Skip to main content

Long read: The beauty and drama of video games and their clouds

"It's a little bit hard to work out without knowing the altitude of that dragon..."

If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

UK chart: oh my COD

UPDATE: Black Ops 2 launch smaller than Black Ops, MW3 and MW2.

UPDATE 2: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 sold fewer copies than 1.7 million in launch week in the UK.

We know this because Modern Warfare 2, released in 2009, sold 1.7 million copies in the UK during launch week. Chart-Track announced this morning that Black Ops 2 is the fourth biggest UK game launch ever, behind Black Ops, Modern Warfare 3 and Modern Warfare 2.

For reference, Black Ops, which released in 2010, sold an incredible two million copies in the UK week one.

UPDATE 1: Chart-Track has confirmed to Eurogamer that Black Ops 2's UK launch was smaller than Black Ops', Modern Warfare 3's and Modern Warfare 2's.

Those three games are the UK's biggest ever launches respectively. Black Ops 2, released last Tuesday, is the fourth biggest.

The top three multiplatform UK launches are:

  • CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS - XB360/PS3/WII/DS/PC
  • CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 3 - XB360/PS3/WII/DS/PC
  • CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2 - XB360/PS3/DS/PC

ORIGINAL STORY: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has predictably stolen the show this week in the UK charts and is out front by a country mile.

Question is, how big is Black Ops 2 relative to the other record-breaking Call of Duty launches? Activision's announcement last week of a $500 million day-one didn't give a lot away.

Black Ops 2 was the biggest launch of 2012, but only the 4th biggest of all time. Presumably then it's behind Modern Warfare 3, Black Ops 1 and... San Andreas? We're checking.

Disappointing Vita game Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified debuted in 16th, which probably makes it one of the stronger Vita launches.

The Xbox 360 version of Black Ops 2 was the most popular, dominating 60 per cent of all sales. The PS3 version claimed 38 per cent.

Last week's leader Halo 4 made $220 million in one day, incidentally. This week Halo 4 is second.

PS3 Move game Wonderbook: Book of Spells was released week. This child-aimed JK Rowling collaboration comes with a plastic book that transforms into a Harry Potter magic book when viewed by the PlayStation Eye. There's no such Potter-mania surrounding Wonderbook, however, as the game has a weak first week in 25th. Sony will be keen to see it enjoy a long tail.

Our Dan Whitehead reviewed Wonderbook: Book of Spells last week.

Cartoon racers F1 Race Stars and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed spent their first weeks even lower, in 26th and 27th respectively. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is the pick of the two, having earned 9/10 in its Eurogamer review.

The full top run-down is: Black Ops 2 (1), Halo 4 (2), FIFA 13 (3), Assassin's Creed (4), Skylanders Giants (5), NFS: Most Wanted (6), Just Dance 4 (7), Borderlands 2 (8), The Sims 3: Seasons (9), Football Manager 2013 (10).

This Week Last Week Title Platform(s)
1 New entry Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 PC, PS3, Xbox 360
2 1 Halo 4 Xbox 360
3 3 FIFA 13 PS3, Xbox 360
4 2 Assassin's Creed 3 PS3, Xbox 360
5 6 Skylanders Giants PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
6 4 Need for Speed: Most Wanted PC, PS3, Xbox 360
7 9 Just Dance 4 PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
8 8 Borderlands 2 PC, PS3, Xbox 360
9 New entry The Sims 3: Seasons PC
10 5 Football Manager 2013 PC
11 7 WWE 13 PS3, Xbox 360
12 15 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim PC, PS3, Xbox 360
13 12 Moshi Nonsters: Moshlings Theme Park 3DS, DS
14 14 Dishonored PC, PS3, Xbox 360
15 19 Forza 4 Xbox 360
16 New entry Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified PS Vita
17 26 Kinect Disneyland Adventures Xbox 360
18 18 New Super Mario Bros. 2 3DS
19 10 Medal of Honor: Warfighter PC, PS3, Xbox 360
20 13 Resident Evil 6 PC, PS3, Xbox 360
21 11 Forza Horizon Xbox 360
22 20 Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
23 17 F1 2012 PC, PS3, Xbox 360
24 16 Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask 3DS
25 New entry Wonderbook: Book of Spells PS3
26 New entry F1 Race Stars PC, PS3, Xbox 360
27 New entry Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed 3DS, PC, PS3, PS Vita, Xbox 360
28 24 LittleBigPlanet Karting PS3
29 27 Angry Birds Trilogy 3DS, PS3, Xbox 360
30 29 Mario & Sonic: London 2012 Olympic Games Wii
31 21 Sleeping Dogs PC, PS3, Xbox 360
32 Re-entry Gran Turismo 5 Academy Edition PS3
33 22 PES 2013 PC, PS3, Xbox 360
34 23 Pokémon Black 2 DS
35 33 Mario Kart 7 3DS
36 Re-entry Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 DS, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
37 32 Dead Island: GOTY Edition PC, Xbox 360, Xbox 360
38 25 007 Legends PS3, Xbox 360
39 36 Kinect Sports Xbox 360
40 37 Dance Central 2 Xbox 360