into pure rage when it scores an 8?

  • FunkyRenegade #28 2 years ago

    @LR100
    You can't cancel once it's shipped, but you can return it unopened within 28 days for a full refund.
    I was looking forward to getting it before the weekend too, since my order says it's Completely Shipped too :(

  • andywilkie35 #29 2 years ago

    They did this with GTAIV last year as well - got a dispatch email almost a week before it was out but obviously didn't get the game until release day.

  • collateral89 #30 2 years ago

    everybody will get a copy of the game their not guna do the same thing as mw were everywhere sold out the shops are going to be jam packed with this............:)

  • beckyh #31 2 years ago

    Something smells fishy about this story and it is not prawns. Sounds to me like some stores HAD shipped early but got caught out and Activision are forcing them to take steps. This is why (as per xbox link in comments) that Game and HMV have shipped them to couriers but couriers have now had instructions from them to not deliver the games.

    So seeing as they have despatched and couriers are holding on to them, I would like to know how the couriers are going to know which packages are MW2 and which packages are for games out this weekend? HMV and Game are probably going through all the sales records and giving a list of customers to the courier which to stop. But then there is a problem of a customer who has two orders - one for Friday and one for Tuesday.

  • muscleblade #32 2 years ago

    @Xerx3s

    "Will you explode into pure rage when it scores an 8? "

    Not at all. Ive never had too high expectations for the game. I enjoyed COD4 but its not among my top 10 favourite 360 games. Its not about what i want it to score its about what i think it will score. See the difference?

    I do think the game will score 9 or above.

  • beckyh #33 2 years ago

    I hope reviewers mark it down for having an incredibly short single player campaign.

    I am actually more interested in the original Call of Duty on xbox live. I get the code for that in my hardened edition, is that going to be available on Tuesday?
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/09 @ 12:07

  • FunkyRenegade #34 2 years ago

    @beckyh
    I do hope so, I'm looking forward to that too, so much!

  • bebox2010 #35 2 years ago

    So long as when I get to Gamestation at midnight on the Monday, the guy behind the counter hands me my copy of MW2, I really don't care because for the next few months, I won't care about anything lol.

  • LR100 #36 2 years ago

    @FunkyRenegade
    Oh no, i've ordered the prestige edition. What I was saying is if it doesn't arrive by Monday, I am quite prepared to get a normal version copy at midnight Monday to be able to play it without delay, then when my prestige version appears, I will trade the normal copy in, give it as a present to someone, or return it for a full refund if possible.

  • Razorus #37 2 years ago

    I got -7 from the negative marks some of you guys gave me for suggesting that Microsoft may not like you playing this early and that they may ban you from Xbox Live (I dunno what Sony does on PS3). Why exactly did I get marked down for this? If you don't get banned, then good for you, but I'm just trying to help you weirdos.

  • 57th_FoX #38 2 years ago

    i got sent this message...

    so why has the money been taken out my account over a week before its even sent

    coulda used that money to buy dragon age!