UK charts: MW2 is Christmas number one

By Robert Purchese Published 21 December, 2009

Bravo whiskey parsnip reindeer.

Activision's Modern Warfare 2 has taken Christmas number one in the UK All-Formats chart.

EA will be pleased with a second-place finish for FIFA 10, which is followed by Nintendo's sporty duo of Wii Fit Plus (3) and Wii Sports Resort (4). Assassin's Creed II dipped a couple of places down to fifth.

There are no surprises either in the chaser faces: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (6), New Super Mario Bros. Wii (7), Forza Motorsport 3 (8), Mario Kart Wii (9) and Just Dance (10).

No new games were released in the shops last Friday therefore no new entries are present in the UK All-Formats chart today.

Left 4 Dead 2 narrowly missed a top 10 placing in 11th, and finished marginally ahead of a resurgent Avatar in 12th, piggybacking last week's big-screen release.

This Week Last Week Title Platform(s)
1 1 Modern Warfare 2 PC, PS3, Xbox 360
2 5 FIFA 10 PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
3 4 Wii Fit Plus Wii
4 2 Wii Sports Resort Wii
5 3 Assassin's Creed II PC, PS3, Xbox 360
6 7 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games DS, Wii
7 6 New Super Mario Bros. Wii Wii
8 9 Forza Motorsport 3 Xbox 360
9 10 Mario Kart Wii Wii
10 8 Just Dance Wii
11 13 Left 4 Dead 2 PC, Xbox 360
12 29 James Cameron's Avatar: The Game DS, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
13 14 LEGO Batman DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
14 15 Professor Layton and Pandora's Box DS
15 18 Need for Speed: Shift PC, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360
16 19 Pure PC, PS3, Xbox 360
17 20 Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training DS
18 12 The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks DS
19 22 Rabbids Go Home Wii, DS
20 16 F1 2009 PSP, Wii
21 21 Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 PC, PS3, Xbox 360
22 25 Wii Play Wii
23 30 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
24 23 Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City Xbox 360
25 38 New Super Mario Bros. DS
26 17 WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2010 PS3, PS2, PSP, Xbox 360
27 32 Football Manager 2010 PC, PSP
28 28 Peppa Pig DS, Wii
29 34 Dragon Age: Origins PC, PS3, Xbox 360
30 24 DJ Hero PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
31 39 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves PS3
32 13 LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues DS, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
33 36 Cooking Mama 3 DS
34 Re-entry LEGO Indiana Jones DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
35 Re-entry Halo 3: ODST Xbox 360
36 26 LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga DS, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
37 37 Professor Layton and the Curious Village DS
38 35 Guitar Hero 5 PS3, PS2, Wii, Xbox 360
39 27 Tekken 6 PS3, Xbox 360
40 33 SingStar: Take That PS2, PS3

Leisure software charts compiled by Gfk Chart-Track, ©2008 ELSPA (UK) Ltd.

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 (54) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • awb83 #1 2 years ago

    first

  • richarddavies #2 2 years ago

    I should've put a bet on this. Was so obvious

  • LHH #3 2 years ago

    Was having some awful problems with the matchmaking and lobby system over the weekend (360). It would drop me out, merge lobbies and throw everyone in the party into seperate lobbies. And the lag was ridiculous.
    Can't wait to see how the servers cope when a few more thousand receive the game for xmas.

  • ignatiusjreilly #4 2 years ago

    It was obvious to the bookies too. You would have had to put thousands on if you wanted to win any money.

    I think next year we need a campaign to put Day of the Tentacle at Xmas no. 1 :)

  • secombe #5 2 years ago

    Just Dance would have been top 5 if anywhere had any stock.

  • wizlon #6 2 years ago

    I hope all the parents that bought little Timmy this will kick off big time on Christmas day when they see what content they have subjected their innocent 11 year old to.

  • rotmm #7 2 years ago

    I'm pleased for the team that created MW2. It always warms my heart to see a low budget niche title come out of almost nowhere and gain mass-market acceptance.

  • Stu #8 2 years ago

    What could be more festive than relentless death and killing. Merry Christmas, one and all.

    PS. +1 for horrendous lag over the weekend. It'll implode on the 25th.

  • youhavenomail #9 2 years ago

    Where was Facebook when A Boy And His Blob needed it?

  • bratmandu #10 2 years ago

    Fuck you I won't do what ya tell me - oh wait, I guess I will then.

  • Quint2020 #11 2 years ago

    Videogames needs a Facebook group to get Psychonauts to Christmas Number 1 next year.

  • miiiguel #12 2 years ago

    I'm happy for Forza's success. And I didn't like sim-driving games, but Forza 3 is pure class.

  • bodypopper #13 2 years ago

    No big surprise then. Shame the single player storyline was so OTT as to resemble an off-the-rails Time Crisis. It almost made the work of Kojima seem subtle.

  • malexous #14 2 years ago

    Yet again, here's a different tale:

    http://ww w.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c...

  • Shadders #15 2 years ago

    @richarddavies

    The odds were like 1-6 though, you'd have made hardly any money anyway. I had money on Wii Fit Plus, in the hope that Ninty would step up the advertising and CoD would either sell out or everyone would have it already.

  • CallousB #16 2 years ago

    Charts by format.

    2 1 WII FIT PLUS WII NINTENDO NINTENDO
    1 2 WII SPORTS RESORT WII NINTENDO NINTENDO
    3 3 NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII WII NINTENDO NINTENDO
    5 4 MARIO & SONIC AT OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES WII SEGA SEGA
    4 5 CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2 XB360 ACTIVISION ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
    6 6 ASSASSIN'S CREED II XB360 UBISOFT UBISOFT
    13 7 FIFA 10 XB360 EA SPORTS ELECTRONIC ARTS
    9 8 CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2 PS3 ACTIVISION ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
    10 9 FORZA MOTORSPORT 3 XB360 MICROSOFT MICROSOFT
    11 10 MARIO KART WII WII NINTENDO NINTENDO
    8 11 ASSASSIN'S CREED II PS3 UBISOFT UBISOFT
    7 12 JUST DANCE WII UBISOFT UBISOFT
    14 13 FIFA 10 PS3 EA SPORTS ELECTRONIC ARTS
    16 14 LEFT 4 DEAD 2 XB360 EA GAMES ELECTRONIC ARTS
    15 15 PROFESSOR LAYTON AND PANDORA'S BOX DS NINTENDO NINTENDO
    18 16 LEGO BATMAN: THE VIDEOGAME XB360 WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
    19 17 PURE XB360 DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS
    20 18 DR KAWASHIMA'S BRAIN TRAINING DS NINTENDO NINTENDO
    21 19 MARIO & SONIC AT OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES DS SEGA SEGA
    12 20 THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SPIRIT TRACKS DS NINTENDO NINTENDO
    22 21 RABBIDS GO HOME WII UBISOFT UBISOFT
    24 22 WII PLAY WII NINTENDO NINTENDO
    23 23 GRAND THEFT AUTO EPISODES - LIBERTY CITY XB360 ROCKSTAR TAKE 2
    17 24 F1 2009 WII CODEMASTERS CODEMASTERS
    28 25 NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. DS NINTENDO NINTENDO
    29 26 UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES PS3 SONY COMPUTER ENT. SONY COMPUTER ENT.
    25 27 NEED FOR SPEED: SHIFT PS3 EA GAMES ELECTRONIC ARTS
    - 28 JAMES CAMERON'S AVATAR: THE GAME XB360 UBISOFT UBISOFT
    26 29 COOKING MAMA 3 DS 505 GAMES 505 GAMES
    30 30 HALO 3: ODST XB360 MICROSOFT MICROSOFT
    27 31 PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE CURIOUS VILLAGE DS NINTENDO NINTENDO
    31 32 FOOTBALL MANAGER 2010 PC SEGA SEGA
    33 33 MARIO KART DS DS NINTENDO NINTENDO
    - 34 JAMES CAMERON'S AVATAR: THE GAME PS3 UBISOFT UBISOFT
    - 35 HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT: VOL 2 WII EA GAMES ELECTRONIC ARTS
    - 36 BIG BEACH SPORTS WII PLAY THQ THQ
    - 37 U-SING WII MINDSCAPE KOCH MEDIA
    34 38 LIPS: NUMBER ONE HITS XB360 MICROSOFT MICROSOFT
    - 39 MONOPOLY WII EA GAMES ELECTRONIC ARTS
    39 40 NEED FOR SPEED: SHIFT XB360 EA GAMES ELECTRONIC ARTS

    Quite incredible that 4 Wii games outsold the best selling version of Modern Warfare 2. Spirit tracks didn't have a good second week on the DS. Should have advertised it more.
    Edited by 1 at 21/12/09 @ 12:59

  • paketep #17 2 years ago

    Only in sales

  • rotmm #18 2 years ago

    13 Wii titles in top 40, 12 360 titles and only 6 PS3 titles. More sadly, only 1 PS3 game in the top 10, whereas there are 5 Wii (who own the top of the chart) and 4 360.

    Top 20 and it's 7 360, 6 Wii and 3 PS3. What exactly are all the new PSlim owners buying?

    Even worse for Sony is that there isn't a single PSP game to be seen, with the rest of the chart being taken up by the DS (and a single PC title).

    This is definately Ninty's Xmas.

  • swissorc #19 2 years ago

    Is anyone else impressed by rabbids go home's staying power?

  • ronuds #20 2 years ago

    The new Super Mario game is really named New Super Mario Bros.?

    Glad Forza has managed to stay up there.

  • CallousB #21 2 years ago

    Rabbids Go Home is staying afloat due to massive price cuts.

    It halfed in price to £19.99 at Amazon a week or so after release....then to £17.99 a couple weeks back..now it's £14.98.

  • geeza2020 #22 2 years ago

    rottm - "This is definately Ninty's Xmas. "

    As will next years i should think, and the one after that, as long as they keep pouring out the same cheap tat aimed at the casual gamer (otherwise known as idiots who dont know games) and dont bother actually making any new "proper" games like they used to. Seriously does nobody else think that Nintendo have sold their game making souls in favour of getting granny to stop pissing herself and forgetting where her glasses are and play some brain training? But thats where the cash is I suppose, so thats where they are going to go. 21st century Nintendo makes me a sad panda.....

  • gjgjg #23 2 years ago

    congrats to RATM too, seems like a not so 'wholesome family oriented' uk xmas yo

  • CallousB #24 2 years ago

    "as long as they keep pouring out the same cheap tat aimed at the casual gamer "

    As opposed to pouring out cheap tat (in terms of theme and originality at least) aimed at casual teens who get a stiffy playing with toy soldiers and racing fast cars?

    The vast majority of the chart is aimed at "casuals" ...and the vast majority is playing it safe and rehashed.

  • Benno #25 2 years ago

    I had a bet with paddys, made £20 profit

  • icematt12 #26 2 years ago

    MESSIAH999 - care to go into more detail. Seems like the words of a fanboy but willing to give you a chance. 'Tis christmas after all. I personally regard PC L4D2 as a surperior version, for starters you can gurantee that additional content will be free. Then there's stuff created by community with Hammer (if that's your thing). Considering the highest 360 exclusive game barely makes the top 10 I wouldn't start saying about an inferior PS3.

    OMG - MW2 is number 1. Shame it was predicted by anybody with half a brain, even if they wanted a different result. Is there a company that is more powerful than Cowell :o
    Edited by 1 at 21/12/09 @ 13:48

  • Burkey123 #27 2 years ago

    Is Christmas no.1 just decided by this week's sales? Or is it the month of December's sales? Or something else?
    Anyway, the individual format charts really do show a different story. The top 4 games are for Wii and Mario Kart in the top 10 is really impressive.
    And judging by the sales of CODMW2 on PS3, Reggie's prediction isn't so ridiculous.

  • Welsh_Red_Devil #28 2 years ago

    i cant believe that there is still people that are buying wii fit and sports resort, there cant be that much people that want in!! im glad that fifa10 had second, it was obvious tht mw2 was top.

  • LHH #29 2 years ago

    @Welsh_Red_Devil

    All the fatty casuals probably keep breaking the board in an effort to lose weight before xmas

  • geeza2020 #30 2 years ago

    CallousB - Yes this is true, but when you look at the Wii games being released, outside of the Mario/Zelda?Metroid games i cant see anything that looks like its aimed at actual gamers. People like me and you who post on dedicated videogame websites. geeks if you will. Whereas this is where Sony and Microsoft (Im not a fanboy of either, and believe them both to be money grabbing whores as well) are at least trying to offer something even if it is as you say "toy cars.. soldiers.. safe and rehashed".

    I just miss the old Nintendo.... *sob*
    Edited by 1 at 21/12/09 @ 14:29

  • Petulant_Radish #31 2 years ago

    I miss the old Nintendo too, Love Chain hotels, taxis and playing cards were much more of a preferable to this whole waggle malarkey.

  • Edwin #32 2 years ago

    Thats one donnie/whatever post too many.. say something constructive, instead of constant drivell.. welcome to mr ignore.
    Edited by 1 at 21/12/09 @ 15:51

  • Dizzy #33 2 years ago

    "What exactly are all the new PSlim owners buying? "

    Blurays?

  • Benno #34 2 years ago

    yeah which console is xmas number 1? PS3 or 360?

    and which kids toy will be christmas number 1? the new barbie or the wii?

  • Law07 #35 2 years ago

    CALL OF DUTY 4 IS 23RD!?

    WHO IS BUYING IT!?

  • Quixz #36 2 years ago

    I'm i glad MW2 won and not some shitty Nintendo Wii game.

  • Benno #37 2 years ago

    "CALL OF DUTY 4 IS 23RD!?

    WHO IS BUYING IT!? "

    People who have traded in MW2's inferior multiplayer and gone back to the basics, which were far better and less like playing a vegas slot machine.

  • freakzilla #38 2 years ago

    My prediction: Forza 3 will outsell GT5 in the UK.
    Edited by 1 at 21/12/09 @ 17:48

  • smelly #39 2 years ago

    UKResistance says exactly how i feel about this chart...

    http://www.ukresistanc e.co.uk/

  • smelly #40 2 years ago

    >Is anyone else impressed by rabbids go home's staying power?

    Nope.. it's a good game!

  • darkmorgado #41 2 years ago

    Rabbids Go Home is indeed awesome.

    In the last week I've been catching up on a lot of Wii games.

    Little King's Story, Dead Space Extraction, Rabbids Go Home, Madworld, Boy and His Blob... all of them are utterly awesome games, all of them sadly ignored at retail (except Rabbids). Picking up Muramasa and New SMB Wii this week. Seriously, whoever says the Wii has no decent games is talking shite.,

  • Benno #42 2 years ago

    if you are going to have an exclusive, it may as well be Uncharted 2, which is obviously going to get GOTY

    its fantastic

  • clockworkzombie #43 2 years ago

    The 360 has not yet received the patches the PS3 has due to the MS certification wait.

    Once this happens the improvement in networking is outstanding it certainly makes the game a whole lot more fun.

    You can pretty much get a decent game anytime you want, I am in Australia so we were having a crap time before the patches.

  • DjFlex52 #44 2 years ago

    @Benno

    I agree it's fantastic but you know something's not right in Sony land when your GOTY can't make the Christmas list top 20.

    All the while, Sony gamers are still trying to validate their PS3 purchase (best exclusives, free online). They love to point out that the 360 games aren't really exclusive or not superior to PC versions but the 360's L4D2 still in top 20 and Assassin's Creed 2 is outselling UC2 during christmas season on the PS3.

    IMO, The biggest mistake Sony has made is time management. PS3 is in its 3rd year and no GOW3, FFXIII and GT5 yet to be played worldwide. That's how you go from dominating with the PS2 to sputtering with the PS3.
    Edited by 1 at 21/12/09 @ 20:06

  • ps3owner #45 2 years ago

    Bravo whiskey parsnip reindeer. = BWPR ?

    golf - echo - tango - space
    yankee - oscar - uniform - romeo - space
    charlie - oscar - delta - echo - space
    romeo - india - golf - hotel - tango - space
    echo - uniform - romeo - oscar - golf - alpha - mike - echo - romeo - period - space
    golf - oscar - delta - space
    delta - alpha - mike - november - space
    india - tango :)
    Edited by 1 at 21/12/09 @ 20:13

  • icematt12 #46 2 years ago

    Some say that when he is given a PS3 controller, he just stares at it not understanding what to do with it. All we know is, he is one heck of a driver (Lewis Hamilton might have him when the conditions are right though)

    I'll admit that not a good year for PS3. Only memorable exclusives to me are Uncharted 2 and Ratchet + Clank (forgot about InFamous, was a blast too). It's down to the individual, but I still use that more to the 360. Never know what may happen in 2010 though, for any console.
    Edited by 1 at 22/12/09 @ 15:35

  • darkmorgado #47 2 years ago

    In in the UK that's going to shift, not only games, but consoles.

    I think you are seriously overestimating the appeal of Top Gear just a bit there mate

  • busboy33 #48 2 years ago

    "I think you are seriously overestimating the appeal of Top Gear just a bit there mate"

    I say this as (a) a 360 fan, (b) someone who doesn't like Sony's Playstation division, (c) a Forza fanatic, (d) an American:

    The Top Gear test track and Stig's times would be my number one reason to get a PS3/GT5. Does it have the clebrity times in the shite car as well? I'd love to see how I do.

    I won't get a PS3 (I'm boycotting Sony's PS division after crappy PS2 service) and I don't like the GT series (very pretty but IMO the driving physics are unacceptable), but I really, really, REALLY would love to race the Top Gear track. I am envious of the Sony boys over this one.

  • freakzilla #49 2 years ago

    Unacceptable driving physics? Have you tried the TT demo yet? Of course you would say that, self confessed xbot.

  • BartonFink #50 2 years ago

    Ouch poor Sony not a single exclusive inside the top 20. They must be wondering at this stage what the hell have they got to do. Some marketing of their games might not go astray. Not this generic pap they rolled out to promote the Slim. Something like Uncharted 2 deserved a lot more.

  • headrush #51 2 years ago

    Ouch for Tekken and Halo

  • Fab4 #52 2 years ago

    @Benno

    "People who have traded in MW2's inferior multiplayer and gone back to the basics, which were far better and less like playing a vegas slot machine."

    MW isnt going back to basics. MW has lame kill streak rewards, lame-@ss perks and matchmaking that would make a netcode developer cry.

    The last CoD that was a basic FPS was CoD3...pity it was too difficult for most people to get good at, so they proclaimed it shit instead.

  • Nephirion #53 2 years ago

    Most Publishers have pushed there big releases into 2010 to avoid MW2, as there was no real contenders for the No1 spot its hardly suprising MW2 is No1 is it?
    Edited by 1 at 29/12/09 @ 00:30

  • Lamb #54 2 years ago

    What no Borderlands on the charts or did my eyes just glaze over it. Either way the charts have never meant anything. :D

    Bought only three games from the charts. Pure bought over a year ago at a cheap price. Dragon Age Origins quite low on the charts. And Wii Sports Resort which was a complete waste of money.

    Played Borderlands and Ghostbusters over the holidays, both very good games. :D